A fresh look at holiday decor

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Published November 15th, 2017

A fresh look at holiday décor

By Amanda Eck

Photo Amanda Eck

Can you believe the holidays are upon us? We haven't even finished off all the Halloween candy and the stores are already bombarding us with Christmas décor.

Well, as the saying goes, "If you can't beat them, join them!" So today I wanted to share some thoughts on how to bring some holiday cheer into your home without it necessarily looking like Santa's workshop.

I have clients ask after we have created a beautiful new space for them, "How will I decorate for Christmas and still coordinate with my new décor?" While I love all things red and green just as much as the next person, sometimes this bright palette can clash with your space. I prefer to use everyday items you already have and pull colors from your décor. I am also a believer in keeping it simple.

I use three simple elements in my holiday decorating: fresh greenery, ribbon and glass ornaments.

For the coffee table we used a sliver tray filled with gold and silver ornaments surrounding silver candlesticks and tucked in a few fresh sprigs of greenery. During the day, the ornaments gave off a wonderful shimmer and in the evenings we enjoy the candlelight.

In the dining room I went with bold color, but not the usual red and green. Here I used dinner plates in cobalt blue, emerald green and gold and layered them on top of a bold graphic black and white runner. The centerpiece was filled with fresh tulips and greenery and a pair of faux boxwood balls sit atop gold candleholders. Again use what you have and adding simple embellishments. The only purchase I made was the dinner plates and everything else I had on hand.

The dining room and living room are not the only spaces reserved for Christmas decorating. I love adding some holiday cheer to the master bedroom. This space was full of creams, blues and soft browns. So we brought out the blue with a silk ribbon. We hung a fresh wreath on the mirror and decorated the nightstands with an ivory stocking and small wreath. We opted for faux greenery above the bed, because no one wants pine needles falling on their head while sleeping, right?

I also love having a small tree in the bedroom, especially at night. I love crawling into bed after a long day to read by the light of the tree. There is something magical about turning off all the lights, except the lights on the tree.

Last but not least is the front door. Every year I try and dream up new ideas for my front door. One year it was a trio of fresh wreaths tied with red velvet ribbon; another year it was a black and white velvet stocking filled with fresh greenery. And my favorite was from a few years ago. I choose a simple green and white palette. Instead of the trio of wreaths I added a gold sunburst mirror to mix things up. Fresh greenery was draped over the outdoor console table and a paper mache deer was spray painted white.

I hope this inspires you to try some of these ideas in your own home and you won't be afraid to try new colors in your holiday décor. I wish you and your family all the best this holiday season.

Until next time!

Photo Amanda Eck

As the Owner and Principal Designer of Lamorinda-based Amanda Carol Interiors, Amanda Eck believes your home's interior should be both approachable and well- appointed. She often asserts, "Beauty is a necessity." With a distinct sense of style that mixes contemporary and classic design she fashions spaces that are both elegant and inviting. Her design aesthetic is inspired by anything visual but especially fashion, architecture and art. Visit http://amandacarolinteriors.com for more design ideas.



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