Angie's List: Refresh tired decorations

Has your Christmas tree, mantle figurines, and outdoor lights looked exactly the same for the past 10 holiday seasons? It happens all the time.

Angie Hicks, founder of the consumer guide Angie's List said, "When it comes to decorating for the holidays, all too often we can just get stuck in a rut. We always put the tree in the same place. We always decorate it the same way, but there are opportunities to change things up a bit that people don't even realize."

The problem is it's often too expensive to buy everything over again.

Homeowner Amy Sailing said, "finances are something we are always aware of, but we love our home and we love to entertain and we want it to look nice and be warm and friendly and welcoming"

Interior decorator Karen Mercer suggests using non Christmas items, with a red ribbon or greenery added, to create a new look for almost nothing. She said "Apothecary jars, pretty vases - vases that I have picked up for 99 cents at thrift stores using the dollar stores they have vases. We are going to show you how a $2 base and candle stick can make a very pretty apothecary jar. Once you put the greenery around it still looks very nice."

She also says get together with mom and dad, or a sister or brother and swap decorations.  She said, "I do think people can utilize a lot of different places; consignment stores, thrift shops, low costs decorating - you just have to think outside the box sometimes."