Here, I’ll go first. My name is Regan, and I am the owner of four quilted, Santa Claus shaped placemats. I used them for longer than I’d like to admit. My past crimes against Christmas include: decorating my tree with gold plastic cherub head ornaments, using matching cherub tree lights, and layering white and gold wired ribbon to make massive bows that I stuck all over the tree. There’s just something about the holidays that make even the most design savvy among us completely disregard our typical sense of style and it made me wonder, “How does one remain true to oneself while decking their halls”? I’ve come up with seven simple steps you can take to keep from losing your mind (and your design cred).
Take stock of your surroundings. What’s your style? Is your home traditional? Farmhouse? Modern? Do you like “stuff” or are you more of a minimalist? This is the first step in determining which direction you take because your holiday decor should be an extension of your normal aesthetic. Sometimes we’re so overcome with the spirit of the season, we forget that our Christmas should look like a slightly more festive version of our every day life. So, if your home is modern, keep it clean and graphic with pops of color. If farmhouse is your style, keep it fresh by avoiding the obvious: trade buffalo plaid for textured neutrals, and tin for wicker. If you’re a traditionalist at heart, think boxwood wreaths and rich velvet ribbon.
Maybe it’s the color of your favorite throw or accent cushion, maybe it’s a color you’ve always wanted to try but were too nervous to meaningfully commit. Either way, if you’re looking to add color to your Christmas, your existing space should be the biggest indicator when deciding which one to choose.
If you prefer a more natural look color wise, some fresh greenery may be just the right amount of color for your space. If you’d like to use the same blue as your sofa, you can add depth by using lighter and darker versions of the same color and pairing it with a neutral. Drooling over the Pantone Color of the Year? Add it to your tree or wreath in the form of ribbon or hang a few similarly colored ornaments. By the end of the season, you’ll have a feel for whether you want to live with Illuminating 13-0647 on a more permanent basis, or if it’s more of a once a year for a month type of color.
I have an ornament on my tree that my kids call the “creepy moon”. I got it in Amsterdam and it reminds me of a time when our family went to an outdoor showing of the movie The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It was a pretty magical night and every time I see that ornament, it makes me think of what a lovely evening we had. When you see an ornament that reminds you of a wonderful person or experience you’ve had, buy it! Buy ornaments from the places you travel, buy them to celebrate special occasions in your life. Those ornaments are the keepers of our stories. They give your tree and your space a richer, deeper meaning. Don’t worry about these ornaments working perfectly in terms of color or style, with these ones it’s all about feeling. And if it’s truly a little “out there”, your over all look will do the heavy lifting and this little outlier will become a fantastic conversation piece. So, the moon stays! Does it look creepy, and perhaps even slightly menacing? If I’m being honest- yes, but no creepier than the one-eyed sandpaper gingerbread man my kids insist on hanging right at the front of the tree.
You know what fits perfectly in your empty decoration bins? I was going to say all the tchotchkes that usually fill your home, but I guess the body of your sworn enemy works as well. What ever you do, don’t try to accommodate all your holiday decorations alongside your every day stuff. There will be the odd bowl or vase that can transition through the season, but if it’s just taking up space, toss it in those empty bins and enjoy the special pieces you only see once a year.
I really find it so lovely when there are bits and pieces of Christmas spread throughout the home, but there’s no need to get crazy. Be sure to consider the scale and amount of available space in whatever room you’re decorating; the main floor powder room will likely be just fine with an understated, festive hand towel and a simple sprig of pine or eucalyptus.
If, like us, you do the majority of your Netflix-ing in your basement, consider splurging on another tree. A few years ago, I hit the jackpot at Michaels and picked up a slim profile tree for $69.00 during one of their 50% off sales. Sometimes I don’t even decorate it, I just pop it in the corner and plug it in.
I can not overstate how wonderful it is to have fresh greens as a part of your holiday decor. Many stores (*clears throat aggressively) and Christmas markets begin selling fresh greens in ready made planters or wreaths by mid-November. They’ll also usually sell bags of greens that can be used to fill your own planters. If the thought of filling your own planters gives you the cold sweats, ask for help! Vendors are happy to give suggestions on how to plant them and where to position the different boughs. One of the best investments I made a few years back was buying two fresh Candleberry wreaths that I hung in the windows of my kitchen nook. The wreaths lasted until the middle of January and made me feel like I was Martha Stewart swanning around the kitchen of my Turkey Hill mansion.
Um, is it? Trust me, as a designer it is VERY HARD for me to admit this is true. When I yell “Back of the tree!” at my sweet children, I truly mean it in the most loving of ways. It’s just that some ornaments are meant for, well, the back of the tree. Filler balls, that frame ornament that doesn’t have a picture, the one-eyed sandpaper gingerbread man; you might as well admit it, I know you do it too. But even someone whose very job is to make things beautiful can admit that the most exquisitely decorated tree can seem a little empty when there’s no significance attached to it. Think of it as you would a hotel lobby tree: It likely packs a beautiful punch with its gorgeous, ornament laden branches, but it’s also likely a little generic and devoid of the charm that only a CD with a glued-on photo of your child dressed as an angel can provide. Have I convinced you? Because I’ve just about convinced myself.
Well friends, there you have it, my top tips for decking your halls. What I really want to know is do you have a version of my "creepy moon" ornament? The one ornament that you love but makes everyone else question your sanity? If so, tell me about it in the comments below and happy decking!
PS- I'll post a picture of the creepy moon over on Instagram and you can weigh in on it's creep factor.
"Don’t you love Okotoks in the Fall? Makes me want to watch You’ve Got Mail."
Well, I guess if I’m being completely honest, I always want to watch You’ve Got Mail, but the urge is especially strong at the first hint of Fall. In a lot of ways, I’m not typically nostalgic when it comes to the 90’s. I’m not eager to revisit my grunge phase, but I do have a special place in my heart when it comes to 90’s interior and set design. Enter You’ve Got Mail and, more specifically, Meg Ryan’s apartment.
Jen Weisgerber
November 14, 2021
I NEED to make my way down to you! Got some major inspiration from this blog :)