Transforming your space for the holidays — an activity that should be merry and bright — can sometimes feel like a chore. There always seem to be more boxes of decorations than you remember from last year!
And then there's the matter of actually choosing what to display where.
Do you stick with a classic theme or try something out of the box? Go all in with nostalgic, homemade items or do a total refresh? Whether you're looking to bring trendy decor into your space or keep things classic, we have tips from local holiday experts.
Obviously the holidays are big business. But did you know local shop owners start getting ready for the season really early in the new year? The holiday decor season begins in January with wholesale shows that are held in Dallas, Las Vegas and Atlanta.
After a trip to Dallas, Ritters Garden and Gifts general managers and buyers Denise Thompson and Kirsten Wyman came back with plenty of new ideas to inspire shoppers. Pastel-themed trees, complete with glittery tinsel are in, and so is decor featuring pops of atypical colors — not just the more standard red, green and white — and crystal accents are adding sparkle to any color theme.
The more natural "lodge look" is also on trend with pieces featuring mixed wood, brown and tones combined with golden yellows and sage green accents. Black and gold elements also work well with this look.
Mulberry Market owner Hannah Carlson also traveled to the new year shows and noted the emphasis on "whimsical woodland" themes. Think green and terracotta decor, and consider populating your displays with forest creatures such as deer, hedgehogs, owls, squirrels and foxes. Carlson was surprised by the abundance of another natural feature: mushrooms, in colors bright or subdued, and crafted from diverse materials, including wood and velvet. For Mulberry Market, "We're bringing more of the earth-toned mushrooms and woodland mushrooms," she says.
Natural elements can also play a part. "[With] fresh greens and wreaths, you can decorate with ribbon," Thompson says. Houseplants — especially rosemary and Norfolk Island pines — can be "dressed up" for the holidays with small ornaments or garlands. And of course, brightly blooming Christmas cacti are a natural fit.
Not all decor has to be new. At the holiday preview shows, sellers who mixed homemade elements with antique, Mercury glass ornaments caught Carlson's eye. She also noticed natural features like orange slices and pine cones being incorporated for a cottage-core feel.
Spokane's Danielle Loft, who posts DIY projects on her Instagram account, @themindfulhaven, likes minimalist decor and is careful about bringing too much clutter into her home. So she's repurposing old items in new ways — like turning old blankets and sweaters into holiday pillows or stockings.
When she does want something new, Loft searches for downloadable holiday prints on Etsy. They're inexpensive to print out and pop in a frame, and they can be updated from season to season. She'll also dig through thrift stores for something special, like the two vintage brass trumpets she recently picked up.
"I love to add charm into my home with things that I know are unique that nobody else has because I'm buying it at a thrift store," she says. "I know it's one of a kind."
Fireplace mantels are often a focal point in holiday decor, and Loft likes to substitute a branch, cut with permission, instead of a mantel garland. The asymmetrical look offers a fresh take that's festive yet inexpensive.
"I come from a more simplistic, innovative mindset of 'How do I make this work out?'" she says. "I like the creative process. Most people would go, 'Oh, I don't want to make my own garland.' Well, I love making things. It's really rewarding to work with my hands and take nothing and make it into something," she says.
Carlson agrees with that mindset. She's nestling wicker baskets into tree branches and then putting decor elements into the baskets to complete the look. She's even using small cheese boards as shelves to enable display of things like gingerbread houses right on the tree branches.
"Don't be afraid to add things that you might not think would be decor," she says. "They could really make something special."