Ah, the holidays. The most hectic, we mean wonderful, time of the year. Luckily, sprucing up your home doesn’t need to be a big to-do. Read on for 5 simple ways to up your holiday decorating game from Kimpton’s Design Team.
A few simple touches can go a long way to infusing your home with the warmth of the holiday.
1.) COZY UP YOUR HOME WITH CANDLES
Add a dash of holiday magic to your mantle with an array of pure white candles. Or lay on the holiday spirit for a Hanukkah party by including a chic menorah paired with seasonal greens. If you’d prefer not to have open flame in your display, candles in brass or black hurricanes make a beautiful alternative.
2.) SHOW OFF YOUR GREEN THUMB
Don’t give winter foliage the short end of the stick. Not only do eucalyptus, pine boughs, bay leaves, rosemary, juniper, and Douglas and Fraser fir smell amazing, but they’re long-lasting options that can be displayed all winter long. So hang those wreaths, string those garlands, and run those evergreen branches across your dining room table. Bonus points for studding them with candles or wrapping them in little white lights so you can enjoy the glow through the long nights of the season.
A freshly-cut evergreen wreath is a classic way to decorate for the season.
3.) SPIRITED SMALL SPACES
Creating a tabletop display is an ideal way to decorate a smaller space without overwhelming it. Try filling a hurricane glass, a vase or an oversized bowl with metallic, soft white, leather or wooden ornaments to add a dash of seasonal warmth. Or spruce up an empty corner by hanging 5 or 6 clear bulbs filled with greenery.
Simplicity is key when it comes to adding holiday décor to small spaces. Image Credit: Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash
4.) WHITE-OUT
Incorporating white and ivory objects, like birch candles or white wooden garlands, is a simple way to evoke feelings of snowy days and frosty nights, while easily working with any home’s color palette. For an elevated take on holiday lights, add teeny string lights to a lantern or hurricane glass to illuminate any area. And the best part of all that wintry whiteness? Sub-freezing temps and icy winds are not included.
The timeless elegance of winter whites adds a touch of class to any holiday soiree. Image Credit: Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash
5.) DECK THE PALMS
For those in warmer climates, holiday decorating rules are a little different. Celebrate the local culture and embrace what’s natural to your landscape. Hang a unique wreath using tropical botanicals such as monstera leaves or succulents, trim a palm (or cactus!) with lights, or incorporate materials like shells, natural woods or burlap in your decorating scheme to create a warm, holiday feel. And for those of you in the Southwest who do the tumbleweed decorating thing: we know who you are.
HOLIDAY UH-OH’S AND NO-NOS!
When all else fails, refer to this handy list to help keep your simple styling on track.
- “HINT” AT THE HOLIDAYS – Just like eggnog, a little décor goes a long way. Sure, deck the halls… but maybe don’t decorate every nook and cranny of your home.
- LET SANTA SIT THIS ONE OUT – Keep your simple style on point by avoiding kitschy holiday themes like Santas, reindeer and snowmen.
- SEASON-PROOF YOUR STYLE –Metallic tones and strands of clear lights will keep your décor on trend through New Year’s Eve and beyond.
- KEEP IT REAL – Be sure to use only fresh botanicals and avoid using faux green wreaths or garlands.
- PASS ON POINSETTIAS – Our feelings about poinsettias are that you might want to point and settia them somewhere else. Stick to boughs of greenery to modernize your display.
–Kimpton Design Team
This post was originally published on November 28, 2017 and has been updated.
