Home for the holidays  | National Post

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The holidays can be equal parts excitement and stress. The pressures of gift buying, baking and making small talk with relatives we haven’t seen since last year can definitely cramp the goodwill. So can decorating, another tradition that some find stressful. The only way to get around that is to start with a plan.  

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“I recommend starting your holiday decorating the same way you approach any decorating project,” advises Kristyn Gerth, founder and creative director of Ash & Oak Interiors. “Start with a theme or a colour scheme. Look at displays, pictures and inspirations you’ve seen that you like, and keep these in mind when you’re shopping for decor.”  

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“Start by looking at what you have that you’ve loved for years,” and use that as your starting point, adds Tori Wesszer, a British Columbia-based food and lifestyle blogger, decorator and founder of the website Fraiche Living, who has recently released a line of holiday-themed decor and dining pieces for Walmart. “Chasing trends can be frustrating and expensive, but if you figure out what your foundation is, you’re already ahead and can build from there.” 

Inspiration can also be found in ribbons, bows and ornaments, says Lindsay Thornton, designer and principal of GTA-based Cornerstone Design & Build. “Be daring and go beyond the typical red and green. Try neutral woods with white, or sage green and navy. A great ribbon with a pattern such as plaid can be a perfect starting point; pick out three colours in the ribbon and go with that.”  

A good place to introduce a decor theme is on the exterior of a home, since it’s the first thing guests see when they arrive. A wreath in either natural or faux greenery makes a strong focal point, says Gerth. A natural or artificial cedar garland draped around the door also adds a warm touch; removable Command hooks are a simple solution for attaching it to a door frame. Dress it up with bows, additional sprigs of greenery, ribbon and, if you like, ornaments such as pinecones, balls or small birds.  

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If a large or eye-catching wreath has been hung, urns and other outdoor décor can be pared down; the most appealing displays often follow a less-is-more principle.  

Small potted evergreen trees adorned with bows and battery-operated strings of lights, and circled with ribbon, are all the urns need. Displays can also be bought ready-made at the box or garden store; minimal care, such as regular spritzing with a spray bottle, will keep them looking good through the holidays. 

The theme set out in the exterior display can be carried into the front hallway, says Thornton. “If you have a console table, put out some faux greenery and add candlesticks or pillar candles.” Or you could display something more personal, she continues, like a holiday-themed family piece — a piece of heirloom silverware, for example, or a nutcracker. 

“I love to group smaller things in baskets, like silver bells, ornaments or pinecones, to add a lovely bit of texture,” says Wesszer. Another simple, pretty idea is to fill a large glass vase to the top with ball ornaments and place it on the landing or a hall table.  

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The staircase is a time-honoured place for garland, where it can be wound through the bannister. But don’t stop there, says Thornton, who suggests adding strings of tiny white lights or ribbon through it and finishing it with bows. A garland swagged along the outer side of the stair can be embellished in the same way. 

In the living room, meanwhile, the tree is the star and should be the centrepiece. A tree skirt tied to the decorating theme adds a finished look and creates a stage for the presents. As you decorate the tree, says Wesszer, “step back every so often and blur your eyes to see where the gaps are, especially with strings of lights.” She adds that, along with hanging ornaments on the tips of tree branches, tuck a few deeper inside the branches as well. “My mother did that when we were young, and it’s just magical for a child to discover them hiding in there.” 

Giving the tree a preplanned colour scheme imparts an elegant, pulled-together look, but you don’t have to leave out favourite ornaments altogether, says Gerth; just be a little more selective. “You can set an intentional scheme as your foundation, using ribbons, bows or other things, but maybe just change out a few ornaments that don’t fit with the scheme, to use next year.”  

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Don’t forget that presents are a part of the overall look as well, she adds. “One solution is to use plain Kraft paper wrapped in the theme ribbon you’ve chosen, then top each one with an ornament that can go on the tree later.” Kraft paper is also a better choice for the environment, since most regular gift wrap isn’t recyclable. 

“I like to have a second statement tree in the dining room, but not everyone has the room for that,” Thornton says. “But you could also dress up the sideboard with greenery, candlesticks or candles, then hang some greenery and ribbons on wall sconces, if the room has them.” 

The cardinal rule in the dining room is not to overload the centrepiece. It should be kept low enough that guests can talk to people across the table. 

The single best piece of holiday decorating advice Thornton can offer is that it’s all about the greenery. “It’s worth investing in really good artificial greenery for your holiday decorating,” she says. “You can get excellent-quality fakes now and you can use them year after year.”  

For Gerth, it’s to take some time with family or friends, to get out for a walk and collect branches, pinecones or other natural elements to decorate the house with; they’re free and a great chance to spend relaxed quality time with visitors.  

But Wesszer’s advice is truly in keeping with the holiday spirit. “The holidays are so fleeting; you want it to be magical and meaningful for you,” she says. “Go with what speaks to you and makes you happy.”  

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