With just weeks before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, ‘tis the season to be decorating, and many of our family’s and friends’ homes are already in full-on holiday mode. But if the thought of decking your halls seems a little intimidating or if you’re just not quite sure where to hang your stockings, you’re not alone. We’ve been hard at work figuring out the best stress-free ways to convert our own interiors into holiday havens of warmth, good tidings and cheer. We’ve mapped a few shortcuts for you that we think will lead to your chicest holiday home yet.
A simple holiday wreath is an easy way to add holiday cheer to your walls and bring green into your home without committing to a large Christmas tree. Layered with a few festive pine sprigs and a winter-white candle vignette, your living room can be a low-key, relaxing holiday haven.
Holiday entertaining needn’t be stressful. When it comes to decorating a festive dining room, try draping the table with a dramatic green garland. A green, black and gold color scheme works year-round, but it’s especially chic for the holiday season.
No holiday season is complete without a little quality time by the fire, so making your fireplace festive is a must. Stockings (hung by the chimney with care, obviously) and a wreath are straightforward, stress-free solutions for creating a classic mantel moment in a nostalgic red, green and white palette.
A comfy, cozy fireside spot is the perfect place to snuggle with your S.O. over the holidays. Keep it simple with shades of winter whites, but don’t be afraid to layer decor in wild abandon, from blankets to flowers to floor pillows. Getting the perfect glow doesn’t require the fuss of starting a real fire, either; create warm ambience by lighting the flames of several candles instead.
Layering sheepskin rugs into any space is a simple step to cozy up with chic winter flair. The furry, fuzzy white texture adds warmth and light to a more dramatic holiday palette of deep red, green and black.
Wrapped gifts can double as holiday decor, turning the spirit of gift-giving into festive decorative moments. We love displaying them in fun and even unexpected spots in the home.
If you’re not ready to invest the time, energy or space associated with setting up or tearing down a full Christmas tree, fresh-cut branches make a great smaller-scale substitute. Pick a tree trimming that’s strong enough to hold a few ornaments, and in a few short minutes, voila! Your very own tabletop tree. Perfect for those who need a little Christmas right this very minute.
For anyone with a soft spot for holiday romance, mistletoe is a must-have. As a simple, stress-free detail to give your home a playful edge for the holidays, hang fresh mistletoe over any well-traveled doorway.
A well-placed pop of winter green can spruce up a monochrome home for the holidays while keeping an overall chic, understated aesthetic.
If your style is more of the merry and minimal persuasion, try planting a small tree in a neutral planter on your coffee table.
When in doubt, a great way to fill your home with holiday cheer is to display festive decor in unexpected places. Instead of hanging objects and ornaments in the same spot as in years past, surprise your guests by making spirits bright throughout your home. Don’t stress about where to decorate; let your imagination run wild with holiday decor mixed into a bookshelf, hung in the bathroom or even leaning on top of the fridge.