Decorating Tips

I always enjoy going to MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), but the last meeting I went to was especially fun. Our MOPS president is also a professional home decorator, and gave us some wonderful tips for holiday decorating.
Although I'd already done a bit of decorating for the fall season, after I got home, I realized that what I'd thought was "decorating" was really just plopping a bunch of mismatched gourds into every available container I had. Not exactly aesthetically pleasing. It looked a bit like I didn't have enough storage room for the garden vegetables and decided to store them on my piano. And table. And sideboard. And counter.

You get the idea.

What I love about Nikki's decorating style is that she just recycles a few good pieces in different ways to embrace each holiday season.
I loved her birds. For some reason they appealed to me. They can work for spring, fall, winter, etc. I think I enjoyed them so much because they added a bit of whimsy to every different setting.

Her Christmas arrangements were especially inspiring. My grandparents Oma and Opa were florists, so I know the basics of arranging, but it's been awhile since I've been inspired to do anything like this for myself. Now I can't wait to start reusing (*cough cough* stealing) branches from nearby coniferous trees!
After being inspired by Nikki's fabulous tutorial, I made a trip to JoAnn Fabrics and the Dollar Tree and picked up everything I'll need to keep my house looking nice(er). (At least until the kids get to it. We'll keep our fingers crossed.)

Nikki's fall table decorations inspired me to create this little tableau. According to the Domestic Diva Nikki, feathers are always fashionable, so I borrowed (*cough cough* stole) Peter's collection of turkey feathers. The vase I got at JoAnn's on sale for $3, and the cake stand for $8 (75% off). The orange spray of stuff, the birds, the votive glasses, and the rocks I got from the Dollar Tree. The rest of the stuff was reconstituted items that I already had.
(The sprigs of greenery were from my own bushes, thank you very much. I haven't had to steal anything yet, so stop thinking so evilly of me. I'm innocent. Yes.)

I was tickled pink to find these birds from the Dollar Tree. Nikki's birds made such an avian impression on me, I knew I had to get some, but was thrilled to find a set for so cheap and so quickly!
The table arrangement I put on my large platter, so if we need to use the entire table area I can just pick up the whole bit and move it easily. Or relatively easily.

Okay, okay, I just have Handyman do it. I wouldn't want to show him up with my massive muscle power.
I had enough left over to make a small arrangement of fall things on the island countertop. (Please notice bird. I haven't named them yet, but I'm thinking "Larry, Moe, and Curly". Or perhaps I should get one more and go for "Eenie, Meenie, Mynie, and Moe"?)So what sort of holiday decorating do you do?