Christmas is here...let the decorating begin...or continue!

Christmas decorating can be as complex, or as simple as you wish…it’s all about what makes you feel happy and in the festive spirit.

Five simple decorating principles that can help to make your holiday décor feel complete:

1. Always try to put away the décor items from spaces that you are going to decorate. The biggest mistake that people make is layering their holiday décor over what is their everyday décor. This tends to make your space feel cluttered and over-stuffed during this already busy, chaotic season.

2. You don’t have to have a gazillion decorations for a space to feel festive. One trick that you can do is to pick a theme colour (I usually do red), and to place items throughout the house that tie into this colour. From something as simple as a throw on the couch, to a framed photograph of a Christmas ball, by tying everything together through a colour theme you can get a cohesive look.

3. If you want to bring the outside in, incorporate some natural elements. This can be something like placing cedar/pine boughs along a mantle, or simply filling some empty vases with pinecones.

4. Group Christmas cards together. Two of my favourite ways to display them are simply placing cards on a metallic tray, or hanging them with mini clothespins on a ribbon. The tray style of display is more minimalistic, and lends itself to people stopping to look through the pile, with the ribbon display method is a bit more rustic, and has the cards out for all to see.

5. Another easy, less expensive decorating trick is to buy Christmas ball from the dollar store. These can be placed in bowls, vases, or simply be scattered in different places around the house. It’s easy, and what says Christmas more than a tree decoration?

All of these are just some simple tips to pull a space together during the holiday season. I have had many clients, in the past, who have hired me to help them with placement of their Christmas décor. It’s funny, but we often get into the habit of using the same items in the same places, year after year, when that doesn’t have to be the way. Often times, just by having a new set of eyes on your items, and trying something new, you can feel like you have a brand new space. This goes for our everyday décor items, too. By simply trying something new, you can feel like you have a new home to enjoy.

BTW, did you know that a gift certificate for a décor consult makes a great Christmas gift? Just sayin’…Merry Christmas.

Alison