Today's homes are overflowing with the joyful scents, textures and creations of the holidays
Spice up Your Décor this Holiday Season
By Whitnie Cypert & Jodi Trotter
The nightsbrare longer, the weather cooler and if those gentle reminders aren't enough, thebraisles of your favorite department store has been displaying its' cheer forbrweeks. A portion of some or all of these events probably have you askingbryourself, “Is my home ready for the Holidays?” At some point between handingbrout Halloween candy and lunging for the fuzzy slippers we all realize thebrcountdown towards annual holiday gatherings has already begun. As the days seembrto get shorter and shorter it seems as if our to-do lists keeps getting longerbrand longer. This is exactly the time ofbryear when the phones of most interior designers start ringing. On the other end- panic-stricken clients whobrjust realized they will be hosting the family Thanksgiving and they have nobrdining room table- let alone the essential holiday flare.
Thebrholiday season starts for many in October and doesn't end until well intobrJanuary. If you are like most people, football games, family gatherings, andbrdinner parties caught up with you faster than you expected. But that is OK, these tips are designed tobrhelp any homeowner create a beautiful and stress-free holiday haven. The first step to any successful venture isbran organized plan. Here's how to spicebrup your home with just the right amount of holiday cheer.
Make Room For Holiday Cheer
We allbrlove the beautiful accessories and accents that adorn our homes throughout thebryear, but when the holidays draw near, the first order of business should be tobrmake room for the plethora of fall and winter décor bursting at the seams ofbrour attics and closets. Don't be afraidbrto stash away your favorite decorative plate or candlesticks--it is only a few short months and they will seembrfresh and new when they reappear at the beginning of the year. Simply clearing a mantle or nightstand canbrmake way for an inspired display of seasonal accessories. Many times rearranging furniture is alsobrnecessary in rooms where trees and large decorations will need to be staged. When purchasing furniture for your mainbrliving spaces, consider the possibilities of rearranging, removing andbrrepurposing furnishings for the holidays.
Now it isbrtime for the inevitable--unpacking the many boxes of decorations. Hopefully youbrtook this massive undertaking into consideration last year while taking downbryour decorations for storage (if not,brthere is always this year). Labelingbrstorage containers for specific rooms can assist in making a smooth transitionbrinto their “temporary home”. Now, letbrthe fun begin!
Crafting the Look
Crafting anbroverall look, and even a theme, for each of the key spaces that you will bebrdecorating can remove some of the anxiety in choosing from the overwhelmingbramount of holiday decorations you have collected over the years. We suggest one of two approaches-- going withbran overall color concept throughout the home or creating individual themes,brbased on color and/or design, for each area. brThemed rooms make it easier to unify decorations and produce an artisticbrexperience for your guests. Consider abrspecial collection, hobby or interest of your family that can serve as thebrinspiration for your holiday décor. Abrcolor palette of metallic gold, copper and silver makes your home sparkle andbrcan translate well from fall into winter holidays. The key is to combine colors that can be layeredbrto create interest. Metallic tones canbreffortlessly transform a dull room into an elegant atmosphere for an eveningbrdinner party. Consider designing yourbrtheme around the color scheme of the specific room. Think beyond traditional cornucopias andbrtinsel—creating an inspired holiday room can be accomplished with pink andbrsilver or red and gold. There are nobrlimits when choosing color or a theme.
Accentuate the Positive
Holidaybrdecorating for many people does not consist of only pumpkins and reindeer. Today's homes are overflowing with the joyfulbrscents, textures and creations of the holidays. brChanging out the pillows on a sofa to reflect fall colors or adding abrthrow to the back of a chair can warm up a room and carry you through thebrentire season. Candles are a quick andbreasy solution to an ordinary set of candlesticks becoming a holiday treat--incorporatebrembellishments such as cloves or decorative nail head trim to add flare andbrinterest to an unadorned candle. Holidaybrscented candles also create an ambiance for dinner parties and gatherings. Add candy or metallic coated acorns to abrmodest glass vase for instant impact. Gildingbris a simple way to make everyday household items become spectacular accents. Try spraying pinecones or baskets withbrmetallic paint for an elegant kitchen table centerpiece that can be usedbrThanksgiving through the New Year. brCrystal rosé bowls layered on a holiday throw can convert a dining tablebrinto a masterpiece for welcoming your guests—add a colored glass votivebrreflecting each holiday season for additional effect. Try using collectables in uncommonbrways—layers of tree toppers on a mantle or ceramic pumpkins and gourdsbrembellished with jewels.
Get Fresh (with Flowers)
What saysbrwinter better than the smell of fresh evergreens? Adding fresh greenery in garlands around thebrfireplace, on a sideboard or around the base of a container adds a touch of thebroutdoors to any space. Additionally,brtoday's marketplace provides a vast assortment of artificial garlands and stemsbrthat are both attractive and realistic and can be used throughout thebryears. Fresh or artificial garlands can simplybrbe embellished with pine cones, ornaments or ribbons for an added hint of charm. Speakingbrof ribbon—there is no better or easier way to enhance a home for thebrholidays than with ribbon. Wide, narrow,brshiny or glittered, the only requirement for stress-free ribbons is thebrwire. We add ribbon to everything we canbrduring the holidays. Tied around towelsbror lamp shades, a beautiful ribbon can revitalize any piece. One element that most of us do consider abrholiday staple is floral arrangements. Thisbris the perfect time of year to refresh your home with holiday inspiredbrflorals. But don’t just think about thebrclassic kind—the term “floral arrangements” should be used loosely in thisbrcase. Think outside the box for abrdistinctive approach. Add oomph to abrlamp shade with a silk poinsettia stem or enhance an existing arrangement withbra beaded cross for a little sparkle. Letbryour imagination flow.
Plan for the Years Ahead
Achievingbrthe desired goal of a beautiful holiday home may begin with a concept but endbrwith planning for the years to come. Nowbrthat your home is ready for the holidays, consider making this process a bitbreasier next year with a few helpful tips. brWe recommend taking photographs of each room, once decorated. Inevitably, you think you will rememberbrexactly how it looked—but if you are likebrme, you won't a year later. Also,brremember to invest in proper storage containers. This simple investment keeps your holidaybrdécor looking fresh and new, year after year.
If you arebrstill feeling a little frazzled or overwhelmed with excitement, considerbrenlisting the services of a floral or interior designer to assist you inbrpulling your ideas together. Holidaysbrare a time of joyfulness with family and friends, holiday home décor should bebra display of this season of joy and not invoke the feelings of stress andbranxiety. Remember, your choices todaybrare limitless.
Whitnie Cypert and Jodi Trotter are interiorbrdesign professionals at the Interior Collection, a full service design centerbrand retail showroom established in Southlake in 2004. With degrees in DesignbrHousing & Merchandising/Interior Design from Oklahoma State University bothbrWhitnie and Jodi bring a wealth of talent and experience to each and everybrdesign challenge. For more information visit Interior Collection Texas.
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