Snow, check; Music, check; Spirit, check: Let's get decorating!

In my opinion, when it comes to holiday decorating, anything goes, but there are certainly some guidelines that will help to keep things in check (if that's a concern in your household-- it definitely is in mine). I hope that the following tips add to the overall enjoyment of your decorating and your holiday cheer!

Set the Stage

First things first, prepare the sensory joys that really get you in the mood to celebrate.

• Light a candle or throw together a simmer pot

• Dim the lights

• Play your favourite holiday album

• Pour you and yours a drink or a drink

• Make hot cocoa for the kids

• Prepare snacks to make sure most of the candy canes survive

Typically, I aim to augment or enhance what I already have going on. Rather than spreading decorations out all around the house, I prefer to group decorations in a few key areas, maximizing their impact. This cuts down on the need to dust everywhere and allows opportunities for the eye to rest. Here are a few ways to create focal points chock-full of Christmas cheer!

The Mantle

This expertly styled mantle consists of a show-stopping faux evergreen garland in an array of colours that coordinate perfectly with the mirror that is placed over the mantle. The sweet glass trees-- placed in a group of three (odd numbers look so good to the eye) echo the garland's colour and add height. Lastly, the stockings add slight colour variation, white space and pattern to the mantle.

The mantle below is stunning in its simplicity. By using the art's limited red and white pallet as a jumping off point, satin ribbon, marbled glass ornaments and pine boughs add to this understated and sophisticated focal point. The art brings the eye up, accentuating the height of the room while adding movement and the painting's cream base allows for visual rest in this rich, deeply pigmented, room.

The Tree

Christmas trees are natural focal points and can easily cary out a theme, extend a room's colour pallet or artfully express any sentiment. Shown below, artist and interior designer, William Mclure's Yves Klein blue painting inspired his simple and impactful tree decoration in his former home. A single colour helps the greenery sing while also feeling both invigorating and calm.

Below, decorator, Darryl Carter, uses a similar technique of drawing colour from art to create a decorative colour pallet. Carter also employs the use of natural materials, like citrus to add to the holiday cheer.

In designer, Ken Fulk's mountain project, he uses natural materials as decorative elements with great success. Everything about Fulk's projects tend to be "extra" but it would be simple to emulate on a smaller scale.

Alternatively, this Ontario property of Andraya Frith and Graham Kechnie uses natural materials to decorate for Christmas and evokes simpler times.

Lastly, here are some small space Christmas tree alternatives. This can be particularly helpful when you have you have small children, or animals that are in the training phase and may not be able to resist eating or climbing or knocking your tree over!

I hope that you have a lovely time bringing the joy that Christmas provides into your home! Feel free to ask questions or share your own ideas in the comments!

xo Jenn