Visiting guests should always ask before touching someone's home decor.
Christmas is a time of year when many people decorate both the interior and exterior of their homes with decorations. Most people hang twinkling lights, garlands and figurines as well as put up Christmas trees complete with glass baubles and other hanging ornaments. Such beautiful decorations can sometimes attract the attention of visiting guests, particularly children. You can stop people from touching your Christmas decorations through a variety of means and by having a watchful eye.
Instructions
1. Place decorations out of reach. If there is a particular decoration that means a lot to you or that is an heirloom, set it someplace up high where people can see it but not have access to it. You can also place items inside a China cabinet or glass case.
2. Hang decorations on your Christmas tree up high and out of reach. Don't hang any decorations that are expensive, made of glass or that are heirlooms on the bottom half of the Christmas tree, otherwise pets and children will have easy access to them. Make sure to hang the ornament hook securely on the tree branch so that it doesn't fall off.
3. Put fragile items away when company comes. For example, if you're hosting a Christmas party and you know many small children will attend, save yourself the stress and worry by just putting away the decorations you are most concerned about people touching.
4. Ask the person politely to not touch your decorations. For example, if you witness a person actually touching or handling your decorations, politely tell him I appreciate you admiring that, but please don't touch it. It's a family keepsake. Some children can confuse decorations, such as Nativity scene figurines, as toys. If you see children touching and playing with your decorations, say I'm sorry, children, but those aren't toys -- they're just to look at. We can't play with those. Say it loud enough so that others hear you and know that touching is off limits.
5. Create a small card instructing people to not touch your decorations. Fold a blank index card in half lengthwise. In black marker, write something like Look but please do not touch. Set the card next to the decorations that you do not want people touching, such as a Nativity scene or an elaborately set-up Christmas town.
6. Keep an eye on people at your home. Even though you may tell people that touching is off limits, some might not hear you or may forget. Monitor your decorations to ensure they are not being handled and that they are still in tact. If possible, have your spouse or grown-up child be on the look-out as well and have them protect the decorations as well.
