Photo illustration: Becky Harlan/NPR
I was decorating my room for Christmas and realized I didn’t have a cohesive design plan. Basically, I just hang up the same old hand-me-down ornaments and string lights every year. And this is what I thought. I’m sure there’s a better and more fun way to do this.
So I turned to Elaine Griffin, a 20-year veteran in the interior design field and author of the following books: Design Rules: An Insider’s Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator,Please give me advice. She says she “sets the rules” when it comes to keeping her home happy and bright. However, there are some proven ways to create a look that is cohesive and reflective of her personal style.
What is her philosophy? “Begin the Christmas decorating process with intention, and don’t be afraid to deviate from tradition,” says Griffin, who is based in Georgia and received an honorary doctorate in design from the New York School of Interiors. Is called.
1. Start with emotion
Think about how you want to feel when you look around your decorated home. comfortable? Are you feeling better? nostalgic?
Once you’ve decided on a mood, Griffin says, decorate to stimulate the senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. If you want to have a cozy holiday, you can put a plate of sugar cookies on the kitchen table, a vanilla-scented candle on the credenza, and a fluffy blanket on the sofa.
Photo illustration: Becky Harlan/NPR
If you want a rich, luxurious space, Griffin suggests hanging white lights to create a soft golden glow and including metallic-colored ornaments in your centerpieces to add a luxurious feel. Add an extra touch of luxury by playing your favorite holiday music on your speakers.
Remember to take into account your current emotional state, says Griffin. “That’s part of it. People who have lost a family member in the past year may decide, ‘I really don’t want to decorate.'”
If that’s the case, you might want to cut back on the holiday cheer, she added. And that’s fine. I lined up a few poinsettias, set up a mini tree, and that was it.
2. Decide how big you want to get.
“Christmas decorations are a continuation of the design statements you’re already making in your home,” says Griffin. “So, take a look at your overall decorating style. Are you a minimalist or a maximalist?”
sensitive and strategic
If you’re a minimalist and want to prioritize keeping your space functional, Griffin says this one important design rule will help you streamline your decor. The first thing you see in the room is directly across from the entrance. “Designers never leave things empty, because the eye needs somewhere to land, and it needs to land on something very beautiful,” says Griffin.
So, put a centerpiece in that spot, she says. You can create the same effect by filling a room with holiday knick-knacks. They can be created by recycling decorative glass vases and filling them with ornaments.
And don’t forget to consider color. If you want to go minimalist, choose decorations in calm, neutral tones, such as beige stockings or white garlands.
You can also get color schemes from your favorite designers for inspiration. “When you think of Calvin Klein, his palette is “beige, gray, white and black,” says Griffin. To create a similar theme in your holiday decor, Griffin recommends hanging silver and black ornaments with pops of navy blue. “This is a very soothing word that is not offensive to Calvin Klein minimalists.”
big and bold
Griffin himself is a maximalist. “The bigger she is, the better and bolder she is,” she says. If so, embrace the aesthetic of excess this holiday season. That might mean loading up the tree with ornaments, adding garlands and lights throughout your living space, or filling your lawn with inflatable snowmen and reindeer.
Griffin likes to wrap empty boxes to create the illusion of a pile of presents under the tree. And says one of her fellow maximalist friends is notorious for putting trees in every room.
3. Don’t be afraid to deviate from tradition
Think back to your childhood. What did your Christmas decorations look like? Did your parents have a little Christmas village that took over the living room that you weren’t allowed to touch? Did you grow up making DIY paper chains and snowflakes?
Feel free to recreate the traditions you love and discard those you don’t. Then, “give yourself permission to do something different,” she says.
For example, let’s say you want to break away from the traditional red and green decor that you’ve been accustomed to since childhood. Griffin suggests trying a style inspired by Miami Beach. Consider using palm fronds instead of traditional holiday greenery. Or, get a silver or white artificial tree to recreate the whiteness of a sandy beach. Ornamental light bulbs in tropical colors such as pink or turquoise can add the finishing touch.
4. Find smart ways to save money on decorations
Decorating a hall can be expensive, but Griffin says it doesn’t have to be. Look for thrift stores in your area to purchase wreaths, ornaments, candleholders, and other holiday decorations. Or host an ornament swap party with friends to get new items and refresh your collection.
You can also look at what you have at home and see what you can use as decoration. “Be resourceful,” Griffin says. For example, you can hang a collection of seashells as decorations on your tree. Collect pine cones from around the neighborhood and place them in a fun bowl on your coffee table.
Or ask the person selling Christmas trees about cut branches and tree trimming. “They’re free,” Griffin says. You can make it into a wreath, a centerpiece on your dining room table, or wrap it around your stair railing.
Griffin has the last word on decorating wisdom. Think about how much effort you will put into cleaning up, including removing trees, ornaments, and lights. “What goes up must come down,” she says. So “consider your level of commitment” to cleaning up that decoration.
This episode of Life Kit was produced by Margaret Cirino. The visual editor is Beck Harlan and the digital editor is Malaka Gharib. We look forward to hearing from you. Please leave a voicemail at 202-216-9823 or email us at: [email protected].