Few traditions are as cherished as decorating for the holidays. From the Rockefeller Christmas Tree to Easter lillies to the jack-o’-lanterns that dot stoops across America for a month every autumn, seasonal decor acts as a marker of the coming and going of a year.
The festive season is quickly approaching, if the ghosts, turkeys, reindeer and menorahs now lining retail shelves have anything to say about it. In anticipation, we’ve chatted with local design experts to procure tips and tricks for holiday decorating across budget, time of year and individual taste, to ensure you’re well-prepared for the busy days ahead.
Traditions + Thoughtful Decor
For interior designer Tiffanni Reidy, founder of Reidy Creative, decorating for Christmas has always brought joy. “I have had lots of different Christmas themes,” she explains. “My favorite thing about holiday decorating is coming up with an interesting theme, a color palette for it, selecting different colored balls for the tree and coordinating the wrapping paper.” Her sister celebrates Chanukah and decorates for both Chanukah and Christmas with a dual theme. “She and I look forward to it — she’s on the West Coast and I’m here — so we look forward to the years we get to spend together, and the years that we’re not together, we’re always sending photos and asking for ideas.”
“Swapping in seasonal elements reminds us to slow down and appreciate the rituals that give the year its rhythm,” notes Stephanie Bradshaw, interior designer and CEO and founder at her eponymous studio. “These little traditions are grounding, especially in the busy world we live in, and they’re often what make a house feel storied and lived in.”
On a Budget? Not a Problem
Decorating for the holidays does not need to be a showy, expensive undertaking. Instead? Get crafty, explains Reidy, who has made decor out of pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks, and strung together a popcorn garland with her daughter. “I think things like that, that are really easy to collect, that people used to do when there weren’t big-box stores … just thinking about ‘how could I do that in a fun, new way?’ or returning to some of the craftiness that we had as kids, can still be beautiful.”
Nature is a great resource too. “Natural elements are easy to collect,” adds Reidy, advising decorators to look around their neighborhood, perhaps leaves fallen from a local magnolia tree can be strung together or pine cones on the ground can be spray-painted and put in vases. Bradshaw agrees, noting that, “Texture, tone and natural elements — branches, greenery, seasonal fruits, foraged leaves — always feel timeless and are budget-friendly.” Looking to the outdoors is also a great option for those who want to embrace holiday cheer but are wary of overly themed adornments. “Incorporating art, textiles and fresh florals are subtle ways to nod to the season while still feeling elevated and sophisticated. If you start with these natural cues, you avoid anything that feels overly literal or kitschy,” she adds.
And, of course, the most budget-friendly (and eco-friendly) option is to reuse. When Reidy comes up with a new theme each festive season, she first looks through her preexisting items to see what might work well again. In the same vein, Bradshaw suggests that, “Rather than over-buying themed decor, invest in a handful of versatile accents, such as ceramic vessels or woven baskets, that can be restyled throughout the year.”
Inspiration + Embracing Your Personal Style
At the end of the day, no matter the decoration method, nothing is more important than feeling “at home” in your newly decorated space. “I think that looking at personal style is so important for any kind of decorating,” affirms Reidy. “What are the colors in your home; what are the colors that you find yourself gravitating towards over and over again? That is what you should buy more of for the holidays, because it will lead you to use [decor] again and again.” She herself often returns to plaid, because it is so traditional, but will try out different colorways and add accent pieces that coordinate to different parts of the pattern.
For inspiration, she suggests looking to other items in the home that bring joy, even your wardrobe. “I always find it really interesting, when I meet with my interiors clients, to look at their clothing,” Reidy explains. Some people who are minimalists will have barely any color. Some stick to warm or cool tones. And, she adds, even those with strict office dress codes often show hints of their personality. Are most suits blue? Grey? Slightly patterned? “If you love patterns, maybe look for a really cool patterned wallpaper and use that as a jumping-off point for a holiday theme,” she suggests.
Additionally, perhaps the “best seasonal inspiration is right outside your door,” poses Bradshaw. “Nature has already done the color palette work for you. Think muted fall foliage and wintry evergreens.” Reidy agrees, noting that you can’t go wrong with working off of what’s in bloom at the time, like fresh flowers in the spring and summer months.
Overall, the idea of chasing fads isn’t important here. “The homes that feel most inviting aren’t chasing trends; they’re layering in meaning and authenticity,” emphasizes Bradshaw. “Ultimately, timeless materials, natural textures and personal touches always outlast what’s trending online.”
Both note that the key focus should be the sense of warmth and joy that decorating provides.
To Reidy, many of the most special moments come after decorating, when she and her daughter take “hot cocoa walks” around the block during the Christmas season to see neighbors’ lights displays, or when she was able to gift portions of dehydrated fruit she made for one year’s theme to a local business to decorate their goods.
“Seasonal decorating is less about perfection and more about creating a home that reflects the season you’re living in,” concludes Bradshaw.