'Tis the season to be merry, and part of the fun is decorating your home and planning special gifts to make. It's always fun to see the latest color trends and hottest decorating ideas. But what if you're watching your budget this year, like so many other people? You can still set the stage for a festive and beautifully decorated home without breaking the ban. Just use your creativity to incorporate the new looks for 2009!

We've consulted with our floral experts to bring you the latest trends for inspiration that are sure to get your creative juices flowing with ideas for decorating (see the November/December issue of HomeArts magazine for more). And, if you want to keep it budget-friendly, consider the following tips:

* Start with what you have. Before making a trip to the store for supplies, look at the decorations you packed away last year—or even years ago—with a fresh eye. Make a list of what you definitely want to use or take digital photos to have handy as you plan.
* Renovate and update. Think of ways you can update the decorations you have with new colors or trends that you like. For example, a floral centerpiece can take on a whole new life when you remove a faded bow or a few tired flowers and replace them with a fresh bow in a new color, metallic or wire sprays and some birds with feathered tails or eye-catching ornaments.
* Celebrate with collectibles. Are you a collector? Why not use some of your favorite pieces as part of your decorations. Group teapots or a figurine collection on a table or tray and add bows and holly branches. Give dolls on display Christmas bows or hats.
* The beauty of paint. With a jar of paint and the whisk of a paintbrush, you can give baskets, pots, and other accents an up-to-the-minute look when you paint them your favorite new color of the season. Ornaments can receive a facelift with touches of a new paint color, too. Sprigs of leaves, branches, and other elements of nature are easy to dress up with a coat of metallic spray paint.
* Go outside and play. Head outdoors and look around. Nature offers many free gifts for the taking. Wire together evergreen branches and add some beautiful coppery-orange, platinum or red ribbon, or ornaments. Fill a bowl with silver-and-glitter pinecones and add a hummingbird or two or some spiral sprays.
* Make your own. Look at catalogs and in stores for decorative accents you like, such as a gorgeous mantel cloth or a flower-covered Christmas topiary, then use them as inspiration to make your own. You might be amazed at the beautiful patchwork table runner you can make with fabrics that are already in your stash, or the elegant pots you can paint and fill with pine boughs from your own tree.

More Color & Decorating Trends
Here are some of the latest color and decorating trends from our floral experts.

Green Rain: [See Photo 1] Upside-down trees were so popular last year that they are back for a repeat performance. They are a great way to display floral accents such as the lilies shown, sprays, dangling beads, and ornaments that would otherwise get lost in the branches. They also offer the additional bonus of more room under the tree for gifts!

Flaked Holly Tree: [See Photo 2] Less can be more when it comes to decorating. This minimalistic holly tree has a high impact with its irregular shape, and the two red birds with long feathered tails stand out in elegant contrast to the light color of the sparse branches.

Green and Turquoise: Last year's chartreuse has become this year's wintergreen and is especially fresh and cheerful when combined with turquoise. Nature is a muse for 2009, embracing a range of organic neutrals with green as the dominant hue. Look for fern spheres and lightweight, teardrop-shaped blown glass ornaments to add to your tree or floral arrangements.

Winterland. Inspired by the beauty of freshly-fallen snow, white with a touch of blue is a clean and refreshing combination. Add silver metallic ribbons and accents, snowflakes, and spiral wire sprays to add this elegant icy feeling to your décor.

Candyland. Warm the hearts of your family and friends when you embrace the comforts of childhood and Christmases past with red and white whimsy. Consider making vintage-inspired felt ornaments or stockings embellished with sequins and beads, or display toys or dolls from your childhood dressed up in the Christmas spirit.

Quick and Easy. Create a beautiful tree with simple elegance when you fill it with only ball garlands in multi-colored bright jewel tones. Add a few large balls to give the tree dimension and variety.

Touch of Gold. If you like the look of quiet elegance, consider limiting your decorating colors to gold on white. This somewhat formal look is especially gorgeous with minimal ornamentation and unusual elements like palmetto palm fronds.