Aucourant Or Just Old-Fashioned? Navigating the Ditches & Dos of Holiday Decorating

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If decorating your home for the holidays has become more of a chore than you would like, it might be because you have run out of ideas or that trove of ornaments and trinkets in your attic just doesn’t inspire you anymore. If you’re stuck in a decorating rut, hopefully this “ditch or do” guide will help sort out what’s hot and what’s not for the holiday season.

Ditch It: Wreaths

While the evergreen iterations of this annual decorative element enjoyed being the seasonal holiday stalwart for some time, there are many new ways to greet guests at the front door.

Do It: Next-Gen Wreaths

Boxwood, feathers, and eucalyptus have been featured in newer wreath iterations and have inspired further exploration of natural resources and earthy examples. This hand-assembled creation of magnolia leaves, pepper berries, and eucalyptus, offers a truly fresh take on an old favorite with an inviting texture and a pop of garnet.

Ditch It: Tree Skirts

If you’re putting up a holiday tree this year, you may want to up your game when it comes to the tree skirt you’re putting underneath it. While this element certainly serves a purpose of hiding your bulky and perhaps even rusty tree stand, experts say it’s time to re-examine the fabric and texture of this accent item, steering clear of heavy velvets, burlap, or shiny satins.

Do It: Tree Collar

These elements add an updated approach to the function of a tree skirt and provide an additional approach to introducing a new texture into the décor. This cottage-core inspired example is made from rattan and is composed of two pieces that easily hinge together—and easily store away.

Ditch It: Those Large Outdoor Inflatables

Having too many of these outside your home can become just plain unsightly; especially when they are deflated and laying on the front lawn as we often see them. Ditch them and try something next- level.

Do It: Next-Level Outdoor Schemes

There are many new options to create an outdoor holiday scheme that look subtle and natural by day, and then enchant by night. Check out these illuminated faux branches designed with bendable copper wire and transparent cable. Affix them to window and mailboxes, porch railings, and lampposts and help light the way for this season’s guests.

Ditch It: Glitter

Too much of this stuff and other items with reflective qualities have the tendency to overwhelm any room scheme. And we all know that glitter is the gift that never stops giving, often attaching itself to people and things and lingering long after the holiday is over. 

Do It: Texture

Try a neutrally themed tree that plays with the textures of the ornaments and decorations. Add in felt pieces or wooden ones but keep the overall color scheme natural and organic. Include fresh greens like pine or cedar throughout the rest of your holiday decorations to bring a little of the outdoors in by adding texture and life to your existing décor.

Ditch It: Predictable Color Schemes 

Sorry, but the super-obvious red and green schemes that we may have grown up with are just plain passe. 

Do It: Earth Tones, Soft and Muted Colors 

Try sage green, beige, muted blues, and dusty rose which are great updates for the traditional bold reds and greens. This creates a cozy, minimalist aesthetic.

Ditch It: Chunky, Weighted Mantle and Window Décor

These heavier, and even cumbersome garland boughs are sometimes difficult to get and keep in place. 

Do It: Wispy Garland

Newer whisper-like, willowy, almost feathery-light faux boughs for decorating are what holiday mantle decorating is all about now. Place a few treasured objects and some lights amongst them and let the glow show begin!

The Holiday in Blue

Setting an Intention

All holiday traditions are special, and the environments that we create around them should reflect that. To that end, we thought to curate a visual mood board inspired by the less obvious fall and winter holiday hue, blue. Homespun in its subtlety and varied in its range, blue tones might just end up being the most versatile color in your seasonal jewel box. 

Setting the Table

Blue, gold, and red bring a fresh vibe to this special occasion table. Rich in color, this tabletop can be amped up for the holiday meal using illuminated faux branches. 

A thoroughly modern Hanukkah table scene is created with dense blue accents, subtle but luxe flashes of metallics, and earthy vibes brought in with an uncovered tabletop and live natural elements.  

Setting the Scene

The options to create a winter wonderland of blue are fortunately numerous and can be very advantageous for families who celebrate more than one tradition in a home. And curating simple, subtle additions can easily help set the scene. 

1. Serve ware can be fun and seasonal, too. Add whimsy to your tabletop with star and bulb-shaped platters and plates. And enjoy at least one night of Hanukkah with plates that honor cherished traditions. Photo courtesy of replacements.com. 2. Sprinkle the scene with elegant, blue-hued twisted taper candles.Photo courtesy of shopterrain.com. 3. Add sparkle and shine with celestial bauble vases running the length of your table as a centerpiece. They’re delightful dinner accompaniments that don’t obstruct the view of your dinner companions. Photo courtesy of shopterrain.com. 4. These mirrored starry coasters help create a table scene just by setting down a glass. Photo courtesy of shopterrain.com. 5. Snowy-white preserved hydrangea wreathes hung with blue cloth ribbons bring a garden favorite indoors inspiring with texture and a cool tone.

However, you holiday… get creative and enjoy yourself doing it. Put on your favorite music, set an intention to create joy, and carry that feeling forward for however long you celebrate! Happy Holidays from the staff at What’s Up? Media!