Decorating Your Home for the Holidays

Each week Mansion Global tackles an interior design topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week we look at how to get your home into the holiday spirit.

The holidays, with their obligatory glitzy greatness, maybe the one and only time of year when no one questions the glitterization of mankind. But bringing such an explosion of shimmer into your home might not quite be your cup of tea.

Here are ideas from design pros for tricking out your house tastefully.

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Go natural

"Many earthy options are available for the holiday season, such as pine, cedar, eucalyptus, balsam, juniper, and boxwood. To make a contemporary garland, mix in a few different greens with simple metallic objects, berries, and branches. A daily spritz of water will help keep all greens fresh and prevent your garland from drying out too quickly. If you start with a faux garland as the base, you can easily wire and work in fresh greens. There is nothing better than the incredible scents created by these fresh-cut options.

Small touches like sprigs of greenery on countertops, or a small metallic ornament hung on a mirror, can make a big impact. Photography by Julie Ranee Photography 2012 Houzz

"For table centerpieces, I love the bold, bright color of crimson roses mixed with greenery and natural elements. Playing with different types of china, linens, and glassware adds character and extra charm.

"Some of the most beautiful, textural, and organic Christmas tree decorations can be found right outside your door. You might collect from your yard (or buy) holly, berries, evergreen, pheasant feathers, pinecones, and magnolia leaves with their incredible scale and rich color. Magnolia leaf garlands are simple to make by using floral wire and gathering leaves together in bunches, then those bunches can be grouped to create long garland strands. If the leaves become damaged or discolored, consider spray-painting them metallic for an added sparkle."

－Indiana-based designer Julie Browning Bova

Think small

"Instead of going for a big overall impact, spread a little holiday cheer in every room with a special touch. An ornament hung on a mirror, a sprig snipped from your Christmas tree in a glass on the bathroom sink, or bundles of books with spines in hues that coordinate with your color scheme stacked and tied with ribbon will foster a holiday mood in a chic way.

"In terms of lighting, drape white twinkle lights over and around a great big floor mirror for instant ambience. If you are hosting a holiday open house, everyone is bound to end up in the kitchen. Make yours instantly more festive by turning off the overhead lights and setting sophisticated table lamps on the counters instead. The warm glow will make everything look better."

A touch of twinkle lighting gives this grand floor mirror some shimmer and adds instant ambiance to the room. Photography by Mina Brinkey 2013 Houzz

"Keep an eye out for fruit, nuts, and even veggies with gorgeous colors and shapes that can double as decor. Mound pomegranates and cranberries in a wooden bowl, arrange pears and figs on a tray, or fill a glass jar with walnuts and almonds in the shell for an easy, edible arrangement."

－San Francisco-based Houzz Contributor Laura Gaskill  

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Think out design ahead of time

"Set up your vision beforehand based on the color palette you want to use, whether all white, orange and spice, or Scottish tartan—and then lay ribbons and accessories that reflect the scheme out on a mood board to see how they look together before purchasing.

 "Instead of just thinking about the mantel as a single element, envision the entire fireplace as a feature wall and dress it from top to bottom in a tasteful boutique-style manner. For instance, you might have three tall cylindrical glass vases filled with pine cones or ornaments that extend the length of the wall.  

"Depending on your theme, lighting is a key element to getting the Christmas look just right. Whether it's icicles, globe lights, mini fairy lights, traditional fairy lights, or all-candle lighting, make sure your mood board takes this into consideration. .... I prefer traditional warm white lighting mixed with scented candles. "

－Dara Huang, Founding Principal at Design Haus Liberty in London

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