At this time of year, no matter what culture or lineage, celebrations usually involve some version of making the darkness lighter (at least in this hemisphere). In my family, decorating for Christmas has been one of my favorite traditions! So, for our December newsletter, my team and I sought out interior design decor ideas other than Christmas lights that we thought would be fun to share with you.
Incorporate family memories. โMy mother always decorated our house with natural greenery, flowers, and branches, and Iโve continued to do that as I build memories for my own children.โ -Laura Wilson, Dallas
Honor the style of your home. โAn antique home is the perfect backdrop for classic decorations. I weave together fir, cedar, white pine, and boxwood for a door garland, hang matching window wreaths, and fill the holly with white lights.โ -Lisa Hilderbrand, Connecticut
Featured Image Photo credit: Janis Nicolay; image below: Jane Beiles
Keep it minimalist and contemporary. โMany Hanukkah traditions revolve around oil to represent the miracle of light, so we made a garland out of olive branches in homage to that. Pair a contemporary menorah and minimalist gift wrap for a new spin on the season.โ -Gillian Segal, Vancouver
Stick to a color combination. โMy family celebrates both Christmas and Kwanzaa. We choose a different theme every year, but youโll always see a thread of blue running throughoutโmy father always used to hang blue lights on our house because it was my motherโs favorite color.โ -Nikki Klugh, San Diego
Set the scene with some greenery. โThe planter in our entryway changes with the seasons. In the winter, I incorporate moss, princess pine, and berriesโI want my guests to feel like theyโve been transported elsewhere.โ -Charlotte Moss, New York
Donโt be afraid to experiment. โThe holidays are meant to be extravagant! Instead of a tree skirt, try a vintage fishbowl or planter. It heightens the tree and gives you more room for Santaโs surprises.โ -Matthew Monroe Bees, Charleston
Go monochromatic. โAs much as I love traditional red and green, I wanted to do something a bit more
glamorous and elegant with a mix of fine china, crystal, and silver,โ says Atlanta-based designer Beth Webb.
โAnd donโt forget the importance of fragrance to set the holiday moodโthink freshly cut evergreen branches and burning wood.โ
Always start fresh. โMy usual first step is to completely discard any idea that Iโve used before,โ says designer Scot Meacham Wood. That way, each year is new and exciting. He even goes as far as putting the tree in a totally different room each year.
Repetition is always classic. Repeating design statements adds serious impact. โIf I decide to put a wreath in a window, Iโll almost always end up putting matching wreaths in every window,โ says Wood. Last year, he used the same plaid textiles all over his study to create a magical holiday retreat.
Embrace boxwood wreaths. Designer Amy Berry says she uses boxwood wreaths all over her house โ in front of mirrors, tied onto furniture, anywhere. One reason: โItโs not nearly as messy as garland can be,โ Berry says. Decorate your storage. Just because your hutch is simple during the rest of the year, doesnโt mean it should be a Scrooge come the holidays. Virginia Fynes from Fynes Designs tucks ornaments into baskets and tiered trays and sprinkles them with fake snow.
Go crazy with garland. Garlands are designer CeCe Barfield Thompsonโs go-to decoration. โThey donโt take up much space and can be used in a number of ways that are child-friendly,โ she says. Her favorite? Magnolia leaves. โI use two and tie them together at the top of my mirror so that they look like one large garland.โ
Remember, scents are important. Smell plays an important part of the season, which is why designer Frank Bostelmann says not to underestimate it. โNothing gets that feeling going quicker than a bowl full of clove pierced oranges,โ he says. Or try a mulled wine with cinnamon. Shucks.
Do a final edit. Even though Wood admits his style motto is usually โmore is more,โ he says itโs important to do a final edit. โI always try to create one big statement, then make sure everything else is secondary,โ Wood says. Last year, he created a garland canopy, but kept the rest low-key.
Adapted from housebeautiful.com
