Making Your Home a Festive Space
As we say goodbye to the warm weather and learn to embrace the cooler weather that is coming to southeastern Wisconsin, we can’t help but look forward to upcoming holidays. With Halloween being the kickoff and all the way through New Year’s, the time is upon us to make your home a festive space. A new home can be especially challenging to decorate, as you might have more square footage to cover than ever before!
Whether your home is 30 years old and a cabin getaway in the Northwoods of Wisconsin or this is the first year for the holidays in your new home in the Suburbs, adding a little holiday spirit will help put everyone in a holiday mood and enhance your home.
Here are some helpful holiday decorating tips.
Let There Be Light:
Adding soft, ambient lighting can make any room feel warm and inviting. This can be done by adding strands of white holiday lights to existing pieces already in the room. Stretch them across a mantle or string around a large plant. Attach the lights to a timer so they go on once the sun goes down and go off when you usually go to bed for the night.
You can also add soft lighting by placing candles throughout the room. Use them as the focal point of a centerpiece or use flameless candles within bookcases or on shelves. Candles will not only give you nice soft lighting, but can help weave in the colors and smells of the holiday season. Consider a pumpkin pie scented candle for those fall months and then a balsam pine scent during the Christmas season.
Change Out Throw Blankets and Accent Pillows:
It’s not typical to change out furniture during the holidays, but displaying holiday themed throw blankets and accent pillows are a great way to incorporate the colors and feel of the season – as well as stretch your new home decorating budget. Accessories will add a pop of color to the room and create a cozy and warm feel, without a lot of work. They are easy to display and you can quickly put them back in storage after the holidays. This is also a great way to weave the holidays into a variety of rooms. You won’t want to have candles burning in a child’s room or a Christmas tree in the office, but adding a blanket to the foot of the bed or over an office chair can be just that added touch you need to bring everything together.
Set Up a Bar:
Holiday time usually means more time spent with family and friends and entertaining. Select a designated area in the room you are most likely to entertain in and set up a bar on a countertop or cart. Keep popular drinks choices at the ready and don’t forget to include the shaker and some festive glasses. Having this set up will help encourage your guests to help themselves, keeping you from spending your night playing bartender.
Shop Within and Outside Your Home:
Holiday decorations can be fairly costly, especially when you are trying to add a bit of holiday in multiple rooms. Consider using items that you already have. Take empty vases or large glass bowls and fill them with ornaments or hang them using fishing line from chandeliers. Cut branches off the pine tree outside and place in a circle on the table over a runner with a candle in the center. You will be amazed what you can do with what you already have.
Use Your Space Wisely:
When decorating, adding some dimension is key. Don’t keep everything at the same height. Use candles that are multiple heights, use the bottom three stairs to display three different wooden snowmen or small artificial trees. Place a small wreath about the bottom of your end table lamps. Add a large wreath above the mantle on your fireplace. You don’t want everyone’s eyes looking at the same height. Staggering the heights of your decorations will help make the room feel decorated without having to use as many items.
Use the holidays as your excuse to change up your day-to-day decor. There are so many possibilities and ways to get that holiday feeling throughout your home. As always, feel free to share those holiday decoration photos on our Facebook page.
