Mardi Gras Door Decor Ideas

If you live in one of the many areas that participate in Mardi Gras, you will want to decorate your door to bring in the season right. Indeed, many areas all over the United States are now celebrating Mardi Gras, not just the Gulf Coast community. There is even a movement by the food company Zatarain's to make Mardi Gras an official holiday all over the USA.

While many people have noticed the three colors of Mardi Gras are purple, gold, and green, originally the colors were just purple and gold. Green was adopted when Russia's Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff visited New Orleans during Carnival and the color, which was his color, was added to welcome him during the holiday. The new color stuck in New Orleans after that because they do coordinate together well, creating a festive feel. In Mobile, Alabama, many people still stay with the original purple and gold, even producing and selling a flag through the YMCA that funds their local programs.

When hanging large ornaments, consider putting them in groups of three. In the first picture above, you'll see smaller groups of three (different colors) together, which are the same size. In the 2nd, 3rd picture, hanging three large ornaments in the corner is easy to do. To do this style, choose one ornament that is larger than the other two to be the base. On either side, add two more ornaments that are slightly smaller. It is fine for them to be the same style or slightly different, but they need to be the same size. These were bought at Toomey's; link is below.

You can start with a base of your basic Christmas garland. In this case, the door display can be changed out and last through both seasons. Would you like your decoration to last from Halloween through Mardi Gras? Consider the option of using a base garland of grapevine, which can be ordered at the florist. Place the grapevine in a bathtub of water for several hours; this will make it loosen up and it will be easier to work with. Lately, the hot medium of choice is art mesh, a colored mesh that is reusable and does well outside. This mesh can be used twirled around Christmas or grapevine garlands. Or you can just bunch the art mesh around strands of lights and you're done. Since it is a mesh, it can easily be pushed over nails to attach. Make sure the door decor goes around the entire door area; include any transoms (window area above a door) or side lights (window areas on either side of the front door).

Take some florist wire or even old hangers and make a circle. For a lush, full wreath, you will need to have full roll of Art Mesh. There are two sizes: 24" wide and 12' wide. I like to use the larger size. Fold the mesh accordion-style and string on the wire. Add and twist a smaller wired ribbon (See Toomey's website for more decorative ones) to the wreath if desired. Find a great focal point like a mask or porcelain Mardi Gras jester doll to put on the wreath. I usually place mine to the northeast or southeast of the wreath. This couldn't be easier.

This nearly 24" wreath is somewhat easy to make provided you have plenty of ornaments. The majority of them can be the larger size in mostly green with maybe 8 each of the other colors, then you will have a medium size and smaller size. Notice that the base includes all basic Christmas green plastic ornaments (around 45 of them) that are hot-glued to a matching green or purple ribboned circular floral wreath base. Make sure you start with two ornament balls on the bottom as a support in case you want to prop up the wreath rather than hang it. All ornaments will be the same size except for 10 of the smallest mini tree size and 12 of a medium size.

Add a focal point like a mask; here we have a large butterfly. As you hot glue the ornaments on, you will have to have an eye for the best arrangement.

Check back for more pictures soon; many still haven't put up their decorations yet since Fat Tuesday is on February 21st, 2012. I will be updating as I get more pictures at the end of the week. In the meantime, get more ideas here with my upscale Mardi Gras decor ideas and sources. http://demimonde.hubpages.com/hub/Upscale-Mardi-Gras-Accessories Have fun with it and let the good times roll!