Holiday Home Decor Ideas

Just like that, the holidays are here. As the Christmas season truly is the most wonderful time of the year, it’s time to take part in all of the things that make this season so merry. From the twinkling lights to the verdant green of decorated trees in the windows, there’s just something about all of the magic that December brings. Your home should reflect the joy of the holidays and welcome guests with a cheerful, themed embrace. However, incorporating seasonal decor into preexisting designs can be a challenge; it’s easy to lose the clean lines and luxury decor under layers of cheesy decorations. Don’t worry—you can incorporate festive looks without losing the look you love! According to Susan Spath, owner of Kern & Company/Susan Spath Interior Design in Solana Beach, "There’s a lot of ‘sparkle’ out there these days that lets you add a touch of glamour to a room, too!"

Take it from the experts, Susan Spath and Cindy Cerenzie of Le Dimora Home Furniture & Décor in Rancho Santa Fe, as they teach you how to put a little sparkle into our homes this holiday season.

On Where to Begin with Holiday Decor

Spath shares that, as with all things design, it’s important to find a focal point. Perhaps it’s the tree, or maybe it’s a beautiful mantle, but select the heart of the room and then work out from there. "It’s rather like getting dressed: once you have the basics for your space down, start embellishing with the accessories and jewelry that make it sparkle with your personality. Then, in the spirit of Coco Chanel, look back at it and take one thing off," she says.

On Adding Glitz to Any Theme

While it’s important to have a plan and a vision, Spath shares that it’s really a matter of time and space: how much time you want to spend and how much space you want to transform. "Beautiful holiday decor can be as subtle as filling bowls with scented pinecones next to a tree or as complicated as a room filled with accent pieces that completely transform the feel of your environment," she says. "In either case, you can simply reinvent the use for items you already have. The holidays are a great time to bring out your best china and silver!"

Cerenzie feels that good design is achieved by the perfect balance of compatible styles, color, and, most importantly, proportion. It is most obvious when the balance is wrong. Selecting pieces that are the right match and size for the room is where true talent is measured—especially around the holidays when seasonal accent pieces can make or break a room. 

On What to Look for This Holiday Season

The beauty of design and decor, specifically for the holidays, is that it defies trends. Classic natural elements are the main component to add to a space, be it seasonal greenery or florals, which are some perennial favorites of Spath and her team. When it comes to trendy items and accent pieces, as always, it’s all about the details. "Shagreen is having a moment this year, so I love the idea of a lovely shagreen box filled with something festive, such as gilded fruit or vintage Christmas ornaments. Fresh holiday topiaries are also a great way to add a natural element to a sideboard or fireplace mantel," Spath says.

Cerenzie shares her color picks for this holiday season: classic red, green, gold, silver, and white, which she’ll use in her own store to transform it into a winter wonderland and serve as a marketplace of ideas for guests to bring home for the holidays. "A few new items featured this year are ornaments from ‘JingleNog,’ the finest European blown glass ornaments designed by Melissa Byrne, and real wax flameless candles with a 360–degree moving flame. The candles can be operated with a remote control so they can be placed in hard-to-reach places," she shares. Of course, this can all seem overwhelming, especially during such a busy season—but it doesn’t have to be. When you walk into the Winter Wonderland, Cerenzie’s team of designers will walk you through the entire decorating process.

When bringing it all together, Spath believes the most important thing is that space stands the test of time. Invest in timeless decor and it will look as beautiful and elegant in ten years as it does when you first walk into it. This holiday season, "It’s important to make sure any home decor complements your space in the best way possible. A well done holiday room presents the best, most festive version of itself," she says