Yes, it is again that time of the year that we decorate the house for the holidays. Specially after the second year of pandemic we are longing even more than normal to create a very warm and inviting home. Do you take out the boxes with your Christmas decoration or are you into something completely new?
Let’s be bold and create a new Christmas ambiance. But when we look on the internet, specially on Pinterest we see so many things we like that we don’t know what to choose. So let’s be creative and start by making a mood board. Take out the picture you like, put them on one or more pages, dividing them by style, see what you like most and you have all the inspiration you need for decorating the house, setting the table, wrapping the gifts and even for deciding the menu.
A vintage Christmas
When you start creating your mood board, collect images you like for a festive or warm winter mood, Not only Christmas pictures, Think of winter, childhood memories, winter sports…….
On the vintage Christmas mood board we see a lot of traditional elements such as the classical colors red, green and white. The images have a vintage look, Christmas as we remember from our childhood. This old fashioned touch brings in a warm feeling. You can decorate the whole house, create an interior that surrounds you with warmth.
At my parents we still use the old Christmas decorations from my grandmother, from the 50s. Some animals, snowman, handprinted balls. Just looking at them brings back the joy of Christmas as a child. So much memories of happy celebrations. You don’t need to cut a tree to create the look. Save the planet and go for a big branch and start decorating. You combine the vintage look with a modern approach, we don’t live no longer in the 50s.
What makes the holidays special is the time spend with your loved ones. Baking cookies together on a Saturday afternoon is a time to share memories and to create new ones. Decorate your table in the traditional colors and add something: a small note, a branch of green. Just enjoy the time of creating a magical evening around the table. Unwrapping gifts is part of the Christmas celebration, for me the part of wrapping is even more fun. To look for a detail that makes the difference. Wrap all your gifts in the same way; color, details….. don’t take it easy and ask the shop to wrap your gifts, at the end you have a mix of wrapping paper that don’t fit together. It are those small details that make the big picture.
A rustic Christmas
You love the country side, natural materials and colors. No better choice to create an interior that evokes a warm feeling without creating a typical Christmas ambiance, You can keep your decoration up till spring, it won’t start to look strange after the 6th of January.
Linen tablecloth and napkins in natural colors or off - white. Use different colors for the plates. Brass elements such as the candle holders and cutlery will bring a touch of warmth and refinement. The atmosphere that gets created is for those who love the Scandinavian style; simple lines, greyish and natural color harmony with some small color accents. You can add some decorative plates on the table, with some beautiful stylised designs, to serve the food. You can keep the wooden garland all year round, now for Christmas you can add some elements such as small branches or you can create some stars in fabric or wool.
Creating the Christmas look can be done in a minimalist way, if all this Christmas decoration is just to much for you. Because at the end how many people still know the real meaning of the Christmas celebration? We celebrate the birth of our Savior, not just an evening eating to much and unwrapping gifts. You can choose beeswax candles with that hand-made touch. Wrap your gifts in a beautiful piece of fabric, better than throwing all that paper out afterwards
A white Christmas
You have a romantic soul, you dream of a white Christmas, lots of snow and why not be a princess in a big castle. You love to shop in antique shop and come home with some embroidered fabrics or some silver cutlery. But you have this mix in you that love modern fashion pieces, travel and are full of energy. Combine both to give this princess look a modern touch.
Surprise your guests with an all white dinner. Think out of the box for giving your romantically setting this modern touch. And yes, you can take out your mix of antique silver cutlery. No need to have all the same. I also like to mix different sets of glasses on the table: some modern, some crystal, some with a touch of color in the glass. Do you also love those napkins with a monogram! Me too, forget those paper napkins, make the evening special. And than surprise your guest with a frozen popsicle, why not.
An all white interior and decoration is asking for warm touches, this can be by adding a small color splash, a small velvet ribbon, the gift wrapping paper with a flock print. And of course candles, a lot of candles. Add wool blankets, velvet pillows to create warmth. Those all white interior will bring you in a screen mood, perfect for this hectic time of the year.
A colourful Christmas
A traditional Christmas is not for you, much to old-fashioned for somebody who loves colors and is full of energy. You are young at heart and playful, or your house is filled with toys and kids running around. You are creative, love to travel and keep live easy and fun. You don’t have to give up on all this. Honestly, adding a traditional Christmas tree in your home would look quite strange.
Yes, go for a colourful and playful holiday decor. Think big, oversized and mix all the colors up. Still time to make a garland with stars, a paper wreath. I see you already, you have so much fun in decorating the house that your guest will have the best evening of the year at your place. And no better way to keep the kids busy than preparing together all the decorations.
No boring time sitting at the table, your guests will be welcomed to hang around the living area till the moment to get to the table, decorated in style with a splash of color. Small colourful wrapped gifts will be the centre piece at your table, let them all take one and unwrap. You have set the mood for a relaxed evening.
How to create your Christmas look for 2021
start collecting images to discover your style
you have a color harmony to play with
you choose the materials fitting your style
look for the right decoration
think of the table setting
create the menu
And don’t forget what we celebrate. So no stress to get all the details right, enjoy the journey.
How is your Christmas going yo look this year? Let me know, I’m curious.
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