What would this time of year be without some holiday decorating?

Boring, if nothing else. The good news is, older adults who are aging in place can create a festive home that’s welcoming, safe and hopefully a reminder of holiday happiness.

Even better, you can decorate with crafts you’ve made, cherished keepsakes or store bought items – and it’ll still look fabulous.

First things first, though: When it comes to turning up the holiday cheer, you want to do it with safety in mind.

Play it safe

Here are seven holiday decorating safety guidelines:

• Maintain your space. Avoid adding decorations to the already clear and safe walkways within your home. Put decorations in areas where you can see them – and are able to function around them as you would any other time of year.
• Make it manageable. Don’t try to put decorations in areas that are already difficult for you to reach, such as outdoor lights behind shrubbery or indoor gadgets up high. A good tip from my parents: Choose a small tree and put it on a low, stable table so you can decorate from – and enjoy looking at – eye and arm level.
• Forgo candles in centerpieces and any decorations where they’re attached to other items.
• Consider a fake tree. Even if you love the smell of a live tree, a fire-resistant fake tree is usually the right size and demands less maintenance.
• Choose shatter-proof decorations. From ornaments to lighting, opt for anything that’s less likely to break and create a cut risk.
• Check lights and plugs. Whether it’s a Menorah or a strong of tree lights, check all electrical parts for frays or other damage. Check that lights are approved for your intended use – i.e., indoor lights for inside your home and outdoor lights for outside. And keep extension cords out of the way to prevent falls.
• Clear the clutter again. When you finish decorating, put away boxes and storage containers to avoid trip and fall hazards.

Go to town

Here are six unique ideas for holiday decorating this year:

• Set the mood. Turn on your favorite holiday music to get in the mood for decorating. Personally, I love the classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Elvis. But more modern releases from Mariah Carey or John Legend are great, too. This list from Paste Magazine will likely help your find favorites. They’re almost all available from your usual streaming or downloading services.
• Create a Thankful Tree. Regardless of the holidays you celebrate this season, a Thankful Tree has a place in them. Choose a small tree and get – or carefully cut – some paper ornaments. Write several things you’re thankful for and hang them on the tree to start. Add one a day, or ask other family members to join in when you see them over the holiday season.
• Pick a theme. This is an especially good tip if you’re overloaded and overwhelmed with boxes of holiday decorations and keepsakes. Pick a theme and only bring decorations related to it. For instance, go with just snowmen. Or choose a color combination. You might choose to only use decorations received from family members.
• Wrap it up. One of the easiest ways to add a festive touch, without adding much cost or effort, is to wrap some things that already exist. For instance, take some lightweight art off the wall and wrap the front with festive paper and bows, leaving enough of the back open to position them back on their nails. Or wrap empty boxes of varying sizes and swap them out with year-round items already sitting in safe places.
• Stay indoors. If you traditionally decorated the outside and inside, make it easier and safer and stick to just inside your home. You can still send a holiday welcome signal with safe lights or battery operated candles in windows and at your front door.
• Take it easy. Remember, the holiday season is more about enjoying family, friends and good times, and much less about enjoying stuff. If you don’t love putting up decorations or don’t need them to feel in the spirit, then spend more time focusing on what you enjoy.