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freshen up Holiday Decor

Dear Un-spruced Hostess,

My mantra, “There is joy in the details,” is the answer to your question. Perhaps you should add to or change the detail at the focal points of your rooms.

There isn't anything wrong with using the same decorations as long as they are used in the best possible way. Don't get into a rut and use the decorations in the same manner year after year. Think outside the box, try looking at your rooms as if you were seeing them for the first time.

Let your eyes find the focal points in the room — a fire- place, a tree or a table. That's where you want to give attention to your decorating details. You can accomplish this by concentrating decorations, pulling them close together, layering them, perhaps making a few purchases to add anything needed.

Sometimes new ribbon may be all you need to make things look fresh. A lot can be done with small changes or additions, for instance in the guest room we've added ribbon and a few ornaments to a throw pillow on the bed. The bed being the focal point of the room makes it the obvious place to add some decoration. The throw pillows make the focal point on the bed itself. It is a small touch of holiday décor but it is one of those details that make a big difference.

In the photo with the Christmas tree, the tree was the focal point of the room and needed some richness added. We “layered” elements — we danced mesh ribbon and placed poinsettias first, pulling the tree together by uniting the elements. We added ornaments to tuck into the interior of the tree which added depth and placed the fanciful heirloom ornaments on the outer layer of the tree, resulting in a new look. Layering can be used on wreathes and garlands as well.

Throughout November and December, we decorate homes and businesses for the holidays and love to work with our clients, but whatever you do make it yours, with or without a designer's help.