Christmas decorating themes allow you to let your creativity shine. Whatever your tastes, be they traditional, modern, minimal, or completely over-the-top, Christmas is the perfect time to impress your guests by decorating your home to maximum effect.

The obvious focus for any main room is a well-dressed Christmas tree. Avoid sticking with glass baubles and tinsel. Instead, add some tree ornaments, too, such as birds, Santas, butterflies, bows, and sugar canes. Themes of two or three colors give a sophisticated look: white and matte gold, with plain white lights, is an especially stunning color combination, with gifts wrapped in paper and ribbon of the same color scheme piled beneath.

If you use lots of little ornaments, such as miniature wooden toys, trinkets and "heirloom" tree decorations passed down through the generations, avoid multicolor lights because your ornaments will have to compete with for attention. Instead, use white lights only; they will highlight and draw the delighted eye to each ornament.

Alternative ideas for trees are "edible" decorations like popcorn garlands, chocolates, spiced cookies threaded with ribbon, and sweets; decorations handmade by your children for a riot of color and fun; and, for a Scottish-inspired look, tartan bows and white heather--a beautiful way to decorate a small tree on a hall table. The white heather flowers show bright against the fir tree, which eliminates the need for fairy lights.

A fake-fir garland decorated with ribbon and ornaments is the ideal way to show off a fireplace; if the tree is in the same room, keep to the same color scheme for maximum effect. Or, add fir, holly and ivy cuttings on the mantelpiece with candles, and continue the theme for the Christmas table centerpiece. Flower arrangements in your chosen color scheme will also add texture--roses, green chrysanthemums and amaryllis look stunning with fir, eucalyptus and ivy. Add luscious arrangements of fruit such as grapes, pomegranates, small oranges, figs and kumquats with ivy and eucalyptus for a truly Bacchanalian effect.

Still not inspired? Then browse through the many glossy magazines that will give ideas galore on the run up to the holiday season. Also check out your local department stores, which will have trees decorated in different themes in their Christmas departments. With so much choice, there is bound to be something to tickle your taste--including feather wreaths!