We’ve officially crossed over into fall territory. To get into the spirit, here are 5 tips for decorating your home this season (and have it looking like a professional did it!).
Decide What Your Decorating Style is
The first step before getting started is to decide what route you are going to go with the style of your decor. For example, do you like a farmhouse aesthetic, or is your style considered more modern chic? This will determine the type of decor you start with and will definitely impact the color scheme.
If your style is rustic farmhouse; you are going to implement rustic elements into your holiday decor. This includes natural elements such as natural wood, fuller-looking plants, and even haystacks. A rustic style will also include more rugged pieces, and weathered finishes. Anything you would find on your family’s farm is fair game!
If your style is on the modern side, the decor you choose will be cleaner and more polished. A modern style will have more metals, solid finishes, and more simplistic looking greenery.
These are just two examples of the many decorating styles. If you are interested in learning more about decorating with specific styles for the holidays, let us know!
Pick a Color Scheme and Stick to it
One of the most common mistakes I see my clients make when decorating for the holidays would be when they go to the store, pick up all the things they like in the store, get home and have trouble putting it all together because none of it has any color coordination.
If you’ve ever seen an event planner put together a spread for an event, it has never just been a hodgepodge of colors. The trick to taking your holiday decor from amateur to professional is to have a color scheme and then stick to it.
This is easier said than done and takes a little practice. One trick to coordinating your colors would be to put together a mood board. This may sound over the top but will save you tons of time later when you can’t picture everything together in your head. It will make it easier to select things when walking through the store.
Photo by: Nina Willams
Don’t Over Decorate
There is an art in finding a balance between not enough holiday decor and enough to be an eyesore. Try taking each room and looking at it as a whole, and don’t focus on each part too much. This is what causes you to back up and say “oops”. We’ve all been there.
Use a mixture of big, medium, and small accessories. This will help you avoid your space looking too cluttered.
Accessorize with Odd Numbers
When planning out your decorations for certain areas; keep in mind that the eye naturally finds odd numbers appealing. For example, when you add accessories to a shelf, make sure that there are uneven numbers in each section (3 candlesticks, 5 pumpkins, etc.).
Balance things visually on each side of the scale. If you have 2 lanterns on one side of your mantle, add 3 candlesticks to the other side equaling the same size.
If You Can’t Find What You Have in Mind, Don’t be afraid to DIY
Some of the best holiday decorations come from the heart, and sometimes it’s impossible for the exact piece to exist to complete your perfect look. There are plenty of videos and tutorials online to help you achieve whatever you desire. If you have something in mind, chances are somebody has already thought of something similar. It may not be as hard as you think to make something from scratch.
The good news is that if you followed the above tips, you should already have a great starting plan for your holiday decor and will have enough to pull color and inspiration from!
In conclusion, holiday decorating is all about being unique and creative. It’s a specific time of year where you can go crazy and change up the entire look of your home temporarily and show off your personal style. Happy decorating!
If you want help decorating your home for the holidays, the professionals at Carmen Mackey Designs are here to help! Our design experts are available for an in-person or virtual complimentary consultation.
Contact us at Carmen Mackey Designs to get started on your unique holiday design today!
