Christmas trees have already been set up throughout Seoul like the one in the Westin Chosun Hotel.

American children go to bed imagining all the goodies they will find in their stockings, the Portuguese eat special servings of salted codfish and potatoes when the clock strikes midnight and people in Finland visit graveyards to light candles where the deceased rest.

Regions may differ in how they celebrate the holiday, but one thing that people share is the effort to heighten the mood of the season with decorations.

Already trees decked with tinsel, garland and ribbon have been set up throughout the city, and carols can be heard coming from coffee houses and other public places. In department stores and markets, people are busily shopping for lights, ornaments and all sorts of other trinkets that will help boost the holiday spirit.

With the festivities just around the corner, it isn’t hard to see that Christmas is in the air.

Decorating For Yourself

Questions of what to buy and how to dress your space should strike right about the time the festive spirit has rubbed off and you have started heading in the direction of the nearest selection of decorations.

Kim Bo-kyung, who heads the Styling Cube Academy in southern Seoul, says there is a right way and a wrong way to decorate a tree or a room.

Kim, an established stylist who has done work for Hermes, Christian Dior and BMW, says that following a few guidelines could help make your space look as if it were done by professional.

According to Kim, this year’s Christmas ``it colors’’ are black, silver and gold.

``Monotones have had a strong presence in fashion as well as interior design in past months. It was only natural for them to be employed in Christmas decor,’’ she says.

Kim says that mixing and matching aluminum balls and ribbons in these three colors alone is enough to create a beautiful tree, but if you must have a little color, sprinkling toned-down shades of conventional Christmas colors here and there is a nice touch.

``In shops and markets, people will find that an abundance of material is being offered in colors like wine, burgundy, plum and olive,’’ she says.

Accenting with special ornaments will also help create an original tree.

Kim recommends that clear glass balls, crystal ornaments and lights be used as finishing touches.

For those who find trimming a tree too extravagant, Kim suggests adding a few items to a room to set the mood for the holiday season.

``Working a few festive cushions into a sofa or laying a holiday rug will do wonders,’’ she says.

``Setting the table to fit the season can also be done by putting out Christmas china and lighting a few pretty candles,’’ she says.

The Swarovski Star that tops this year's Rockefeller Christmas tree in New York City /AP-Yonhap

How far your time and money will stretch largely depends on your shopping destination. Markets in the Express Bus Terminal in southern Seoul or in Namdaemun in central Seoul prove that it doesn’t necessarily cost a fortune to create a holiday atmosphere.

While the shopping arcades lined up in the basement of Express Bus Terminal are known to offer an array of Christmas decor, little known to the average shoppers that the third floor of the terminal transforms into Seoul’s biggest marketplace for holiday decorations in mid-November.

Just about every Christmas item imaginable _ from one-of-a-kind ornaments, St. Nicks of all sizes and other trinkets to basics like lights, candles, ribbons, garland, glass balls, silk flowers, ivy, trees and wreaths _ can be found there for the best prices around. This year the markets are filled with wreathes and trees in all of this season’s popular colors as well as traditional items.

Although trimming the tree is half the fun, fully dressed trees can also be purchased there. If you can’t find the time to do a tree yourself but still want one, these already decorated trees are perfect. All you have to do is designate a palette and choose the type of ornaments, and it will be ready to pick up within hours.

The market is located at Express Bus Terminal Station on subway line 3. The market opens at midnight and closes at 5 p.m.

Namdaemun Market is also a favorite for the frugal shopper.

This year, Namdaemun is just the place for those who find Christmas not quite like Christmas without plenty of red and green. The stores are stocked up with bright aluminum balls, ribbons and flashy lights and tinsel.

Located near Hoehyon Station on subway line 4. The market opens at 10 a.m., and shops close between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Web sites like www.gmarket.co.kr, www.sgnco.co.kr and www.florence.co.kr also offer an array of decorative items, but as always, shopping online carries some risk. The product may differ from the on you thought you viewed, and because return and exchange policies differ from one site to the next, shopping online may turn out to be more of a hassle than going out shopping.