Anyone who knows me or who has visited my old shop in Snider Plaza knows I LOVE Christmas! I am a more-is merrier, if it doesn’t move, decorate-it kind of gal. I have set my Christmas table with live wreaths as chargers, I have hung icicles from chandeliers and I have turned an entire room into a Christmas tree room to house a truly mammoth tree of 16’ that required 12 foot ladders and the ingenious use of lacrosse sticks to decorate. I adore decorating my house for Christmas and those of my clients, too. 

The famed live wreath chargers I did a couple of years back

But not everyone has a full-on collection of 40 Santas and counting, or a baker’s dozen of nativity scenes. Or maybe you do, but this year you are looking to do something a bit more fresh and as a bonus, maybe a little less work?  Read on, as I have some great ideas to pass along to you.

First, don’t fret if you don’t have a spare Santa or snowflakes kicking around in your storage closet. Often, decorating for the holiday season is a matter of making the most of what’s already in your home. For instance, consider using a bowl, box, basket or any kind of container you already have on display and filling it with an assortment of unused baubles, pinecones, and sprigs of Christmas greens for an easy display that is both eye-catching and festive!  Pro tip: this is a great way to display beloved glass ornaments that may have a small break or chip in them, as you can easily disguise it by placing it boo-boo side down.

A reproduction hat box I filled with baubles and sprigs of green

Even a garden cloche can serve as a receptacle for holiday decor!

I also love to add fresh or faux boughs of greenery to bookcases and the tops of console tables and chests. If you scatter in a few pieces of artificial fruit or glittery leaves or gilded nuts, all the better. Also, don’t overlook the idea of leaning unmatched bits of Christmas china or against the backs of books, or place a special Christmas tree glass ornament and some pine cones in place of a bookend. Never underestimate the power of a red bow!

an example of how to to add a lovely garland to a bookcase and intersperse seasonal decor on the shelves

For your mantlepiece, I love creating a layered look rather than simply placing a garland on the mantel. Doing so creates a lush-feeling statement and it is surprisingly easy to do. Just by taking a variety of fresh elements such as a mixed greenery garland, dried or faux leaves, fruit, and pinecones adds wonderful depth and textural interest. You can even intersperse items that are not necessarily Christmas-related such as antlers, candlesticks or even a fun pair of obelisks. Weave a wonderful piece of ribbon through your creation and finish it off with a touch of glitz from glitter-frosted branches, acorns, etc to give the whole space a dazzling effect.

Our mantel decor from our home on Mimosa Lane

Another lovely mantel done for a client's home

The one element that can really overwhelm folks is the decoration of their staircases.  In all honesty, it is much easier than it might seem. I take two basic approaches. Both involve swagging a fresh or faux garland along the railing and balcony, if you have one. A sturdy spool of green floral wire will keep those swags in place. Pro tip: count the rails between posts, divide by two or three, depending upon how many swags you want, and wire your garland to that post.  If I am using a simple and slender garland, I will often simply wind a wide ribbon around it loosely to give it more heft.  Then I will decorate the newel post and the top post of the staircase with a bow, and perhaps some artificial leaves, birds and festive floral picks that I have found over the years at Jackson’s. My second approach is to use a fuller garland and to do bows at each point that the garland is wired. I will do a large bow at the newel post, with long tails and add my decorations on that post. 

An example of a staircase garland I've done in the past

For your table setting, don’t be afraid to stray from traditional Christmas reds and greens, and embrace your existing china. You can make a lovely tablescape with what you have, as well as one that still feels seasonal, by mixing your existing tableware with fresh sprigs of pine, ornaments, and pinecones for a simple, yet elegant setting. Blue Willow china and any variation looks terrific with red glasses and gilded monogrammed napkins. To be honest, I have Christmas china that comes out for the entire holiday season and is used for everything from our breakfast oatmeal to our dinner. And, I adore how festive we feel even while drinking our morning coffee. As you can see, I can get a little creative for our Christmas table - a little over the top, even!  Pro tip: If you have named stockings, instead of putting them on your mantel, tie them to the back of your breakfast or dining room chairs.  They will serve as a place card for everyone until the big night arrives and they can migrate over the chimney Santa will be gracing with his presence!

The aforementioned Blue Willow china at a holiday-themed setting with red glasses

The single biggest Christmas decorating question I get asked is about my tree. Do I do a themed tree or do I do a curated, family tree? What do I do with ornaments that are meaningful but aesthetically challenged? 

 

Years ago, when my children were young and I was a stay at home mom, we had multiple trees. I loved decorating them with a theme or color scheme and keeping our big tree as our family tree. That tree was filled with all of the ornaments I have collected over the years, as well as those hand-made ornaments that our children all bring home to us. So, yes, a red plastic frame decorated with a green rope tie trim and a photo of my oldest child when he was three hangs right next to a collectible Christopher Radko ornament that jostles for space with my Gladys Boalt storybook ornaments. I tie it all together by adding dozens and dozens of icicles and twinkling white lights. And now that my children are grown, I have regretfully restricted myself to one tree.  But wait until those grandchildren roll in and watch out! 

A shot of last year's tree laden with all of the ornaments we have collected over the years!

I do have two pro tips for decorating a tree: One, I hate the new cool LED bulbs, so I use the old fashioned warm white lights. Never colored lights. I love putting a star on the top of my tree, to remind me of the Star of Bethlehem that led the Wise Men to the manger. And, one tradition of my husband’s family that we never adopted in my home that I love is to place a nativity under the tree until Santa arrives. It helps keep the focus on the reason for the season. 

 

So for your tree, don’t hesitate to let mementos you’ve collected over the years have a place and tell the story for your tree. From there, add in elegant touches that complement these memory-filled pieces. Everyone has their own approach when it comes to decorating your tree, but if you start with pieces that have personal meaning, your tree will be beautiful to you and yours, and that is all that matters. 

 

A close up of the tree from our Colleyville project

And the grand finale - the Colleyville tree featuring a gorgeous bow tree topper

May your home and heart be open to all of the joys of this holiday season.