With Halloween in the rear-view, the time has officially come to start proactively preparing for the most wonderful time of the year–the holiday season! Though celebrations this year are certainly going to look different with holiday gatherings sure to be more intimate in size, the opportunity to to enjoy good cheer with loved ones is all around.
So how do you stave off holiday-induced stress (goodness knows–the last thing any one needs as 2020 wraps up is *more* stress)? I always say that you can never be too prepared, so without further ado, I’m happy to share some expert tips that my Design Team and I put together to help you proactively prep for a fun and festive holiday season!
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Holiday Prep Tip #1. Decor & Entertaining Go Hand-in-Hand
Even if your version of “entertaining” this year only involves your immediate family, taking advantage of every opportunity for festivity goes a long way towards boosting everyone’s mood. That said: Think of holiday decor and holiday entertaining has being pieces of the same puzzle (and if your next holiday gathering involves an actual puzzle, all the better!).
If you’re planning to have small groups of friends and family over this season, one of the best ways to prepare is to think about decor that not only looks oh-so-cheerful and cozy, but can also actively help you when entertaining. This might mean investing new additional seating–from faux fur beanbags for the kiddos to comfy occasional chairs adorned with throw pillows for the grownups–adding new decorative hooks by the entryway, and setting out selections of seasonal treats in luxe bowls, and stocking your bar cart with seasonal ingredients while also decking it with some greenery and holiday baubles.
I promise–you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how far these practical touches will go towards enhancing the holiday spirit throughout your whole home, while also easing your mind about being ready to entertain if you so choose!
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Holiday Prep Tip #2. Add Layers of Warmth & Cheer
Our next tip is a fun one because it centers around making your home as comfy, cozy, and relaxing as possible. After the year we’ve all had, there’s no such thing as too many luxurious throw blankets!
For me and my Design Team, an essential aspect of proactively setting the mood for the holiday season involves creating a layered look with throw pillows, strategically placed blankets, textured rugs, and different levels of decor vignettes. You’ll want to be thoughtful about decor on your mantel and tabletop–my advice is to select a color pairing, dominant metal, and stylistic theme (think rustic cabin, winter glam, or Scandinavian cheer) and let those guide your holiday decor choices from your tree to your tabletop!
The final layer of warmth and cheer to be sure to add? Candles of course! When proactively prepping for the most festive of seasons, stock up on candles in your fave holiday scents. They are such a simple way to bring in warmth, yummy smells, and seasonal joy to your home.
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Holiday Prep Tip #3. Go Beyond Red & Green
I have a confession to make: I generally, for the holidays, don’t like solid green and red. I know, I know–it’s a controversial opinion, but hear me out! When decorating your home for the holidays, if you think outside the proverbial red-and-green box, you open the door to so many new possibilities that not only look more sophisticated but are actually much easier to execute. Don’t forget to listen to your own aesthetic instincts when prepping for a holiday event in your home.
Look around at the colors already present in your home’s design motif and ask yourself how you can complement them in a holiday-inspired way. The upshot here is that with items like candles, decorative pillows, soft blankets, and treat bowls–if you have them in colors that read as winter, rather than strictly holiday, you can make use of them for much longer.
Personally, I love a darker forest green or a more subtle sage green accented with off white tones, seasonal metals (go ahead and mix metals as well) or a classic mix of blue hues contrasted with snowy white, light grey, and of course more metallics.
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