Deck the Halls – Tips and Inspiration for Your Home This Holiday Season

The holiday season is right around the corner.  Whether you just bought your first home and want to start a new tradition, or you’re ready to try something new with your holiday décor, we have some fun and creative ideas to get you feeling inspired! Don’t let a fear of heights or other practicalities hold you back from going all out with your exterior décor either. You can let your creativity flow and leave anything that requires a ladder, or heavy lifting to us.

Trim that tree!

Here are some creative ways to decorate your Christmas tree.  If you have a large home, you may want to consider having multiple trees.  Foyers, living rooms, libraries or other open spaces can be made much to feel more festive. Allow each tree to have its own personality. Designate one to be your “gift tree” for Christmas morning.  Find a special place for ornaments of sentimental value such as dated ones, or handmade ornaments the kids made. Alternatively, consider placing all of those special heartfelt pieces on a garland in a special place where they can be admired!

Use Ribbon

Using wide ribbon as a garland is a quick and easy way to add flair to your tree, and can be easily changed each year!  Grab a few spools of a sturdy and malleable ribbon at a local craft store and weave it through the branches. You can go metallic, colorful, or go for a cozy chalet feel with plaids.  Stick with one style ribbon or mix a few. Intersperse some ornaments and soft lighting. You can top the tree with a big bow like this photo or go with another more traditional tree topper.

Go Floral

Flowers may be an odd thought for some during this cold winter season, but adding blooms to your decor can be a great way to make everything feel abundant, festive and elegant.  

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This first tree has a beautiful palette of silvery blue, gold and white, combining ribbons, white poinsettias and golden leaves. The flocked tree has a variety of different florals including romantic roses and a touch of millennial pink.  (See Color Trends 2020 for other tips on how to use this color all year round!)

Dripping in Crystals

This decadent tree is covered in ice.  Consider draping an excess of sparkling garland with deep swags, soft white lights, and long hanging crystal ornaments to recreate this look.  This style would look great in a large formal dining room during Christmas dinner!

Go Naked

For a more stripped down and rustic look, this tree is simply a piece of a larger puzzle.  Soft white lights work together beautifully with the other elements in the room: the antlers on the coffee table, faux fur blanket draped on the sofa, the fireplace greenery, all punctuated by the red and white floral arrangement on the table.  This look is much more understated but still feels effortlessly lush and cozy.

Seasons “Greetings”

Make a statement during the holiday season by addressing the space as people enter.  If you have a focal stairway in your entryway, one of my favorite ways to add flair is with some sort of garland or wrap along the banister.  It’s simple enough to do and can really fill the space and make it feel special.

This more traditional style uses some greenery with eucalyptus leaves mixed in.  Use large bows and white lights to add sparkle and lightness to the look. 

Let some real or faux wrapped presents start to creep up the stairs.  You’ll feel like a kid walking down the stairs on Christmas morning, every day.  If your ‘gift tree’ is by the stairs, this is also a great way to display presents when you have an overflow.

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Add some romance with candles in lanterns or hurricanes leading up the stairs (use LED of course 😉).  You could sprinkle some pinecones or holly berries inside the containers or nestled up against them to add another layer.

Incorporate Some Movement and Flair

Looking for a way to get the kids involved?  This is a great project to use cabin fever energy productively during cold weather or a snow day.  Take an assortment of holiday ornaments, they can be coordinated and uniform, or a hodgepodge of different sizes, shapes and colors.  Tie a ribbon at varying lengths and tack them from the top of your window casing so the ornaments are suspended at different heights in front of the window glass.  It’s an easy activity for the whole family to get involved in while listening to some holiday music, and adds some whimsy and sparkle to any space!

Add a Natural Touch

To make your space feel more elegant and less commercialized, adding elements with an organic feel can be softer and less “plastic” feeling.  These arrangements have some charm to them, reminiscent of a lodge or a southern farmhouse.

These lovely wooden chargers can be used all winter, perhaps even all year long, with a table runner made of greenery and the cinnamon stick accent it’s a tasteful and simple way to celebrate the season. 

Exchange the bows, bells and balls for a fruited garland like this living room by Tobi Fairley.  Add unexpected color to your greenery with a natural touch. Using fresh fruit will leave the space naturally fragrant and flourishing.

Swap out traditional evergreens for sumptuous magnolia leaves.  Magnolia garlands and wreathes lend themselves wonderfully to holiday décor with their beautiful green and reddish leaves.  They’re full, plush, and give a lot of presence. Drape dramatically over doorways, use as a table runner, place a wreath on the front door, or use as a table centerpiece.

Take It Outside

Here are some ideas to get you inspired for your outdoor decorating.

Keep it casual and dressed down with some evergreen garlands and wreaths adorned with pinecones.  A stack of firewood is cozy and invites guests to come in and get warmed up.

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Keep it classic with evergreen swags wrapped along columns or other architectural details.  Place one large wreath over a prominent window, or treat each window with an individual wreath.  Use traditional red velvet bows to add some cheer. For a soft sparkle, string white lights throughout the garland.  To create a more vintage Christmas feel, place a few spotlights from the yard centered on the wreaths to cast a soft illumination over the whole house.

 

Keep your look consistent throughout the property and consider adding a bow or some greenery to your mailbox, fence or lamp posts for a layered look.

Filling some large lanterns with festive holiday ornaments and a sprig of holly is an easy way to dress up the front door or porch.

Let your creative spirit run wild this holiday season!  Remember that while the holidays can add a lot of stress and items to your to do list, HomeSquare is here to help!  If your decorating plans include heavy lifting, or stringing exterior lights, we offer those services. Make some more room for JOY in your schedule and leave the ladders and tangled strands of lights to the professionals!

 

Katie Canfield is the founder and principal designer at Studio KC.  Studio KC got its humble start in 2015 when Katie was just 23 years old.  While she was freelancing with other interior designers in the NY and CT area she also became a go-to designer for local contractors and trades that needed a designer’s help for their clients whether it be for custom cabinetry drawings or plans for a gut renovation on an entire home.

Katie Canfield’s design aesthetic is eclectic and flexible. She delights in the marriage between old and new- keeping spaces approachable but still matching each client’s unique aesthetic and family narrative. Her passion for design keeps her motivated and constantly on the hunt for new trends and materials. Her broad experience includes an art history background, study at the Accademia Italiana in Florence, a stint with the renowned Manhattan firm Amanda Nisbet Design, as well as collaborations with builders and designers across the tri-state area. She’s seen it all: from gutting prewar Manhattan apartments to new construction in the ‘burbs.