At this point, I’m always feeling slightly overwhelmed and freaking out a bit. As someone who puts his decor on display to the world via the internet, I’m prone to panic: “Is this the year I’m going to miss the mark? What if my ideas suck? What if my creative well has dried up?”
15 Ways to Make Your Home Cozier for the Holidays
Give your home a toasty, comfy makeover this Christmas with these upgrades, quick fixes, and expert tips.
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Pick a candle, any candle.
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“Candles are a classic way to add a joyous mood to your home,” says interior designer Anna Hackathorn. “I especially love a large group of 15 or so white pillar candles in various heights, massed together on a large plate or tray in the center of the dining table.” And while any candles displayed on your table while food is being served should be unscented, placing scented candles around your home is great way to create ambiance and make any room feel cozier. “Select a fragrance that reminds you and your guests of the season,” says interior designer James Wheeler. “Candles in scents of pumpkin, spice and apple are easy to find, and I particularly love the warmness of tobacco and sandalwood.”
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Switch up throw pillows and blankets.
Courtesy of Kindred Vintage & Co.
Replace your lightweight cottons and linens with cozy, chunky textures, likes knits and velvets, and patterns like plaid. “Accent items, like a cozy throw on the arm of a chair or throw pillows in fresh colors, can create warmth by adding nice pops of holiday color and texture without much effort,” says Hackathorn. You can also add an oversized knit blanket to the bottom of your tree in lieu of a tree skirt, as seen on Kindred Vintage & Co.
Christmas Idea and Recipe Resource List
Before we get into this post, I also wanted to share this Christmas resource list. I have been blogging for 14 years and have dozens of helpful posts for you. I have put together a collection of the best be
Decor
- 175+ Creative Christmas Ideas
- Cozy Christmas Decor Ideas
- The Ultimate Christmas Music Playlist
- How to add Ribbon to your Christmas Tree
- Creative DIY Gingerbread Decor Ideas
- 25+ Christmas Trees Decorating Ideas
- Vintage Christmas Decorations
Recipes
- The Best Christmas Cocktail Recipes
- My Favorite Christmas Cookies
- Must- Make Christmas Appetizer Recipes
- The Season’s Best Cranberry Recipes
- Must-Try Gingerbread Recipes
Before I get into details, please know that what I’m sharing is not a bunch of hard and fast “rules” I follow every year or the way things always unfold. Sometimes inspiration will strike mid-season and take me completely off course (for better or for worse!). However, in general, my Christmas decor planning process goes something like this.
Consider Your Color Palette
When I’m designing anything, nine times out of ten, the first thing I think about is color. This is the case when I’m planning a room design, party, or tablescape.
However, when it comes to Christmas decor, thoughts of color and thoughts of my Christmas trees usually go hand-in-hand. This means that during the fall, I try to be especially open to inspiration that might help me come up with a color scheme. I know it may sound crazy, but I sort of have a conversation about this in my head.
If you’ve been following IBC for a while, you might remember the year I was inspired by gradients and the colors of the rainbow. That led me to make this Rainbow Gradient Christmas Tree. Another year I LOVED a dress Adele wore at a live performance, and that inspired this gold and green tree. Last year I found green velvet chairs for my living room, which inspired me to go green. That decision prompted me to go mostly red in my family room.
Plan Decor Themes
In general, I try not to get too “themey.” But there are times when a loose “theme” can help with the decorating process.
For example, I often go with reds in my family room. I choose that color because I used it in the space previous years, and I loved how it looked and wanted something similar this year.
Another example is my living room decor from a few years ago. I had the theme of the Emerald City in mind. You wouldn’t think of the magical city in Oz when you looked at that room, but that’s what guided many of my decisions. I hope that makes sense.
Having a color scheme or theme helps me resist all of the pretty distractions I find as I’m decorating. There are too many temptations this time of year, and if I want a cohesive look, I know I can’t have all of them at the same time in one place.
