Snow Place Like Home

With a mix of Christmas and winter favorites, the Country Sampler stylists show how easy it can be to create a holiday scene that will last all season long.

Christmas comes just once a year, as the saying goes, but any true country decorator knows that the effort put into preparing for it often extends far beyond the holiday itself. And, considering how much energy goes into making this time of year so magical, isn’t it logical to create displays that extend the longevity of your seasonal scenery?

Country Sampler stylists Debbie Plantery and René Haines agree wholeheartedly. “Just because December 26 rolls around before you know it, that doesn’t mean your displays have to feel outdated right after Christmas,” Debbie says. “By incorporating wintry items, such as snowmen, greenery and solid-red accents, you can keep your home looking fresh until February.”

Of course, that’s not to discount the importance of Santas, angels and other traditional yuletide fare. “You can always just remove or replace those holiday icons,” René says. “Take out a Santa figure and put in a pillar candle, or substitute a red velvet bow with a homespun one.”

To show rather than tell their seasonal suggestions, Debbie and René brought their ideas to Tammie and Brian Imel’s Markle, Indiana, home, a converted 1940s dairy barn that the couple turned into living space 18 years ago. The house offers the perfect backdrop for creative displays. “I decorate every room, mostly with nature- and woodland-themed things, like reindeer and pinecones, with pops of red,” Tammie says.

Inspired by Tammie’s preference for naturals as a starting point, Debbie and René share these 19 merry and bright ideas. We’re sure you’ll find a way to make these holiday hints your own!