Last week, we gave you a glimpse into Gilt Groupe lifestyle editor Chassie Post’s anything-but-traditional holiday decor. Its bold, risk-taking qualities served as great inspiration for us — so we turned to some of the country’s best interior designers for even more inspiration. We asked them: How do you create a holiday-themed interior-design scheme that transcends the obvious and ordinary? Their answers didn’t disappoint — they came up with tips that go well beyond the standard red and green.
Tartan tape trick. “Make the holiday sticky by creating a design on a table using tape,” says New York–based interior designer Christopher Coleman. He suggests blending different widths and textures of craft tape and creating a four-color plaid as a “runner” down the center of the table. One combo he loves is neon orange, green, black, and silver metallic. It should be about 12 to 18 inches wide overall, with each piece of tape slightly overlapping the one next to it. (Note: Only do this on glass or metal tables—not wood.)
Light up. “It’s all about the light,” says New York–based interior designer Victoria Hagan. “I like to decorate tabletops with candles of every shape and size, mixing votives with tall tapers. Dim the lights and let your home sparkle.”
Spectator centerpiece. Coleman suggests combining oversize ball-shaped ornaments (around 6 inches in diameter), but all in black and white. Stack them, but skip the bowl; instead, hot-glue them together. Then place four silver votive candles around the perimeter.
Rethink the florals. Skip the hackneyed poinsettias in favor of a much fresher-looking floral arrangement. “Christmas decor, to me, means citrus, magnolia, and paperwhites,” says New York–based interior designer Miles Redd. “I grew up in Atlanta, and it was always easy to go in the backyard and cut magnolia branches and stick them on the mantle. The nice thing about magnolia is that it sort of arranges itself, does not have to go into water, and doesn’t look depressing as it dries.” He recommends combining it with Clementines and votives. “If you’re feeling ambitious,” he says, “pierce the Clementines with cloves for a delicious scent, combined with the fresh, heady scent of paperwhites. It’s my Proustian touchstone to all things Christmas.” And Shawn Henderson, a New York-based interior designer, notes that "boxwood garlands are a nice alternative to pine, and hydrangeas, peonies, and seeded eucalyptus can also add a subtle punch of holiday decor."
Nix the Little Drummer Boy. “Downloading music is inexpensive and easy, so there’s no excuse for cheesy Christmas music anymore,” says New York–based interior designer Thomas Jayne. “A recording of the King’s College Choir is a particular favorite. It will cleanse the air and change the atmosphere instantly.”
Get some inspiration overhead. “Hanging paper lanterns from the ceiling provides instant atmosphere and feels magical,” says Jayne, who once visited the great Irish house Clandeboye, where they had strung the library for the holidays with Chinese kites and lanterns decorated with gold stars.
Ornamental accent. Trying to go traditional, but don’t want to give up ornaments? Los Angeles–based interior designer Hillary Thomas has a solution. “Fill large glass jars with ornaments that aren’t the usual red-and-green fare,” she notes. Some color combinations she suggests: pink/green/silver, blue/orange/gold, and turquoise/lime green.
Indulge your sweet side. “Use your inner child as inspiration and decorate with candy,” says Hillary Thomas. “Display candy in jars, use as ornaments strung together, or as place-card holders. I especially love ribbon candy in bright, fun colors in bowls scattered about or used as place holders.” She also suggests putting out small votives filled with sugar at the bottom topped off with a mix of funky-colored candy canes.
Cheery loo. Too often, holiday guest towels are swathed in over-the-top candy-cane or boring holly-berry prints. Henderson suggests something that's just as festive, but not as obvious. "My go-to is a classic white towel with a colorful shot of embroidery," Henderson says, suggesting adding a candle in complementary tones. The effect is still festive, but more subtle.
Start a new tradition. A tabletop tree is a great alternative to the traditional Christmas tree. Los Angeles–based architect William Hefner and interior designer Hazuko Koshino, his wife and business partner, recommend a “family tree." Set out a leaf-less, needle-less tree, with ornaments that are photos of the faces of family members and loved ones, as well as black-and-white photos of ancestors. “Use brown ribbon or twine to hang the ornaments,” they note, “and a large brown or earth-toned ribbon tied at the base of the tree.”
Keep it simple. Some everyday items make the best holiday decorations. “Keep the décor natural and simple,” says Hagan. “Bowls of red apples mixed with pinecones gathered from outside and evergreen branches clipped from the backyard or from the local florist. It feels very festive without the glitz.”
Master a naturalistic new mix. “Utilize nature's perfection in an original way by mixing fruit and feathers together,” says Hillary Thomas, who recommends an impromptu arrangement of Clementines and peacock feathers.
Decorate by not decorating. Jayne suggests skipping town. “Buy tickets to a warm, exotic place. After all, Jesus was born in an exotic locale.”
(Photo by Mikkel Vang/taverne-agency.com)
