Deck the halls

(photo courtesy of American Plant)

Not only can holiday-themed plants bring a room together, plants in the shape of a reindeer cannot go wrong. Like the mossed ivy reindeer from American Plant (5258 and 7405 River Road., Bethesda). They also offer custom holiday arrangements as well as recycled tin ornaments and tabletop pieces (americanplant.net).

Clever items from Home Rule. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

For several different gift ideas or must haves at any party, visit Home Rule (1807 14^th St., NW). From ice trays shaped like the Titanic labeled “Gin & Titonic,” to an owl-themed cheese grater, both priced at $15, these small appliances can become the cutest things in your kitchen. And don’t forget creative Christmas ornaments for $5-$13 (homerule.com).

Home Morter and Pestle set from Good Wood (Blade photo by Michael Key)

No kitchen is complete without beautiful kitchen appliances, like ones found at Good Wood (1428 U St., NW). They sell be Home Kitchen appliances, which include wooden teak mortar and pestle for $37.50, measuring spoons for $25 and olivewood juice press for $24 (goodwooddc.com).

Vintage bar caddy

To take your party to days gone by, you can’t do it without a vintage bar caddy from Foundry (1522 U St., NW) for $209 (foundrybyfreeman.com).

Espresso cups from Millennium Decorative Arts. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

Or for colorful pieces such as multicolored espresso cups and a variety of mirrors, visit Millennium Decorative Arts (1528 U St., NW). The espresso cups come in several colors and patterns, for $35 for each cup and saucer. The mirrors come in different styles, colors and sizes for $75 to $125 (millenniumdecorativearts.com).

Vintage and new ornaments at Miss Pixie’s, a winner in this year’s Best of Gay D.C. readers’ poll. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

If you are as excited for Christmas as Miss Pixie’s (1626 14^th St., NW), step in to check out their small vintage ornaments that run from 25 cents up to $5, ceiling ornaments for $30, and even holiday molds for $12-$30 (misspixies.com).

Decorative bowls from Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

For classy home décor for any time of the year, go to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (1526 14^th St., NW). Their inventory includes blue tinted glass blows for $50 to $130, decorative table centerpieces for $135 to $175 and ornamental boxes for $85 to $190 (mgbwhome.com).

To get traditional holiday plants or landscapes, go to Merrifield Garden Center (8132 Lee Hwy, Merrifield). Customers can also attend their holiday decorating classes, Santa hours and a Steinbach Nutcracker event (merrifieldgardencenter.com).

Salt-and-pepper shakers from Target. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

If you don’t want to break the bank giving your home a festive flair, Target has plenty of exclusive items that are colorful and inexpensive. Like Santa and Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers ($6.99), Christmas tree and Santa candles (various sizes and prices, all under $10), red or green cocktail shakers ($14.99), snow globes ($12.99) or nutcrackers ($12.99) in dozens of styles and more.

Even if you’re not crafty, Micheals (with several locations in the D.C. area) can give your home a ready-made holiday flair with tons of options.

Lemax pieces for village. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

Start your own holiday village or give that certain someone who likes retro flair a perpetual gift idea with village scenes and buildings from Lemax. Prices vary, but they almost all light up and will remind you of the train set you spent hours working on as a kid.

Snow angels from Michaels. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

Or give a whole room a silvery, wintry Michaels flair with color-themed pieces — there’s everything from Santas, silvery reindeer, sparkly candles, rhinestone-studded mirrors and more. Prices vary. These angels ($34.99) works as table centerpieces, tree toppers or decorative accents anywhere in your winter wonderland.

Mirrors from Christmas Tree Shops. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

Want to give something beautiful that’ll actually get used? These body-length wardrobe mirrors from Christmas Tree Shops ($39.99, various locations) come in several finishes and have a lovely Victorian flair.

And speaking of the home, if you and your partner have decided to use your gift money this year into the house, consider new window treatments. Window Wears has Hunter Douglas Duette Architella Honeycomb Shades and Pirouette Window Shadings on sale through Dec. 15. They’re online at windowwears.net.