Contributed by Stacy Weinstein-Weiss, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

It seems like we can’t make it to Halloween nowadays without the first Christmas items showing up in U. S. stores.

By mid-December, the selection of Christmas home décor is dizzying! But what about those of us looking for festival of Hanukah décor? Kind of hard to find, isn’t it? Worry not!

The following list should give you ample tips for all budget ranges.

10. Shop local

Your local synagogue or temple gift shop should have a selection for the holidays. They may even be able to special-order hard-to-find items. Just make sure to check the business hours – many of these gift shops have limited hours.

9. Shop from home

There are a large number of sites that specialize in Hanukah décor online. Allow yourself plenty of time for shipping. Some of my favorite sites are: The Source for Everything Jewish, Menorah.com, Bargain Judaica, Judaica Mall, Traditions Jewish Gifts, Judaism.com, and Jewish Source.

8. Shop while you are already out shopping

Who wants to make another trip out? More and more of the retailers we know and love are carrying Hanukah décor. Sometimes the in-store selection is more limited than the online inventory. Good bets are Bed Bath and Beyond (a unique item – lighted Dreidel-shaped drive way markers), Crate and Barrel (I bought a nice dreidel set for my husband there many years ago), Pottery Barn (check out their table runners and linens), and, believe it or not, Home Depot (they even sell a Star of David topper for your Hanukah bush). Department stores such as Macy’s, Nordstrom’s and Bloomingdale’s also carry fine tableware and menorahs for Hanukah.

7. Shop for low-cost party decor

If your going to throw a Hanukah party and are looking for low-cost paper goods, try discount store online to really save, or your local party store.

6. Do it yourself!

Not in the mood to shop? Here are a few do-it-yourself ideas for very special Hanukah décor.

The queen of crafts, Martha Stewart, has quite a few Hanukkah decoration ideas, such as Hanukkah clip-art favor boxes and dreidel place cards.

5. Art galleries

I’ve seen some of the coolest menorahs, dreidels, and Hanukah plates in galleries that specialize in local artists. Some of these have websites so you can shop on line if you don’t live near a particularly artsy community. I like Primavera Art in Ojai, California, Gallery Judaica in Los Angeles, and Seeker Glass Gallery in Cambria, CA.

4. Museum gift shops

If you’re lucky enough to live near a Jewish museum, stop by the museum store and see what lovely things they have for Hanukah. In Los Angeles, we have the Skirball Cultural Center, while San Francisco has the Contemporary Jewish Museum. New York has The Jewish Museum New York, and many other major cities around the globe have their own Jewish museums as well. Even non-Jewish museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, carry Hanukkah items.

3. High-end

Certain luxury gift shops carry Hanukah finery. Try Geary’s in Beverly Hills or Gump’s in San Francisco. Also try Kolbo in Brookline, MA and Hatikva in San Diego.

2. Personalized decor

A number of places will specialize in personalizing gifts. Fine Judaica carries platters and cake servers that can be personalized.

1. Don’t forget your pet!

For us pet lovers, Hanukkah would not be complete without decorating our pets! The Pet Boutique and Cherrybrook carry Hanukkah toys and collars, while Michi Pet carries some clothing and toys as well. Zazzle.com caries lots of Hanukah T-shirts for pets, while sites like Modern Tribe carry little dog yarmulke and tallis sets.