Holiday Decorating Tips

Make your home merry and bright

I feel like I am home when I walk in to E Madison, my favorite interior lifestyles store. Well, not MY home, but someone else’s home. Someone with really great taste who wants me to feel relaxed and welcome. The way they have decorated the store for Christmas is truly stunning. Seeing how they carefully layer and subtly include holiday decor makes me think that I might be able to achieve a similar look in my own home. I walked around the store to take note of how they made it feel festive without becoming Griswold-esque.

The store color pallete has a lot of earthy tones and neutrals. It makes sense to include holiday decor in similar colors. But that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Metallics are totally a neutral, in my opinion, and I think the store staff agrees. Add some pizzaz to your decor with mercury glass jars and candle holders. They are the perfect way to bring in some extra sparkle that a holiday home needs. And how gorgeous is that “Noel”! That would work perfectly on a mantle and just as well as a centerpiece strewn with a fresh pine garland. As much as I love those rustic letters, I would never be able to use them as decoration in my home. My kids (and that includes my husband) would make it spell “lone” just to annoy me.

There are gorgeous arrangements throughout the store. I am drawn to them every time I go in. These faux succulents are visually appealing and Courtney has added some berries and more traditional winter greenery to make them more holiday inspired. Not only would these make the perfect hostess gift, but it would look amazing as a centerpiece for your big holiday meal. I love how she uses an interesting vessel for holding the plants elevating it to a piece of art rather than a normal houseplant. This really shows that it is all about the details which is what we should remember with our holiday decorating.

In my head, my family’s four stockings have to match each other exactly. E Madison shows me that is not the case! I love how these mismatched stockings look hung in a group. Remember to keep them in the same color family but play with different materials for texture and interest. For instance, that fringe on the middle stocking. I LOVE it. Remember these are going to be filled with colorful treats on Christmas morning. The way the the goodies will stand out against these stockings will have a really big impact.

The store staff can be hired to help you decorate but I suggest coming in to take notes on how they have styled the store. It is a great place to learn from. The Christmas trees are gorgeously done and you can buy the ornaments right off of them. Don’t forget to check out the blue tree in the kid’s area – so fun! This gold ball above has my heart. I mean, gold plaid with polka dots?! Gorgeous! And see how they made sure to place the ornament right by a bulb? The metalic paint pops with that extra boost of light. That is definitely something I can do at home.

There is nothing better than the smells of the winter holidays! These photos do not do these Illume candles justice. The top right glass pedestal jar is actually covered in small gold stars that are dainty and charming. And the Balsam and Cedar scent screams Christmas. I will be gifting this to someone. And possibly to myself. This smaller candle, pictured immediately above, can easily be placed throughout your home. And the small glass jar is delicately dotted white and reminds me of snow. Even the boxes are festive! And for those of you with fireplaces, are you not just dying over the gorgeous green packaging of those fireplace matches?

This Mulled Wine candle is everything. Not only does it have a delicious smell, sure to evoke a special memory, but it has the sparkle of the mercury glass and a pop of color from the candle itself. And pairing it with that silver snuffer makes it classic and charming in a way that a glittery elf figurine can not.

To add even more color to your home, consider changing out accessories that you may already have for a holiday color. This festive red blanket adds an instant warmth that is quintessentially holiday. How do you decorate beautifully for the holidays?