Choosing the Right Holiday Decor

By Christine Cooney, Direct from the Designers™ Staff Writer

Although it’s cold outside and your landscape isn’t green and colorful there are still many ways to enhance your home’s curb appeal, especially during the holiday season. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about how you’d like to decorate your home for the holidays; after all it is most likely the busiest time of year for visitors.

Here are some great ideas and tips to give your home’s décor some holiday cheer and warmth:

Create a cozy atmosphere. If you’re not into big, extravagant displays, you can add subtle, yet classic touches to your holiday home. Add accents like a bowl of pinecones, an evergreen wreath, scented candles and velvet stockings to create a warm and festive feeling in your home.

Complement your décor. Before you start untangling your tinsel and testing your lights, make sure that your holiday decorations match the décor of your home. If your living room has a coastal décor, you might want to avoid bright reds and greens and instead opt for white snowflakes and candles or a silver-belled wreath. Rich tones like cranberries, forest greens and gold work great if your home has an earthy color scheme.

Accentuate your best features. Too many trimmings may be distracting, but choosing the right accents can draw attention to your home’s best features. Dangle mistletoe in an arched doorway, wrap garland around a staircase, place simple holly sprigs across your fireplace mantel or around a large mirror.

Don’t be blinded by the light. It’s very easy to overdue it with colorful lights and inflatable snowmen. If you’re not looking to stop traffic simple lighting can accent your home's architecture and draw attention to your landscape.

Size your tree correctly. A tall Christmas tree can help you show off your two-story great room, but you don’t want it to be too wide and overwhelm the floor space. Skinny trees are great for corner placement in a dining room or master suite. Pick a simple theme and color scheme for your Christmas tree like gold and silver ribbons and bells or candy canes. It’s always fun to browse through magazines and storefront windows for inspiration.