It's a Wonderful Season to Decorate with Holiday Villages

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(ARA) - When decorating to celebrate the season, the days of simply hanging a wreath on the door and stringing popcorn around the tree are gone. Today, homeowners are creating miniature winter wonderlands with the help of a home décor festive favorite -- holiday villages.

"The popularity of holiday villages continues to grow each season," said Pamela Graves, editor-in-chief of Home Fashion & Furniture Trends magazine. "Homeowners have embraced the fun of collecting and decorating with miniature towns and scenery and have found unique ways to display their creativity in their homes. " This season, holiday home decorators can add the spirit and charm of the beloved town of Bedford Falls to holiday décor with the new It's A Wonderful Life Illuminated Village. The eight-piece decorative collection features the most memorable -- and famous -- scenes from the American classic holiday movie.

It Takes A Village
This delightful village scene takes a familiar step right into George Bailey's hometown with miniature replicas of the You Are Now In Bedford Falls sign and Martini's Bar, Gower's Drug Store, Bailey Building & Loan and the Bailey's House where Clarence -- Angel 2nd Class -- earns his wings. Other exclusive pieces in the two-series set include the Bedford Falls Bridge, where George contemplates jumping into the frigid, rushing waters below; Ma Bailey's House; Bijou Movie Theatre and City Hall.

Handcrafted from porcelain, each piece in the wintry, movie-set scene contains a sprinkling of iridescent glitter and sparkling, fresh-fallen snow that shimmer with holiday-light illumination. The movie-inspired village set is sure to bring a bit of nostalgia to your home and evoke warm memories of watching the magical classic.

Simple Steps To Deck The Halls
For those interested in starting a holiday village decorating tradition, Graves suggests selecting collectibles with personal meaning. "Perhaps it's a rustic village reminiscent of a family camping trip or a replica of Bedford Falls from the family holiday classic, It's A Wonderful Life," Graves continues.

Whether displaying a tiny tinseled town or a merry metropolis, Graves offers the following step-by-step advice on how to deck the halls with a festive holiday village this season.

Front and Center -- Make the miniature masterpieces a focal point by displaying the tiny town in a prominent location such as the fireplace mantel, bookshelf, under the tree or on a windowsill. According to Graves, another way to make a holiday village the center of attention is by creating a village tablescape down the center of the dining table. Simply use a table runner as the backdrop and creatively arrange village collectibles.

Elegantly Elevated -- Rather than displaying the holiday village on a flat surface, Graves suggests using a variety of household items to elevate each piece. Simple items such as shoeboxes, plastic storage containers or cereal boxes can showcase each piece at varying levels.

Snow Much Fun -- Next, Graves recommends adding a layer of white to the winter wonderland. Batting cotton, available at local craft stores, can be rolled out over the elevated display to create a snowy landscape. Sprinkle iridescent white glitter to add a finishing sparkle and a little holiday magic.

Let There Be Light -- For a soft, warm glow, Graves recommends displaying illuminated village pieces. The It's a Wonderful Life holiday village has eight collectible pieces, each illuminated with soft reflective light.

Festive Finishing Touches -- While the miniature buildings are filled with holiday character, it's the festive finishing touches that add unexpected charm and frivolity. Tiny cars on the street and little trees towering above the rooftops are essential elements in holiday village decorating. Graves recommends getting creative with some of these touches and turn to nature. Pebbles from the garden and twigs from the front yard can easily become boulders and trees in the village scene.

The It's A Wonderful Life Illuminate Village is available at Walgreens stores nationwide. Visit www.walgreens.com for more information.

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