Holiday décor doesn’t have to be all about the tree. Designers from Carol’s Interior Fashions in Rogers and the Maple Grove Ethan Allen design center have great ideas for expanding your festive focus to other areas of your home. From your entryway to your dining room, your stairway banister to your fireplace mantel, these design ideas provide those extra touches to top off your holiday design aesthetic.
Carol Booms, with Carol’s Interior Fashions says she loves to decorate the front door. “The front door provides a sneak peek at what’s going on inside,” says Booms. She says a traditional wreath is nice. But an empty vintage picture frame hung over the doorknocker by a beautiful swath of ribbon is extra special. Or hang a frame around a ribboned bundle of evergreen clippings interspersed with sprigs of berries.
An evergreen swag can be adorned with strips of burlap tied into a bow for a more natural look. Booms says that burlap can come in a variety of colors and be used throughout your design elements. She also likes it when all weather urns potted with mini trees are arranged to greet guests on the front stoop. Indoor urns just inside the entryway can be mounded with piles of ornaments. If the foyer is large enough, a narrow pencil tree can be a nice touch.
An open staircase banister is begging to have garland swooped, not wrapped, along its length. Your children’s or grandchildren’s outgrown mittens stuffed with greenery and tied with a bow add a charming touch to wreaths, garland or trees. A pair of vintage ice skates or skis also make fun seasonal décor. You don’t need to purchase things. Use heirlooms and mix it up with your modern items.
Decorate with recycled Christmas cards by matting and framing them for display around the home. “Another trend we’re sure to see,” says Booms, “is holiday décor inspired by this past summer’s Olympic games. When the games were in Beijing, I saw a lot of Asian inspired holiday themes. I suspect this year, we’ll see British themed décor like crowns as ornaments and treetops as well as a lot of tartan plaid.”
Jennifer Darnell at the Maple Grove Ethan Allen design center thinks it’s nice when homeowners dress their casual or formal dining space for all seasons. She advises to first assess the style of your space and then choose pieces that enhance and complement that style. Use a mix of soft and hard surfaces on your tabletop. Then add organic items like fresh greens, fruits, pumpkins or pinecones. If your space is more formal, add sparkle and always layer your textiles.
Don’t forget your sideboard. Change pieces around. Maybe switch out to a beautiful tray, add a holiday themed picture or topiary. A vase filled with birch branches or curly willow can make an understated yet elegant holiday element. If there is a mirror above the sideboard, layer it with a wreath using a command hook that won’t harm the finish.
Is there a piano in the room? It can be draped with fabric or a runner. Or beautifully dress a fireplace by using accessories with a variety of heights. Layer a mirror or a picture along with organic pieces. Be sure to keep it balanced and symmetrical. Candlesticks, whether on a tabletop, a sideboard or a fireplace mantel, don’t have to hold candles. Top them with moss balls or
“The key,” says Darnell, “is to choose a focal point in your space and dress that with accessories to add style and personality. Choose a theme and color palate and carry it throughout your space.”
