‘Tis the season to be jolly! And, also, to get some amazing decor to glitz up the house! Today, we explore some tips, tricks, and ideas to decorate for the holidays.
Lean into the Natural Look
Use your woodsy accent pieces including pinecones, little trees, frosted or glazed leaves, garland, and mistletoe, berries, and frosted branches to set the stage for festivities this year. Place these cute greens, browns, reds, and golds all throughout the house - countertops, bars, bathroom nooks and crannies, etc… Pick up a few more than you think you need, and you can continue to find new spots for them all throughout the season. Being so small and portable, you can also make cute arrangements in baskets or on the mantlepiece for your special days.
Whether you go out and collect fully natural versions of these items, or you pick them up in-store, recognize that some might be suited for just 1-season use, while others could be stored and used again for years to come.
Show off Your DIY Craftsmanship
Craft your own wreath(s) with old fabrics that need new life. This can be a great activity to involve the kids in - they’ll love cutting up old cloth and gluing or using them into beautiful, original pieces of art that can be personalized to suit you and your family.
Create your own napkin rings, or have personalized ones designed and produced for your household. These will add a unique, though subtle, touch to all of the dining events for your holidays.
Use local mistletoe, lights, and other greens to string up your interior for holiday parties. This idea requires some creativity, as well as the right hooking mechanism(s) for your walls. You probably don’t want to go around putting tiny nail holes in the walls for strings and strands. So, look into Command Hooks or other stick-to-the-wall applications that are designed for interior use. They are typically safe for all walls, but consult the product packaging and try it on a small section of your wall first, before you go all-out and “deck the halls.”
Light it up with Lanterns 🕯🕯
Lanterns are not only a charming source of natural light, but they can also add an air of romance to the holiday spirit, often helping to soften the mood of a room. Place a lantern in your main entryway to create a subtle introduction for your property. Or, you could host a party where lanterns and candlelight were the only forms of light. This one could be great for those dark evenings where you want a more intimate atmosphere. If you have a fireplace, tonight might be the perfect night to light it as well! Just be careful with any matches, and be sure to put out any flames at the end of the night’s celebrations.
A Winter Village
Want to draw the eyes of your guests to a specific area of any room? Then, set up a snowy holiday village of ceramic houses. You can find these houses in a variety of styles from Dickensian to Gingerbread, and even German Glitter. Of course, you can also buy “blank” versions to paint and decorate in your own style if you have time. This might be one where you have adults do most of the work and artistry, and let the kids work on edible gingerbread versions. Some of these ceramic houses can run over $100 per piece, so do be careful when handling them.
Here’s an Amazon search that highlights several of the available styles. However, there are also independent house-crafters who offer these ceramic masterpieces each year. You can even build up your collection with each year, adding to your village. For extra flair, dapple some cotton puffs on the “street” or around the houses themselves for the “winter wonderland” effect.
Wreaths Abound!
You don’t have to stick with just the one wreath on the front door. That is a good starting point, but why stop there!? Place a couple of indoor wreaths all around the house to bring that warm-home feel inside. For a cohesive feel, buy a few of the same wreaths, or a similar style, and place them on most/all of the doors inside your house. Vary up the sizes too, for that truly hand-crafted feel.
Christmas Trees, Menorahs, and More! 🎄 🕎
How could we forget about the classic, tried-and-true festivity items… the Christmas tree, Menorah, and other symbolic pieces!? If you are celebrating a religious or spiritual holiday, be sure to place your symbolic piece somewhere central. It means a lot to you, and you presumably want to show it off. Decorate in a traditional manner for a classic look, or embrace some 21st-century social decor with whacky decorations. But remember, it should be a good, fun, enjoyable piece - don’t put undue pressure on yourself to make it “perfect.”
Reindeer Figurines
These little critters are classic, cute, and can flexibly fit into your theme. Pick a few reindeer that match your color scheme, or go bold with your deer colors. You could make them “blend right in” until guests really take a minute to observe. For this, think browns and dark bronze colors, assuming you’re going with a more natural/muted palette of colors. Or, stun with antlers upon first glance, by picking some reindeer that strike a stark contrast in your room. For example, a pair of gold or silver reindeer really stand out against a red mantle cloth in the living room.
Don’t forget your jingle bells 🔔🔔
Bells are chiming through the air, just as the songs played throughout the house remind us. Cute bells, ribbons, and fronds are all excellent accent pieces. And, as a sweet bonus, place some candy canes of varying sizes throughout your arrangements. Every time a candy cane gets snagged, give one of your bells a little tickle to ring it! You might have to replace the candy canes as the month continues though, because they make for great on-the-run sweet treats!
Decorate Every Room
For a fully comprehensive look, be sure to decorate every room - Yes, that includes bathrooms! It doesn’t have to be much, and oftentimes less is more. But, you don’t want to break the mood by only decorating one or two rooms. Keep your themes going throughout the house, and then bask in the joy of the season as you and your guests meander through each and every room!
Embrace Tradition
Do you like the traditional look? Then, stick to these colors in your palette: Red, Green, White, Gold, Bronze, and Blue.
Try a New Holiday Theme
Looking for a color scheme with a little more “punch?” Then, stick with those Golds, Reds, and Blues, but also think about adding in some color-splash with Orange, Black, Burgundy, Purple, and even Grey!
Each of these ideas and tips can be tried individually, but they will really shine if you combine a few of them. You find holiday decor for that classic feel, or a more modern twist, at shops all over town during this time of year. Or, you can go online to have even more choices to design and decorate with a grand plan for your home this season.
We at WK Real Estate want to wish you the happiest of times during this season. If there is anything we can help you with, please don't hesitate to contact us.