I can’t tell you how thankful I am that we’ve finally made it to the holiday season, I thought it would never come! Now that it’s finally here I’m going to seize the opportunity and go all out! It’s my favorite time of the year for food, family, and (of course) decorating!!! Because this year has been especially trying I thought it would help end the year on a good note to make this holiday season extra special… and I’m going to give you some tips on how to make yours even MORE merry and bright!
Pick a Color Scheme
Okay, to begin with we have to take down the fall décor, thank you Thanksgiving, and store that away. Now we get to take out all of the winter wonderland magic and create the PERFECT cozy, beautiful space that warms our hearts like a cup of hot cocoa…
What I like to do is start with my base decorations, because hey, if I already have them, chances are I already like them! This is an over-the-top holiday spectacular remember? We have to add to the magic to make it extra special! So, color combinations. Choose. Wisely.
Do you want this year to be creamy, white, snowy and ethereal? Do you want a classic Christmas combo with reds, golds, whites, and greens? What about some Hanukah robins egg blues, deep lapis, creams, and silver? You choose… I’ll wait…
Got it?
Organize the Chaos
Great! Okay, now that we have our color direction we can start focusing on each room! What I like to do is sprinkle my holiday décor throughout the house but have one, extra special room that just feels like a warm hug from the decorating angels. Decide which room that will be… will it be where the Christmas tree lives? What about the dining room where you’re going to have those fantastic holiday meals? Or how about that formal living room that no one goes into… you know the one. Yeah, USE IT! Sit in it! Eat in it! Pass out from all the food in it! It’s a special year remember?
Figured out where your big stopper will be? Perfect! In each room you’ll need to add in decorations according to your color scheme. Add things like garland, tinsel, decorative pillows, table décor, fake snow, statuary, ornaments, small trees, stockings, pre-wrapped presents, all the things! Okay, so you have your normal base in each room right? Good job!
Choose the Unexpected
Now, we ADD!!!! We’ll add in each room and then focus on that one special space this year that’s going to really push this holiday over the top. Here’s how… change out décor that you won’t think of. Confused? Don’t be, I’ll tell you what I mean. If you’re going with a cream, blue, and silver Hanukah space change out your normal curtains to a cream or blue! If you’re going classic Christmas think about putting up some plaid, checked, or solid red curtains!
Don’t have curtains? Try a new rug! You can find some wonderful inexpensive rugs online that will be perfect for short use and match your holiday décor like a dream! Or how about a table runner or table cloth? Try something more bold than you have before! Layer a runner on TOP of a table cloth for a super cozy look. Add in greenery and twinkle lights everywhere! Throw in some pinecones, a soft white furry throw blanket, and faux wrapped gifts all around the house… this is going to look great!
Add that Holiday Magic
Now for that extra special room… have one tree up? Great! Add another one! Another tree?? But I don’t have enough ornaments! Chill, as Frosty would say, you’ve got this! Pick up a faux pre-lit tree and some inexpensive round bulb ornaments that perfectly match your color scheme. Add in some ribbon cascading down the tree or wrapped around it. Pick a tree skirt that reinforces that color scheme! If you have a tight space get a thin, tall tree. If you have more room choose a more robust evergreen.
Then put this beautiful, perfect tree in your perfectly designed, over the top space so that it really screams HOLIDAY MAGIC! The family Christmas tree I put in the back family room for us to enjoy all of our memories and homemade ornaments. If there’s a fireplace in the room add some birch logs for an elevated, updated holiday look. If you’re into stockings maybe THIS year you go for a matching family set with your names embroidered on them?! I went with this option years ago and it brings me so much joy… and the decorator in me loves the cohesiveness!
No Christmas tree? No worries! One thing that I’ve seen, absolutely LOVE and will be doing this year is individual wreaths on the windows! You can face them out AND have them decorated on the back so if you’re walking by or walking through it’s still beautiful! You can hang them by a velvety ribbon to make it look extra special…
Fluff Up the Front
Lastly, remember the outside of your house? Yeah, it’s still out there hahaha, we might’ve forgotten for a bit but this is one of the BEST places to decorate for the holidays! You enjoy it but your neighbors get to enjoy it too! And right now it’s important to spread joy and love to ourselves and others. So. Go get that fake snow. Those lanterns. Those twinkle lights. Those wreaths. And go to town!!! More is better when it come to lights, still be strategic about placement but don’t shy away from grabbing a few more strands! Outline your house, walkways, splash the greenery and bushes in front with a net of lights, and make it extra special!
My best advice for holiday decor outside? FOCUS ON THE ENTRY! Your front door is the window into your home, make it feel warm, welcoming, and inviting! Create beautiful vignettes on either side of the door by putting some fake snow on the ground, pre-lit topiaries over it, some large lanterns on the ground with automatic candles, and a huge, gorgeous wreath!
Doesn’t this all sound so dreamy?! It can all be yours with a little planning, Amazon, and a quick trip to Michael’s to grab all your holiday décor needs! I know you deserve a fantastic holiday season this year so treat yourself and your family to an extra special holiday home décor spectacular!!
Have a great holiday decorating tip of your own? Any questions you’d like to ask? I’d invite you share in the comments section below.
…Pamela
