Christmas decorating traditions are passed on from generation to generation.

It can simply be by using a few things to give a festive touch to your home or it can be wildly impressive and unique where imagination and creativity is expanded and explored to the extent of inventing some new unique Christmas decorations.

From artificial Christmas trees to the ornaments to decorative lights and Christmas flower arrangements, every year there is something new and unique.

Let's look at some unique Christmas decoration ideas from Rossana Hu of Design Republic, Berwin Tango of Vinyl Group and Bya Patzner of Category of 1 Interiors.

Rossana Hu, founding partner of Neri and Hu Design and Research Office (NHDRO) and Design Republic

The true meaning of Christmas is revealed best through a simple approach to decoration, taking care to express not a commercialized Christmas atmosphere, but a deeply personalized, individual attachment to the holiday season.

I prefer a clean, almost minimal approach to Christmas, taking full advantage of natural colors and materials without killing their beauty with too much ornamentation or color.

An oversized wreath with an ivory silk ribbon may be all it takes to dress up a window.

A completely natural tree planted in a stone pot with crystal droplets as the only ornaments completes an understated Christmas elegance.

I don't always believe it, but for Christmas, "less is more" rings true. The world out there is making too much noise about Christmas, but all the noise only blocks out the real "theme" that we should remember - that this is a spiritual holiday and not a commercial holiday.

The best places in Shanghai to buy something for this season are the flower markets for plants, Renmin Road for ribbons, buttons and gift wrapping knit knacks, and the fabric markets for "cheaper than wrapping paper" cloth options to wrap gifts.

Berwin Tango, director of Vinyl Group (the company offers architectural and interior design events services)

If you are one of the many expats spending your Christmas in Shanghai this year, here are some quick and simple ways to add a festive look to your home without spending a lot of money.

First, decorate everything with bows, by tying generous ribbons to chair backs, candlesticks, pictures and plants, wreaths, garlands, basket handles, drapery tie-backs, stair railings and doorknobs.

Bows look festive and the ribbons you choose should tie together with the rest of your decorating.

Choose ribbons in colors and patterns that coordinate with your decorating scheme. You don't have to choose only between red and green, choose plaids or floras that tie in.

Shop for ribbons and bows at shops around Yuyuan Garden and let your imagination run wild.

Second, use holiday tableware, look through your cupboards and take out any dishes or tableware that looks festive.

You can go to various home furnishing stores such as B&Q or IKEA to purchase festive tableware. If you want to be more creative, you can choose your own fabric at the fabric market at No. 299 Lujiabang Road and mix and match your own colors and have them custom made by the local tailors.

Third, load your home with candles.

Arrange lots of candles on the dining table, living room, kitchen, staircases and bathrooms to allow a more festive feel.

Turn off the lights when you can in order to allow the burning candles to be seen which creates a Christmas ambience.

You can also arrange pillar candles in the bathroom, on the sink and around the tub.

Again, Yuyuan Garden has plenty of shops to purchase candles of all shapes, colors and sizes.

Finally, place a wreath or swag on every door you have.

Start with the front door to welcome the guests.

Then go through the back door, inside and out. Remember to do it over the mantle and all your front windows.

Use real pine, holly or grapevine, decorated with bows, berries, fruit, pinecones, raffia, ornaments, birds, photos or candy.

Bya Patzner, shopkeeper and interior designer of Category of 1 Interiors

Christmas transforms a period of short days and chill weather into a time of warmth, generosity and renewal.

But the domestic side of Christmas has a magic of its own, too, composed of three essential parts: decorating, celebrating and entertaining.

Decorating from the traditional vocabulary of red and green to fresh variations not immediately associated with the season - maybe something as simple as revitalizing your existing every day decor, such as filling the topiary with seasonal fruit with bows, besides fresh lemons, oranges, Clementines, can be displayed in a festive manner.

Moreover, your children's Christmas season schoolwork will do wonders to your decor if displayed all over the home.

Hold your parties in style.

Prepare exquisite dishes and serve them on an even more exquisite table setting. You can buy seasonal place mats and table cloths with coordinated napkins.

Christmas-inspired fabrics and ribbons are easily found at Hong Jing Flower market, which you can used to decorate around the home.

One-of-a-kind accessories for this season at affordable prices can also be found in many shops in the flower market, as well as on Shaanxi Road S., with stalls selling all kinds of decorations.

Also, at No. 233 Shaanxi Road S., Category of 1 Interiors has filled its store with home-decor accessories for this season.

(Shanghai Daily December 17, 2007)