Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way… Can you hear that? Yep, that’s the sound of the holidays! With all that 2020 has brought us, the thought of preparing for Christmas and the holiday season this year has brought a warm, cozy feeling that I think we’re all in need of. While this time of year can be magical, it can bring a lot of stress and anxiety to some people when it comes to decorating, shopping, food and entertaining in general.
First off, take a deep breath. We are here to help. This is the first blog of our holiday series. We are going to kick off the series with a blog about decorating, followed by interesting gift ideas. Here we go!
Decorating for the Holidays
When it comes to decorating for the holidays, the first thing you need to do is determine a style or a theme that will best suit your home. It can be overwhelming seeing all of the decor options, and selecting a theme will help limit your options. So the question is, what is your holiday decorating style?
What’s Your Holiday Style?
We are going to try to keep things as simple as possible and stick to three of our favourite Christmas decorating themes: classic, cozy, and modern. Before you learn about these different styles, consider these questions:
- What best suits my home?
- What best suits my personality?
- What best suits my lifestyle (consider children and pets)?
- Will I like this style in the future?
Classic Holiday Decor
You can’t go wrong with a classic holiday style. The idea is to bring out the traditional Christmas decor while keeping it classy. Keep things traditional during the holidays with the cozy red and green Christmas colours while elevating the look with the addition of a bold colour like navy.
The best way to achieve this look is to take something that is classic and give it an updated look. For example, displaying Christmas cards was a tradition I recall growing up. My parents’ and my friend’s homes all had a designated area to show off all of the holiday love by displaying cards. While that look is somewhat outdated, you can keep things traditional by hanging the cards on a piece of twine to display them.
One of the incredible sides to the classic look is that it allows you to incorporate decorations that may have been passed down and hold so many memories to you.
Are you the type of person who waits all year to put up your Christmas tree? Find out the best time to deck the halls by reading: When is a Good Time to Start Decorating for the Holidays?
Cozy Holiday Decor
From cozy blankets to vibrant accent colours, the cozy holiday theme really gives you that feeling of drinking a warm cup of (insert beverage of choice) by the fire. The cozy look and feel allow you to incorporate the traditional look while attaining a cool, warm, ski lodge type of feeling. When decorating your home to gain this feeling, it is very important that you use all of the elements to bring out that vibe. Consider your shelves, couch, coffee table, mantle, dish clothes, etc. There is so much more that can be done, other than decorating a tree.
Replace your throw blankets and pillows with cozy, warm textures and patterns. Often knits, plaids, and sometimes even velvet can do the trick. If you don’t have a fireplace but want that feeling, try getting some big candles. Not only do they offer the feeling of being by the fire, but you can also find holiday scents to fill the air with! Of course, if you have little ones or pets, that could be a concern; many stores carry the faux candles that do the trick. If you are looking for the perfect skirt for your tree, don’t be afraid to try an oversized knitted blanket, which screams cozy.
Looking for things to do during the holiday season? Check out: Holiday Events in Toronto to Beat the Winter Blues.
Modern Holiday Decor
While so many of us enjoy that classic and cozy look, for some, traditional red and green decor just doesn’t quite fit into their style. You are not alone. The chic, modern Christmas and holiday decor has been growing and growing in popularity over the years. This may be because of design preference, but also due to a lack of space and/or condo living. Here are some tips and tricks for modernizing your home for the holidays. Nothing says modern decor like metallic shine!
Trade in your evergreen wreaths and bushy mantels for something smaller and more chic. Find an artistic wreath that uses a small, thin base with minimal decor. Replace the garland on the mantel with small, modern bottle brush trees. Something that I continue to see for holiday lovers who don’t have the space for a tree is the twine, wall tree. These styles can all be seen in the pictures below.
What’s My Style?
If you are still reading, which I hope you are, the last thing I want to share with you is the style of holiday decor I use. Around 6 years ago, I was so incredibly excited to purchase my first Christmas tree. Living in the city for as many years as I have has always forced me to get crafty when it comes to space. I found the perfect tree. It was tall, yet thin. It fit the space perfectly. To all of those people out there that don’t think the perfect tree size is out there…let me assure you, it is. From real to fake, there are so many different options. Even in our semi-detached home, we are battling to find more space as Rafi’s toys slowly take over!
My style is cozy with a splash of modern. I am a big fan of a themed approach to my tree, and I am very strict about the colour scheme. I have chosen a music theme when it comes to ornaments which appeals not only to the musician in me, but also to my partner and son. Music is a huge part of our lives, and I found a way to show this off over the holidays. I have chosen to go with a classic red, beige and gold with warm white lights.
To create that cozy feel, I have candles set up throughout the house, along with big soft blankets and of course my favourite Christmas throw pillows. Can’t you just hear Michael Bublé singing in the background?
Feeling FOMO about your IG friends taking vacations for the holidays? Check out these Holiday Staycation Ideas in Toronto.
If you are interested in any design tips, please don’t hesitate to reach out! As always, if you need anything real estate related, feel free to give me a call or send me a quick text, I’m always happy to chat!
