Every Homeowner’s Guide to Amazing Holiday Décor

Ahhh, it’s that time of year again – dinner parties, family and friends, and inappropriate questions about your love life. Even if it’s not all cheery for you, it shouldn’t be the case for your home!

With Deepavali, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas looming, there’s not a more perfect time to refresh the décor in your home. Nevertheless, there are right and wrong ways to decorate your home for the holidays, so take heed, my friends.

A lived-in home will have opened books, gadget chargers, and remotes lying around, and that’s okay! Just stow them away for a neater appearance, especially when you’re expecting guests. Doing this will leave more space on table tops for additions like candles.

Do: Buy cute storage bins and baskets – they not only store the unsightly stuff, but also act as décor!

SOURCE: westelm.com

Don’t: Buy non-cute storage bins, like those transparent ones. Those belong in the kitchen or pantry to contain dry foods.

Since the foyer sets the tone of the home, direct substantial décor energy and budget to the home entrance.

Do: Instead of festive streamers and wreaths which won’t last past the holiday season, get a festive floor mat instead! A floor mat that’s not explicitly festive can be used all year round. We love this humorous one that only hints at the festivities.

SOURCE: notonthehighstreet.com

If you have budget for a small home renovation, check out our ideas.

Don’t: Do anything you’ll regret post-holiday cheer, like painting your door or planters in holiday colours.

What’s a dinner party without food? What’s a great dinner party without happy tableware?

Do: Get creative with tableware without splurging on them. A nice piece of fabric from the fabric store makes for a good table runner or table cloth. Instead of buying expensive plates, decorate the table with things like holiday napkins, bows, and placemats.

We love this Diwali table setting for the dining room – bangles, beads, tealight candles, and artificial flowers are penny wise and make a pretty combo!

SOURCE: theeastcoastdesi.blogspot.my

Don’t: Splurge on expensive plates and cutleries, especially if you don’t foresee using them often.

Comfy seats welcome guests to sit around and socialise, so add more of those.

Do: Try foldable chairs and pillows. You can also add pillows to those chairs to make them more butt-friendly. The extra pillows can pull double duty for sleep-over guests.

SOURCE: homedit.com

Learn more about welcoming guests in a small home.

Don’t: Spend money on benches or chairs that you have no use for after the holidays.

An effective way to usher in the festivities is by adding colour reminiscent of the holiday. Bright pinks, purples, and blues for Diwali, and orange for thanksgiving, for example.

Do: Incorporate these pops of colour into cheaper items like throw pillows, sofa blankets, and table runners. Besides making cosy, welcoming accents, they are also more easily replaceable to match the seasons.

SOURCE: designsponge.com

Don’t: While we admire their minimalism, steer clear of white décor for the holidays. They’re just not practical for parties!

Rule of thumb for warm and cosy lighting – orange and eye-level.

Do: Bring out table lamps from bedrooms and floor lamps from reading corners. Place them around the living room and use them instead of harsher white lights. Add in string lights and candles because when are they not great?

SOURCE: homedesignideas.eu

Don’t: Use every light. String lights are pretty, but don’t overdose on them – it’s just not cool if it’s everywhere. Plus, you’ll save on that light bill.

Look around your house for items with decorative features, then put them together

Do: For example, an old beaded necklace and a tea light candle in a mason jar come together well as table décor. Ribbons and bangles, on the other hand, are good napkin ties. If you’re not sure how to mix these knick knacks, group them together into colour families – that’s a surefire matching method.

SOURCE: Countryliving.com

Don’t: Get carried away with repurposing items. Some old necklaces better belong in the trash. Create a theme and filter your decorative items according to which ones suit the theme to avoid a mish-mash look.

Instead of scrambling for seasonal décor, collect interesting items throughout the year.

Do: Buying homeware and décor items on your various travels is a good way to pay homage to those times while collecting unique pieces that are hard to find in your location.

Don’t: Buy seasonal items – Christmas décor is expensive every day in December before the 25^th. So buy and collect décor for next year instead!

Cover image from archive.jsonline.com.