By JEANNE JOHNSON

NATION - Just as animals get the urge to hibernate as colder weather approaches, people can get the urge to prepare their homes for the winter months to come. And with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas soon to be upon us, the question arises: how can we decorate our homes, easily making the transition from one holiday season to another, on a limited budget?

Holiday decorating needn't break the bank, says Radford University interior design professor Holly Cline. "Creativity can take you far, and using natural materials can be even more inviting than store-bought decorations."

When decorating, you should keep your home's overall mood in mind, says Cline. For examples, with country looks, "more is more" and there can be an abundance of colors, quilts or photos. A traditional look calls for more restraint and focus, while a contemporary look is more minimal and streamlined. "With contemporary, the impact is made with small focal points," says Cline.

The change in seasons might call for a darker, richer color scheme, but that doesn't mean you have to go out and purchase new artwork or furniture. Slipcovers are a great way to achieve a new look, but if slipcovers aren't in your budget, some new throw pillows, pillow covers or blankets might do the trick, says Cline. You might want to take your cue from old quilts. The quilts were often designed to do double duty, so that the lighter side could be displayed during the summer and the darker side displayed during the winter.

An even less expensive way to make seasonal transitions is with plants, decorated candles and centerpieces, says Cline. "For fall, a mum plant in the house will give a fall look and will last a long time." She also recommends decorating with gourds, pumpkins and other natural materials for fall. And don't forget overall ambience. "In the fall the days are shorter, so you might want to open your draperies or blinds to let in more light."

A centerpiece can vary according to the season, says Cline. For example, a glass bowl filled with glass pebbles, rocks or shells can be filled with water and a floating candle. Even candles that wouldn't normally float can be imbedded in floating flowers or leaves that can vary with the seasons-sunflowers or rhododendrons in the summer; magnolia or holly leaves in the winter.

For Christmas, Cline says you can go to a glass company and have them cut a mirror to size. When placed under a centerpiece, "The mirror doubles the light and arrangement." For Christmas, Cline likes to place candles on mirrors surrounded by three glass ornaments and ribbon so that the mirror isn't obvious but still reflects the light and doubles the impact of the arrangement.

Christmas lights can immediately brighten a room, says Cline, particularly if they line the perimeter of the ceiling and baseboards. "If you use a ton of Christmas lights, you can use fewer decorations," she says. "The lights really make things appear festive." You can use lights in all colors for a country look.

When using colors, you can use all colors for a country decor but a traditional house should stick to a maximum of two colors and a contemporary look should stick to one color with the option of adding a "Christmas neutral" like silver or gold.

She also recommends Christmas decorating with greenery, which can be collected or obtained for free from places that sell Christmas trees and have a surplus.

For a New Year's look, Cline likes to float a star candle in a pillar-shaped glass bowl surrounded by spiraling silver or gold wire decorated with stars. "The water catches the reflection and makes it look unique," she says.

To get ideas, Cline recommends visiting craft stores, looking through magazines and checking out the displays at furniture stores. Craft stores are also good places to get information about how to do things like wax fall leaves or preserve holiday greenery.

Not everyone can afford an interior designer, but there's a new specialty devoted to accessorizing, says Cline. "Some stores offer accessory specialists, or a designer might charge you less for working one day as a personal shopper."

Some florist shops might also do special holiday decorating projects, although that sometimes can get pricey. But florist shops might be another good place to get ideas. "Also, if you can't afford to have the florist decorate, you might ask if you can order fresh cut flowers and make your own arrangements," says Cline. "That saves money, but still provides you with nice fresh flowers."

"Whether you're decorating for a party or the change of seasons, don't be afraid to be creative and try something different," says Cline.