INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS…DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
SOUTHERN STYLE         

By Cynthia Aiken

INVITING LOOKS FOR THE SEASON

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS A TIME WE GO BACK IN OUR LIFE REMINISING OF MEMORIES PASSED DOWN FROM OUR FAMILIES.  IT’S A TIME FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND A TIME FOR ENTERTAINING IN OUR HOME. IT’S A TIME FOR SHARING MEMORIES AND CREATING NEW MEMORIES. 

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR, SO I START DECORATING EARLY AS TO STRETCH THE SEASON.  DECORATING YOUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE OVERWHELMING. DON’T TRY TO DECORATE EVERYTHING AT ONCE. I CONCENTRATE ON ONE PATICULAR AREA AT A TIME.  I START FIRSH WITH MY TABLE TOP DECORATIONS. THEN I DECORATE TREES FOR DIFFERENT ROOMS, GARLANDS FOR THE STAIRCASE THEN THE OUTSIDE DECORATIONS. DECORATE A DIFFERENT AREA  EACH DAY.  WITHIN A WEEK YOUR DECORATIONS WILL BE COMPLETE THEN YOU CAN SIT BACK AND ENJOY WHAT YOU’VE CREATED.  

THE SECRET OF ORGANIZED DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS IS HOW YOU PACKED THEM AWAY THE YEAR BEFORE.  ALWAYS STORE YOUR HOLIDAY TREASURES IN BOXES LABELED FOR EACH AREA. THIS WAY YOU CAN GO IMMEDIATELY TO WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WITHOUT DIGGING THROUGH EACH BOX.   

BRING IN FRESH GREENERY – A SIMPLE LIVE WREATH HUNG IN THE CENTER OF A  MIRROR. ADD A BOW OF A WONDERFUL FABRIC RIBBON TO MATCH YOUR DÉCOR.  THIS IS ALSO A WONDERFUL LOOK FOR A LARGE WINDOW.  HANG THE WREATH IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDOW INSIDE YOUR ROOM. YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE IT WILL MAKE. A SIMPLE GREEN WREATH HUNG AT THE FOOT OF A METAL BED ADDS JUST THE RIGHT TOUCH OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO ANY GUEST ROOM.  I’VE COLLECTED SANTA’S FOR MANY YEARS.  I FEEL THE EXCITEMENT OF A CHILD EACH YEAR AS I PULL THEM OUT PLACING THEM THROUGH OUT MY HOME. I LOVE TO USE CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOR TABLE TOP ACCESSORIZING THROUGHOUT MY HOME DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.  JUST SEEING BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS STORIES SITTING ON A TABLE REALLY PUT YOU IN FESTIVE MOOD.  CHILDREN’S BOOKS ARE WONDERFUL FOR DECORATING BRINGING BACK CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.   

THE DINING ROOM IS THE HEART OF THE HOME DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.  YOUR TABLE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF DECORATING.  I LIKE TO TAKE A SMALL SWAG TO HANG ON THE BACK OF EACH DINING CHAIR BY A RIBBON. I LIKE TO PLACE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT ON EACH PLACE FOR A DINNER PARTY AS A PARTY FAVOR. FOR A NATURAL CENTERPIECE,USE WHAT YOU FIND ON A STROLL THROUGH YOUR YARD AND GROCERY STORE AISLES.  CHOOSE A FOOTED GLASS DISH AND ARRANGE THE BOWL WITH ORANGES & APPLES.  ADD ENOUGH WATER TO FILL HALFWAY, THEN TUCK IN BERRY SPRIGS, IVY AND FRESH FLOWERS, SUCH AS SMALL RED AND ORANGE ROSES.  ALL CENTERPIECES SHOULD BE KEPT LOW, SO GUESTS CAN SEE OVER THE TOP WHILE DINING. DON’T FORGET TO SPRUCE UP THE HANGING FIXTURE. DECORATE A LANTERN OR CHANDELIER WITH RIBBON IN ANY HIGH-CEILINGED ROOM. CONSIDER A WREATH HUNG FROM RIBBON AROUND A BELL JAR OR SIMILAR-SHAPED FIXTURE.  CREATE A SIMPLE, ELEGANT CENTERPIECE OF SILVER AND GREEN FOR THE TABLE. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A FLORAL DESIGNER FOR THIS ARRANGEMENT OF FRESH-CUT EVERGREEN AND ROUND SILVER ORNAMENTS ACCENTED WITH SILVER CANDLESTICKS.  CREATE A SUGARED FRUIT DISPLAY, DIP INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF FRUIT IN EGG WHITES AND ROLL IN SUPERFINE SUGAR.  DON’T OVERCOAT – ALLOW THE FRUIT’S NATURAL COLOR TO SHOW THROUGH. LINE UP SEVERAL SILVER TUMBLERS FILLED WITH LOW FLOWERS DOWN THE CENTER OF YOUR TABLE AND INTERSPACE THEM WITH VOTIVE CANDLES.  

MIXING IN LIVE GREENERY WITH FAKE WILL GIVE THE IMPRESSION YOU HAVE USED LIVE GREENERY EVERYWHERE. FRESH BERRIES, ROSE HIPS, AND GREENS FROM THE GARDEN. WREATHS ARE A TRADITIONAL WAY OF WELCOMING GUESTS, AND A PERFECT WAY TO DRESS UP YOUR HOUSE FOR THE SEASON. A LARGE BASKET OF GREENERY WITH BERRIES AND PINECONES COMPLIMENT ANY ENTRANCE.

A CRYSTAL BOWL FILLED WITH CHRISTMAS BALLS WITH CHRISTMAS BEAD GARLAND IS PERFECT FOR ANY TABLE TOP. SOME ACCESSORIES CAN EASILY BE MADE INTO A HOLIDAY DECORATION, A GOOD EXAMPLE.  TALL GRASS TOPIARIES ADORNING A MANTEL WITH A RIBBON TIED TO THE FRONT WITH A BOW WITH A LARGE CHRISTMAS BALL HANGING IN FRONT CREATES A FESTIVE ADDITION TO ANY TOPIARY AND BECOMES AN ADDITIONAL DECORATION.

BUNCH ORNAMENTS TOGETHER FOR VISUAL IMPACT ON A LARGE TREE.  YOUR COLLECTED PIECES WON’T GET LOST IN THE EXPANSE OF GREEN AND GO UNNOTICED.

This is another in my series of home INTERIOR DESIGN IDEASfrom your Atlanta Interior Designer; I hope that you use them help you decorate your home for the holidays.