How to Decorate for the Holidays

It’s that time again to bring down the holiday bins from the attic (neatly stored and labeled we hope!) and get ready to take on the daunting task of decorating the house. The Little Details is sharing our top tips for decorating with ease, our favorite ideas for each room, and what to think about before starting. 

Before Starting

Make a plan. Decorating doesn’t need to be done the day after Thanksgiving; maybe your family starts with the tree and adds to other rooms in the house over time. A good way to reduce stress is to assign members of the family with specific tasks so you’re in it together. If you’re eager to deck the halls, make an event out of it! Include your family, play holiday music, and bake some cookies to celebrate the season.

Put away your fall/Thanksgiving decor into labeled bins and give your home a deep clean while you’re at it. You’ll feel better knowing you have a clean slate to work with. 

Choose your color scheme. Are you drawn toward traditional red and green, do you prefer silver and gold, or blue and white? Stick to a solid color scheme throughout your home to make it feel cohesive. The same goes for your design style. If you want your space to feel cozy, you may want to choose festive throws and pillows and display family holiday photos on your mantle. If you want your home to feel clean and sophisticated, you may choose to decorate your tree with white lights and gold or silver accents rather than a collection of silly ornaments. 

Add New Items

If you’re anything like me, you can’t avoid the home decor section at Target, especially the Hearth and Hand with Magnolia collection by Chip and Joanna Gaines. Every year I love to peruse the aisles and pick a few items I can’t leave on the shelves. A good rule to follow is to replace an old item with a new one so you don’t end up with an overwhelming amount of Christmas pillows (guilty!) or holiday mugs. 

Think before you buy. Where are you going to hang that “Let It Snow” sign? If you have a place in mind, go for it! If it doesn’t turn out as you planned, return it, donate it, or gift it. 

Our favorite ways to decorate these rooms:

Entryway

You want this space to feel inviting since it’s where you’ll greet guests. Think wreaths, garland and festive signs. This is my favorite place to decorate because it spreads a little cheer each time I walk through the door.

Living Room

If you’re celebrating Christmas, the Christmas tree should be your focal point in this room. Whether real or fake, colorful or white lights, most would argue this is the best part of the decorating process. If you’re lighting a menorah or kinara, you might choose a color scheme for your candles as well. Make it something you’ll enjoy.

Bedroom

Add twinkle lights or garland over your headboard or mantle to add some spirit while keeping it simple. We suggest using faux garland in your bedroom so you don’t have to deal with dried out, crispy garland all of your bed within a couple weeks.

Kitchen

Take advantage of your window sills. Frame them with greenery and add twinkly lights, photos, and other small decor items. Consider hanging mini wreaths from each window with some festive ribbon.

Try a hot cocoa bar for a festive night date night at home or just fun with the family! If you have the space, create a display with holiday-themed mugs with cocoa, marshmallows, candy canes and maybe even some Bailey’s to really get you in the holiday spirit.

Kid’s Rooms

Give kids their own small Christmas tree (or Hanukkah bush) to decorate and keep in their room. During the season they can create ornaments doubling as crafts to keep them busy. Bonus- the lights on their tree act as a festive nightlight!

We hope this post inspires some creativity and gets everyone in the holiday spirit! If you’re looking for some gift ideas check out our online shop here!