Avoiding Holiday Decoration Disasters In Your Apartment

Is it time to start decorating our apartments for the holidays? Woohoo! I love this time of the year, and maybe you do too.

Whether you love decorating or not, if you are going to put up a Christmas tree and hang ornaments, it's important to keep some things in mind. If spaces are tight in your apartment then there are greater opportunities for decoration disasters. And I'm not talking about a decorating faux pas, but rather safety concerns.

It is important that you decorate in a way that minimizes the chance for an accident. Here we will take a look at some tips to protect your apartment from holiday decoration disasters.

Select The Best Christmas Tree

It's interesting that fires in apartments that start from a Christmas tree igniting do five times more damage in the apartment than fires from other causes. So, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself and your stuff is to choose a good Christmas and then maintain it properly in order to reduce the risk of fire. One key step is to never leave your Christmas tree up for longer than two weeks. You don't want it to get so dry that it becomes a fire hazard.

Of course, some people want to get that tree up right after Christmas. And if you are planning a party in early December, the temptation is to get it put up right away. Of course you don't want to take it down before Christmas, and wouldn't it look nice for that New Year's Eve party? Keeping a formerly living tree up that long is a big mistake. Go over your plans so that you can take the tree down when two weeks have passed.

Also, be selective when you are shopping for a tree. If you cut your own, it's not a problem, but if you are buying a tree that was already cut weeks ago, it might be too dry to begin with. A good way to test is to shake the tree you are considering. If it loses a lot of needles, then it was clearly cut too soon and has begun to dry out. Skip this tree and try to find another, fresher one.

Trees that have been freshly cut will have a much stronger pine aroma than the trees that were cut longer ago. Freshly cut Christmas trees will also have a much stickier trunk.

Once you get the tree into your apartment, put it somewhere that is away from any heat sources, especially electric heaters and fireplaces. But even a heating vent blowing warm air will cause the tree to dry out much faster. Also be sure that the base of the tree is placed in water and that you keep enough water present.

If you opt for an artificial tree instead, then most important thing is to have one that is flame retardant. And while it won't hurt to be placed near a warm air vent, it's still a good idea to keep away from electric heaters and fireplaces.

Strategically Place Your Decorations

You might have the urge to hang up every piece of decoration that you own. Many of us have too many decorations accumulated over the years. This is especially true if you recently downsized from a house. Be especially careful with any holiday decorations which could catch fire. These must be placed far away from heat sources including candles.

Speaking of candles, these can add a magical glow to your room. But keep in mind that they can be dangerous on their own if they are accidentally knocked over. You must also remember to blow them out before you go to sleep or leave your apartment.

If your apartment has a fireplace, you might want to hang the stockings with care. Make sure that you position them in such a way to eliminate the chance that the stockings can catch fire.

Decorating your apartment can be fun, and it should be fun. Seeing your apartment all glitzed up for the holidays can lighten your mood during the hectic season. Take a little extra care when you are decorating so that you keep safety in mind. We want you and your family to experience joy and other happy emotions.