As you’re preparing to decorate your home for the winter holidays, keep in mind that there are some common mistakes that interior designers see year after year, and urge you to avoid at all costs.
Below, four designers provide insight on five common pitfalls you’ll want to stay away from when decorating a hall.
decoration with fake garland
Imitation beads have grown in popularity in recent years, but some designers consider them inferior to the real thing.
Real greenery offers a more elevated aesthetic and releases a refreshing scent that keeps your home smelling fresh and natural all day long. However, keep in mind that because greenery can dry out quickly, you’ll want to mist it periodically to ensure it stays fresh and festive throughout December.
If you intend to host a holiday celebration in your home this season, plan to purchase your greenery close to your party date so it will look as lush as possible when your guests arrive.
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Select only red and green decor items
While red and green are definitely common colors for decorating during the holiday season, keep in mind that you can still add plenty of Christmas cheer to your home. Including other beautiful colors,
“Jewelry and socks come in every color these days, so choose color combinations that match your personality and day-to-day decorating style,” says Timla Stewart, founder of Decorated Interiors Design Studio.
For example, if you’re attracted to minimalist aesthetics, try experimenting with off-white and silver decor this year; If you are more interested in general styles like grandmillennialConsider hanging some blue and white socks. Try playing with colors that match your home and personal style instead of just the classic red and green combination.
Not staying true to your personal style
Likewise, it’s important to maintain a sense of self when decorating for a specific holiday or season.
“I believe this is a time of year when we should throw out the decorating rules and embrace nostalgia,” says Tiffany Le Piotrowski, principal designer and founder of Tiffany Le Design.
She explains how she often sees people abandoning their favorite styles and colors during the holiday season so they can fit into the aesthetic that’s trending.
“Christmas is all about having fun and recreating the magic of childhood,” says Piotrowski. “During the holidays I gave up seriousness and perfection.”
Even though she’s styled her home using primarily neutral colors, Piotrowski is ready to embrace a colorful Christmas tree come December. She especially loves displaying the vibrant vintage glass ornaments she inherited from her grandmother and covering the tree with colored lights rather than white lights; It brings a personal touch to their holiday decorations every year.
mix of subjects
That said, designers suggest maintaining a cohesive look when decorating for the season.
“The biggest mistake people make when decorating their homes for the holidays is mixing themes,” says Shannon Murray Petruzzello, founder of Shannon Murray Interiors.
For example, people sometimes mix tartan with winter wonderland items, opt for green and red decor with pastels, or go overboard with all kinds of different greenery.
Petruzzello recommends choosing a theme and sticking to it throughout your home. This way, it will make a bigger impact and not feel so cluttered.
If you’re not sure what style you want to adopt, try to imagine what color schemes and details would compliment the current style of your home. And if you’re still drawing blanks, try finding a holiday collection It creates the perfect balance of nostalgia and festive joy for you.
gathering lots of candles together
Stewart is hesitant to pile too many candles together, especially if they are placed near greenery, as it could be a fire hazard. Instead, she recommends replicating the moody look by using a battery-powered one. flameless candles,
Even if you scatter them on the mantel top, keep them in non-functioning fireplaceOr line them up on the window, they will definitely spread plenty of ambiance and charm to all corners of your home.
The best part is that since candles aren’t holiday specific, you can keep them on display for the rest of winter; They’ll make your space cozy into the new year and beyond.
