Holiday Decor

Wrapping up the last season with celebrations to soon welcome a new year

For a summer girl, it takes quite a bit to bear the cold of a freezing winter. Thankfully, to help me through, we have the holiday spirit and an abundance of family time, which goes hand-in-hand with much feasting. If you don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, that’s certainly ok. There are many ways to celebrate the season in a way that is filled with the merriment of the holidays. You can find ways to represent the holidays and the spirit by choosing what they have universally in common. Would you brainstorm with me decor options for just a moment or two?

​When you think of winter, what colors or items come to mind? Imagine the changing hues in nature, and the texture of the tree branches, as they transform themselves from their fall wardrobes, and don their winter wardrobe. What places do we cuddle around to keep us warm in our homes? What is the color of snow, an icicle, and the frost which shimmers in the bright shiny sun... or glistens in the silvery darkness of the night? What symbolizes the holidays in our homes? What gestures, both big and small, make our families feel a little “extra special” and appreciated? What do we do, in concrete ways, to offer kindness to others - even strangers? How do we express our gratitude, share our wealth and our staples, with those less fortunate than ourselves? Did you visualize all that I just dreamt up? Perfect!

Let's take some of these ideas, and develop them even further - both in our hearts, and in our homes. Let’s decorate our little corners of the world with these thoughts of light and love. Let’s celebrate the holidays!

I really didn’t want to use traditional colors for my decorations. Instead, my palette was flush with winter white and a touch of pink (for frozen cheeks)! I started by picking out ornaments with colors I simply love - blush pink, snow white, and midnight blue!

And of course, it’s hard to imagine the holidays without a wreath! Since they were not part of my decor for this year’s previous events, I made amends by inviting two to this holiday party! One nestled warmly inside my home, and a second (DIY Holiday Wreath) hung in the hallway, to bring a bit of warmth to my holiday visitors, before they cross my threshold.

For our girls night in, I planned to keep the holiday tablescape simple and chic, with just a dash of blush and sparkles. Remember that setting up a table and going all out with decor is not essential to have a warm hearted gathering with family or friends. At the end of the day, it's the company we keep, the time we spend together, and the moments we share that create lasting memories. ​

To decorate my holiday tablescape, I used a runner (used on my console table regularly) and ran a 9ft holiday garland across the dinner table. The garland is beautiful with a glistening snowy effect.

To add more drama to the garland, top it off with some holiday ornaments. I wanted to draw more attention to the center of the garland. Snow covered leaves, two crystal candle holders, and sprigs of glittery baby's breath flowers created just the effect I was going for. 

​Hersheys Kisses are always a welcome treat. But before these get eaten, use them to represent the sweet, loving affection from families and friends, and the many New Year’s kisses that will be shared at midnight. Spread them generously over the dining and coffee tables, as well as the bar cart. The table decor came together pretty nicely, don’t you think?. However, the garland, at the end of the table, seemed a little empty and just a bit “off." Tie a few ornaments at the end with a thick navy bow, bringing the ensemble together nicely.

In my previous blogs, I mentioned the importance of consistency throughout a space. These shimmering baby's breath from West Elm were a steal! I snatched up a bouquet, split them, and placed sprigs throughout the room - in existing flower pots, around the wreath, in the garland on the table, and inside the showpiece on the coffee table. I even nestled a few pieces outside by our doorway (In a few days, check out my separate post on that!).

As usual, I covered the door with a curtain behind the ornaments, but I don't have a decent image to show you

To get the party started, I introduced a refreshing serving of grapes, or any fruit, as an appetizer along with a cheese platter - a must-have at all my parties!​ And at the end of the day, when that glorious moon shone in all its brilliance, so did those magical lights, which filled my home with the warmth and coziness and all the holiday feels. Thank you so much for reading, and I wish you and your family a very happy holiday!

Product List:
Baby's Breath: West Elm
Seasonal Light Bulbs, Plates, and Table Garland: HomeGoods
Holiday Ornaments Hanging from Branches and the large ornaments: Pier1
Holiday Ornaments and Table Running: Target
Decorative Ceramic Star and Houses: Target
​Flower Basket - Candles, Blue Ribbon, Wreath, and Pink Noels Ornament: Michaels,