By the time we’re in our 60s we have set up and taken down approximately 40 Christmas trees, untangled 80 strands of lights, broken 23 precious family tree ornaments passed down through the generations, draped 600 feet of tinsel garland, hung between 60 and 90 stockings by the chimney (with care), baked 3,350 cookies, and wrapped no fewer than 920 gifts.
No one can blame us if we want to take a breather. Rather than doing nothing, we’ve come up with an easy way to decorate our homes for the holidays. There are four simple steps.
- Decorate your front door. It lifts your spirits before you step into your home. Wreaths are the easiest way to do this and they are plentiful in both fresh and artificial forms.
- Use color strategically. Neutrals are fine when there are 14 hours of sunlight. Now, we need color. Scatter some seasonal accent pillows around the living room. Or buy a trio of poinsettias. And don’t forget your bedroom.
- Bring in the light. One lighted garland draped over a mantle or table can instantly add a warm glow to a room.
- Fill the air with seasonal scents. Scented candles and diffusers can bring in the scents of an Alpine Forest or the homey scents of oranges, cloves, and cinnamon. Or have a pot of mulled cider simmering on the stove (but keep an eye on it; a slow cooker with timer does a marvelous job).
We found some items to inspire you of the many–easy–possibilities available to get your home into the holiday spirit. Just add music, a mug of hot chocolate, and some gingerbread.
1. Create a cheery welcoming entrance
A colorful wreath on your door greets you every time you come home–an immediate boost to your mood. (Not quite as joyful as a dog wagging its tail, but we’re working with you here.) And so simple to do. Buy one made of fresh greens at your local nursery or invest in a beautifully designed wreath that you can use for years to come. Or opt for a swag
Outdoor Magnolia Ridge Wreath
This elegant wreath is the perfect holiday welcome for your front door. Elegant and unfussy, it has just the right amount of green foliage, punctuated with pine cones, red berries and teeny lights. This tasteful wreath doesn’t scream the holidays, just lets your guests know you are celebrating. Balsam Hill, from $179.
Lynch Creek Farm Fresh Evergreen Wreath
The scent of cedar and pine greets you as you approach this lovely wreath from Lynch Creek Farm. It is overflowing with fresh noble fir, pine, juniper, and incense cedar, and topped off with ponderosa pinecones. Highlights include apples, bright red berries and clusters of small pinecones. Lynch Creek Farms, $67.95
Fireside Holiday Cordless Wreath
The Fireside Holiday Wreath from Grandinroad features an elegant mix of beautiful green hues, from sage to deep forest, with hints of warm gold. Fifty warm white lights glow just enough from within to highlight subtle nuances for a stunning presentation. $118.30 from Grandinroad.
Christmas Holly Leaf with Pod Wreath
Add an exotic baroque touch to your holiday decor with this wreath of gold holly leaves, pods, and pinecones. Handcrafted of copper wire, plastic, and foam. $199 at Nieman Marcus. Also available from Horchow.
Northlight 3-Finish Shatterproof Ball Christmas Wreath
If you enjoy the playfulness of a Christmas ball wreath but want something more subdued than gold and silver, this shatterproof ball wreath is for you. The shiny, matte, and glitter ornaments have the beauty and luster of real glass, with the added benefit of being unbreakable. $82.99 on Amazon.
White Berry Wreath
This charming wreath is handmade of white berries in three different sizes on an iron ring base. It will look stunning on a dark front door or hanging in a window to welcome guests. Or place it indoors to add a festive atmosphere to your home. $23.99 on Amazon.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Wreath
Celebrate the beauty of the holiday season with Williams-Sonoma’s ‘Twas the Night wreath in red, gold, cream-white, and green, with gleaming ornaments and velvet ribbon nestled amongst faux and preserved foliage. $159.99 at Williams-Sonoma
Antiqued Gold Metal Bells
People have long associated the sound of bells with the holidays. There’s a reason why Jingle Bells is the third most popular Christmas song ever (and the first song ever broadcast from space). Hang one or more of these festive bells tied with a deep red velvet on your front door and enjoy the tinkling every time someone drops by. World Market, $9,99.
Gold Christmas Teardrop Swag
If a wreath isn’t your thing consider decking your door with a festive swag. Amazon carries an assortment of teardrop swags, including this Gold Christmas Teardrop Swag. Decorated with green pine branches, gold orb ornaments, silver berries, gold olive leaves, and dense leaf-shaped ribbon decorations, it looks vintage and elegant, perfect for Christmas. A beautiful Christmas decoration that creates a strong holiday atmosphere for your home. Amazon, $23.99
Alpine Metal and Glass Lantern
Enchant guests or passersby with this versatile lantern in a cheerful red. It can be placed on a sturdy table or hung in your hallway, near your holiday tree, and by or on your front door for a festive, comforting glow just about anywhere. Alpine Metal and Glass Lantern with Warm LED Light Faux Candle at Wayfair
2. Use pillows to add color
Transforming a room can be as easy as placing a few pillows in seasonal prints and colors around your living room or on your bed. They bring good cheer into your home with minimum effort. And fortunately, they are available in sophisticated patterns that can take you into the new year. Mix them with solids and a variety of fabrics for a magazine-worthy look.
Christmas Ornament Round Pillows
It’s as if two giant bobbles fell off your Christmas tree and landed on your couch. Decorated with contrasting bows and strings of pearls, these pillows will no doubt be a conversation starter with guests. If you are (or not) decorating your tree, why not your couch as well? Grandinroad, price as marked.
Crewel Colorblock Trees Pillow Cover
A cheerful row of marching trees in the colors of the holiday greet you when entering a room. The modern geometric design creates a fun, unexpected take on holiday decor. The hand embroidered crewel work adds a mix of matte and shine to texture. From West Elm, 20×20 pillow covers only, $49 – $67.50. Pillow inserts can be ordered on the product page.
Allorry Dark Green Christmas Tree Pillow Covers
These cute green Christmas tree pillow covers are made of high-quality fabric, which makes them softer, durable and comfortable. Adds a bit of festive Christmas flare to your décor, without screaming “This is Christmas.” Set of 2 pillow covers on Amazon, $19.99.
Spruce Green Winter Trees Pillow
This appealing cushion features a variety of beaded evergreens in shades of green. It looks as if it’s hand made and will bring some sparkle to a comfy chair or sofa. With not a spot of red in sight, this cushion says Christmas in the most elegant way. World Market, $34.99.
Dark Green Christmas Tree Decorative Pillow Covers
The green Christmas tree-patterned throw pillows are at home in any setting, from sophisticated urban homes to country cabins. Good quality and rich colors, pattern on the front, is a smooth suede. Amazon, $13.99 for set of two. Other sizes, colors, and patterns available.
Velvet Snowflake Reindeer Decorative Pillow
Soft red velvet pillow covers with gold snowflake and reindeer design provide a bright accent to your holiday decor. Set of 2 18″x18″ pillow covers $13.99 on Amazon. Other sizes available.
Red Corduroy Pillow Covers
The crisp, understated pattern on these red pillows comes from the wide wale of its soft corduroy fabric. Comfortable to the touch, irresistible to lay on. Easy to mix and match with your other decor. $14.99 for set of 2 18″x18″ pillow covers, Amazon. Other sizes available.
Find throw pillow inserts, set of 4, on Amazon, $23.99.
Red and White Peppermint Throw Pillow
There is nothing understated about this cushion; it’s just joyous in every way. Think candy canes and children’s red cheeks. If you love decorating for Christmas, you will find a spot in your home for one—or even more—as an unapologetic ode to the holidays. World Market, $34.99.
Red Felt Botanical Petals Pillow Cover
Poinsettia leaves cut from red felt cover this gorgeous red pillow. Buy two or three–they come in several colors–to throw onto a beige or white couch or bed and amp up the holiday color in your room. $44.99 at Target, 18″ x 18″ pillow cover only. Pillow inserts can be purchased from Amazon.
Perhaps you prefer a monochromatic look
White Faux Fur Pillow with Silver Branches
These two-sided fuzzy white plush faux fur pillow covers are studded with silver branches. They’re super soft, fluffy, and quietly tasteful; the silvery branches bring a little sparkle into the room. Will fit in with a variety of decorating styles. Add a few to the sofa, your bed, or club chairs for some shimmer and flair. Set of 2, on Amazon, $18.99.
Saranda 20″ Square Decorative Throw Pillow
Add some glam with this Saranda accent throw pillow, made of highly constructed satin fabric. Cover and insert, Wayfair, $43.99
Gold Gray Snowflake Throw Pillow Covers
The snowflake lumbar pillow cover is made of soft linen and can be used inside or outside. The generic winter design can be carried over from the holidays into January and beyond. Set of 2 covers, Amazon, $12.99. Pattern is available in other sizes.
SARO LIFESTYLE Metallic Branch Design Throw Pillow
A sophisticated accent pillow that partners well with other white and gold decor. Cotton cover, poly fill. Amazon, $27.77.
3. Let there be (a few) lights
Lights of all kinds turn the deepest, darkest days of the year into magical scenes and spaces. That little spark of joy that comes from seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, the fantasies created in store windows, the lights in the windows of your neighbors’ houses. Bring that feeling into your home with a few well-placed string lights or fairy lights or candles.
Bonsai Fairy Lights
These gorgeous gold trees with their fairy lit branches are a refined option for those who have tired of the season’s ubiquitous red and green. Even if you don’t own a home in the Hamptons, these on a mantle or a table in your home communicate good taste and elegance. Set of two from Amazon, $39.99
Globe String Lights
Christmas is all about lights. These beautiful white lights appear to be growing on climbing branches and can be configured in so many ways: climbing branches, draped over a fireplace mantel, or twisted into swirls that hang in the window. The soft light and organic shape will help you relax amidst the hustle bustle going on outside. From Amazon, $37.99.
Lit Faux Eucalyptus and Pine Garland
Garlands have many uses during the holidays. They can be used to decorate an entryway, fireplace mantle, or side table. They are also beautiful as a runner on your dining table or curled up around a vase or candles. This garland of faux eucalyptus leaves, mistletoe berries, and dense green needles will never need to be swept off the floor. Just set them on the timer to make spirits merry and bright. . $129 to $179. at Pottery Barn.
Lighted Eucalyptus Twig Garlands
Up to 96 warm white micro LED bulbs nestled among the abundant textured olive leaves on a vine cast a subtle glow that adds warmth to your home and Christmas holiday decor. A stylish accent for your fireplace mantel or table, on the wall, or arched over the windows, $32.99 on Amazon.
Twinkle Star Fairy String Lights
Drape these star-shaped string lights on your dining table for an elegant but light-hearted centerpiece. Wind them around evergreen branches, decorate them with Christmas tree ornaments, or arrange them around red fruits for an even richer look. Buy them on Amazon, $19,99.
Lighted Twig Vine with Timer
These well-designed, lifelike white branches are tipped with 48 warm white LED lights to provide a gentle glow to your room. Pliable but sturdy branches make it easy to bend the garland as you like. Buy it on Amazon, $32.99.
Flameless Led Pillar Candles
This set of nine real wax flameless candle lights is a real find. They’re 2.2″ thick and come with two remote controls. Their ivory color and elegant design are the perfect fit for any space and can be arranged singly or in groups. Buy them. You’ll be glad you did. $25.99 on Amazon.
Pre-lit Artificial Pine Tree
Yes you can enjoy the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree without all the work of a fresh-cut tree. This 3-foot artificial tree is maintenance free. All you do is bend and fluff the branches and plug it in. Voila! Instant Christmas. Of course you can add as many ornaments as you like but the major work is done. And the best part, you can use it next Christmas and the next and into perpetuity. $25.99 on Amazon.
A Trio of Candle Holders
Just say yes to flickering candlelight. These decorative candle holders feature a metallic gold perforated-leaf pattern that will cast playful shadows on your walls. Delicately crafted of robust and polished iron material. From Lowes, $32.48.
Pinecone Flameless Flickering Candles
Flameless candles are a good choice the older we get. If you can’t find your keys, are you going to remember to extinguish candles before you go to bed (and burn the house down)? These pinecone-inspired flameless candles have a real wax exterior that won’t melt all over the place because LED bulbs provide the flickering light. AND they come with a remote! “Buy now” is what you’re thinking, aren’t you? $32.99 for the pair on Amazon.
Fireplace for Your Home
Fireplace for Your Home is a streaming video that will give you up to an hour of flickering, roaring, crackling fire–without the need for an actual fireplace. Or wood, Or soot. Fireplace for your home is available in several iterations on Netflix. Amazon Prime has other fireplace videos if you don’t have a Netflix subscription.
4. Fill your home with scents
Cookies baking. Fireplace crackling. Tree evergreening. Your sense of smell may be a better memory trigger than your sense of sight, says science. That’s why a whiff of seasonal scents may instantly transport you to Christmases past in your mind. Fortunately there is no need to be tethered to the oven or struggle with a 6-foot tree to recreate the aromas of Christmas in your home. Candles and diffusers are respectable substitutes and they are available in almost every scent of the season. All you need (and want, truthfully) is a whiff.
Thymes Frasier Fir Diffuser
If you aren’t planning to have a real Christmas tree this year (and the trend is to leave the trees where they are) you don’t have to forgo that unmistakable scent. Thymes Frasier Fir diffuser smells like the forest. In addition to the scent of Frasier Fir, it has scents of cedar wood and sandalwood. There’s a reason this is one of the best-selling scents on Amazon. Diffuser sells for $56 on Amazon. Or get the candle, also on Amazon, for $34.
Portable Fireplace Candle
This candle comes from DS&Durga of New York City, makers of perfumes, candles and lotions with minimalist packaging and scents like “Big Sur After Rain”. Their portable fireplace candle will make your room smell like you have a fireplace, especially handy when you don’t have a fireplace. (See Fireplace for your home, above). $70, from D.S. & Durga,
Woodwick Ellipse Candle in “Fireside” Scent
Candles come out at Christmas, but Woodwick candles stand out from the rest with their unique shape and design. Each fragrance is custom blended using the finest ingredients to create a sophisticated, complex scent–the Fireside candles offer a wonderful fireside scent, and due to the wood wick creates a long, dancing flame and crackle to give you that fireside feel, even if you don’t have a fireplace. Available at Amazon, $24.87.
NEST Fragrances Holiday Scented Classic Candle
NEST is known for its sophisticated scents. Its holiday-scented candles are an easy way to make your home feel warm, festive, and holiday ready. They are made of a rich blend of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves, and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber. They will burn cleanly and evenly for 50-60 hours. Find them on Amazon, $50.
Santa’s Naturals, Snow Fall Christmas Candle
If snow had a melody it would be the scent of this Snowfall candle. Woody and sweet, this candle hits all the right notes with bright citrus and eucalyptus, followed by the earthy scents of pine and cypress. The snow may not be falling on cedars but with this candle you can curl up with a book while staying snug and warm inside. Made from sustainably sourced soy and beeswax, plant-based essential oils, and cotton-core wicks. You can buy the Snow Fall candle on Amazon for $15.99. Santa’s Naturals also offers Fraser Fir and Winterberry scents. They make wonderful gifts, although you’ll be tempted to keep them for yourself.
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