Close to home: Last call for Holiday Ideas House

Last call for Holiday Ideas House Need some last-minute festive touches on the home front? Dec. 16 is your last chance to check out the seasonal-decorating inspiration at Bachman's Holiday Ideas House.

This year's house offers glamorous "alpine chic" ideas that mix deep natural tones and textures, including wood, fur and antlers, accented with plenty of big-city bling.

The Ideas House is located at the historic Bachman family home, 5936 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets, sold on the half-hour, are $5, with $1 going to Children's Home Society and Family Services.

KIM PALMER

Paper your table?

When setting your holiday table, we bet that pulling out a roll of wallpaper wouldn't be the first thing that springs to mind. But Farrow & Ball, purveyor of paint and paper, is suggesting you do just that.

We have to admit there's a bit of genius behind the idea. After all, wallpaper is generally festooned with festive designs. And the durability of wallpaper is not a question.

If you get a food stain on a portion, consider using the rest as wrapping paper. Or simply use the whole roll as wrapping paper. It would make for a spectacularly elegant presentation.

A 16-by-4-foot roll of their holiday table runner is $50 at Farrow & Ball showrooms and us.farrow-ball.com.

KIM OSSI, McClatchy Tribune

Rent a Christmas tree? Would you rent a live Christmas tree instead of buying one that had already been chopped down?

At least 33 million Christmas trees are grown, cut down and sold every year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But a rented tree could be a greener alternative.

Tree rental isn't available everywhere, but who knows what the future holds?

JOHN PLATT, Mother Nature Network

Decorating with nature Florist Edle Catharina Norman believes you can find beauty in your own back yard, even in winter.

She uses materials found in nature this time of year to create the holiday floral designs featured in her new book, "Beautiful Winter." Some are enhanced by flowers and greenery available at florist shops.

Norman provides instructions for wreaths, garlands, Christmas-tree decorations, centerpieces and other seasonal accents. Most are simple to create, so you'll still have time for all that shopping and baking.