Holiday Decor

Decorating can turn a house into a home. And during the holidays, it can transform your home into a magical, festive gathering place. Are you stuck in a holiday decorating rut? Don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s my guide to creating your own personal winter wonderland.

Trees Wandering through local Christmas tree lots is a favorite pastime of mine this time of year. It can get overwhelming trying to find the perfect tree to bring home. Start simple – decide on the size and width of your tree, then choose whether you want it plain or flocked (fake snow). Once you’ve got that down, look for a tree with full, lush branches to safely hold all your ornaments. Next, take a step back to make sure your tree stands tall and doesn’t veer too far to the left or right. Walk around, touch the needles and branches, smell the pine, and envision what the end product will look like. Once you’ve picked your perfect tree and brought it home, make sure to keep the stand it comes with for next year!

                                       (pic taken by me, Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas)

Decorations Now that we’ve got our tree, let’s start decorating. String lights, hang ornaments, place the star (or angel) on top of the tree, and deck the rest of the halls with some more décor. Hang wreathes on doors and stockings on the fireplace; use your mantle to house snow globes and pine cones; assemble a Santa’s village with tiny houses and people sitting atop fake snow; place a tree skirt under your tree and cover it with presents (or pretty boxes) for some glamour. If you want to DIY your decorations – string popcorn, make paper ornaments, add ribbon and poinsettias to logs for a rustic feel, and drop extra ornaments into a clear vase for a table centerpiece. As soon as you’re done, sit back and relax with hot cocoa. You’ve earned it!   

                                          (pic taken by me, Aria Hotel, Las Vegas) 

Design Holiday décor is an art. And since art is subjective, there’s no one way to decorate. Do you want a modern or more traditional setting? Are you a minimalist or more-is-better type of person? Whatever your personal style, have fun with it. Traditional red and green always looks great and feels cozy and festive. Cool tones like blue, pink and silver give a modern effect. Mixed metals are super trendy, while all-white is ultra chic. Throw in some gold to glamour it up. Mix and match to your heart’s content. Over the top or just a touch, make it your own.

Happy decorating! And share some pictures of your decorating magic in the comments below!