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WANT TO KEEP HOLIDAY DECORATIONS GOING? ​ Holiday decorations bring joy for a month or so, then we pack them away, leaving our homes just a little quieter and sadder. Which begs the

question: Why not use them throughout the year rather than sticking them in boxes in the attic? We asked home design experts for some ideas.​ LIGHT UP THE DARK​ After taking down the

Christmas tree, hang those strings of lights around your porch, nestle them in a planting box or weave them around your mantelpiece, suggests Bre Eggert, a DIY and craft influencer on social

media. “When you’re washing your dishes, you look out on your patio and see the cute sparkle of lights,” she says. “That really helps in the winter, when it’s just so dark.” In the summer,

bundling your lights into mason jars can create the look of fireflies, suggests Taniya Nayak, a design expert and judge on ABC’s _The Great Christmas Light Fight_. ​ IMMORTALIZE HOLIDAY

CARDS​ If you’ve been mailed a Christmas card with a family portrait on the front, snap a photo with your phone and use it for the sender’s contact image, suggests Eggert. “It’s a cute way

to reuse them, and then you don’t feel like you’re just like throwing all these cards out.”​ SKIP THE WREATH GRIEF ​ As the saying goes: A wreath isn’t just for Christmas. These leafy

hangings can become true evergreens. “Replace the baubles and festive bow with a black-and-white checked ribbon, or tie a bow with some burlap,” suggests Nayak. “Both will create a rustic

farmhouse look.” In spring, if you celebrate Easter, you can add a pastel bow and eggs. ​ LEVEL UP YOUR BOOKCASE ​ Sure, you’ll want to pack up the decorations that depict Santa Claus and

his reindeer, but other ornate objects, like a brass bell or a silver star, can be used as bookends to dress up a bookshelf any time of year. Unused or leftover gift ribbon? Try using it to

wrap three coffee-table books together.​ BRIGHTEN THINGS UP​ Large candles are versatile additions to your home, no matter the date. Use your holiday candles to dress up a dinner table —

especially if you’re hosting guests for a summer feast outdoors. Place candles around the bathtub, arrange them on your mantelpiece or save them for a Valentine’s Day celebration. _—Niamh

Rowe _