4 ways to personalize your Christmas decorations

Create your own Yuletide traditions this year by putting your own unique twist on Christmas decorations.

Everyone knows the old-fashioned traditional Christmas tree, but what if you stepped outside of the box this year?

• One designer decided to use an empty bookshelf and place vases, glasses and ornaments on the shelf in the shape of a traditional tree.
• Comedian Lisa Lampanelli came up with her own tree by hanging ornaments on driftwood that had been tied together to look like a tree.

Try testing out one of these creative ideas with your family at home.

Have you ever seen a Christmas tree on someone's front porch? No? Well, maybe this year you could impress the neighbours with your own porch tree.

• Any Christmas tree along with a large basket, some heavy stones to hold down the tree and a few other items can make for a quick and absolutely gorgeous porch display.

Have a stairway or walkway outside? Perfect, because lighting the way for Santa Claus not only looks festive, it provides a really nice story for children.

• Put rock salt into a few cylindrical jars and place votive candles inside to make great little lanterns.
• Line about 10-20 of these along a walkway and Santa has a way to see where he's walking.

Tired of the same old wreaths? No problem.

• Purchase a normal Styrofoam wreath, or just a wreath form, and hot glue a bunch of inexpensive gift bows on the form.
• You'll end up with a strangely familiar, yet completely unique Christmas wreath to hang on your front door.

Christmas is an amazing holiday, but that doesn't mean it's always necessary to go the traditional route. These holiday ideas are novel and unique, but still recognizable enough to not let anyone forget what time of year it is.