Gather a collection of your favorite, no-longer-used, or unusual tree ornaments into a crystal bowl, basket or vase for a last-minute centerpiece, or keep on display throughout the holiday season.

 Drape your exterior doors and windows in pine or spruce branches.  (Most tree lots give away leftover branches for free!) To keep them fresh, use a spray bottle to spritz the boughs daily with water.

Wrap your artwork in gift wrap to resemble gifts hanging on your walls.

 Gather small cardboard containers (pasta, rice and cereal boxes work well), wrap in waterproof paper, and hang with ribbon from a tree outside your home.

Assemble a collection of pine cones from an excursion in the woods, place in a decorative basket by your fireplace, front door or tree. (For safety sake, do not burn pine cones which may explode, in your fireplace.)

Do you collect things like stuffed animals? Tie holiday ribbons on their necks and display for a Santa's workshop or Victorian look.

Do you have wood stacked for your fireplace?  Paint the cut ends in holiday colors for a festive display. Tuck holly springs and ribbons for additional appeal.

Place a small tree in your bedroom or bathroom and decorate with pins, necklaces and earrings from your costume jewelry collection for pure sparkle.

Let your children cut snowflake shapes and hang from the ceiling to cause a "blizzard" in your home.

For a homey touch, let orange peels warm on your stovetop (not on a burner) so they'll release their scent.

Wrap the stems of your wine glasses with metallic ribbon or a bow for added glamour to your table.

Use a miniature tree and place on your buffet.  Tie eating utensils with ribbon and loop on the tree's branches for a sparkling centerpiece that serves as a practical holder for your cutlery.

If you display all your gifts under your tree before the holiday, color-coordinate the wrapping paper with the rest of your seasonal decor.

Make a free-form table runner using leftover pine branches, nuts, votive candles in holders, ribbon, battery-operated twinkle lights, and fruit.  (Be sure the candle’s flames and heat don’t come in contact with the branches and cover the surface with a plastic cloth to prevent sap from ruining the surface.)

Decorate interior doors as large gifts using wide ribbon and paper specially sized for the job. Attach a tag showing the name of each person's bedroom.

Hang extra ornaments from the ceiling on thread, ribbon or monofilament line around your home or dining room table for a jewel-box design.

Stack red apples on a cake plate in a pyramid design and tuck in some holly leaves for a colorful, edible display. You can stabilize the structure with toothpicks.

Save particularly beautiful holiday cards and display them in picture frames in subsequent years.

Use canned "snow" to create snowman shapes on your mirrors.

 Frame large mirrors with white mini lights for double the reflection.