Get ready for the holidays!

With all of the activities on your schedule, here are tips to help you get ready for holiday entertaining without skimping on style.

(1) For a festive table use your existing dinnerware but add a different piece (charger, bowl, salad plate), some holiday linens, and dress it all up with ornaments and greens.  Try adding an inexpensive clear bowl in lieu of the matching soup bowl and fill with an ornament, pine cone or a floating holiday flower.  Have two sets of dishes? Mix up the plates and bowls. For a centerpiece, I often start with a pre-made wreath, add small branches, sprinkle ornaments around, and finish with bows, candles and place cards. 

(2) For a buffet dinner, create separate stations for food, drinks and desserts. It spreads the holiday cheer around your home.  Layer on a tablecloth or even a bolt of fabric (which can be under $10 at big box stores), raise up some areas with boxes or pots underneath, wind miniature lights around, and fill in spaces with poinsettia plants, ornaments, and greenery. Keep your theme and colors the same or similar to the rest of your house and at each station to help make it easy.

(3) Place wreaths in your dining room windows, tie to your shutters, or simply hang on the wall (use 3M Command hooks for damage free hanging). Using a great ribbon to tie on will create instant ambiance. For under $10 you can find great faux wreaths that you can use for years. If you have time, add lights, ornaments and more!

(4) Hang holiday cards on a door or wall by hanging a ribbon, and clip or pin cards on. I simply hang mine over the shutter. You  can hang them vertically or horizontally.  Instant decor and a great way to track card-giving for next year!

















(5) Dress up your dining chairs with fabric and ribbon.  Drape the fabric over the top of the chair and create a large bow at the back. If you have seating for 18 (I do sometimes) just do the host and hostess chairs. Simple and elegant.  This is an especially handy tip for folding chairs.

Inspiration for warm fall decor.

Using several of the ideas from the blog, this room
went from summery and light to winter warm.

As we move into cooler weather, it's nice to visually warm your interior spaces.  Here are some ideas to add to your decor for fall.

1) Hang wreaths made of fall 'findings' on your doors, from shelves, and use as centerpieces on tables and kitchen islands.




2) Swap your bright table linens for rich hues of cranberry, brick, taupe or hunter green.

3) Add wall decals to a focal wall in the entry, bedroom, or bath.


4) Drape greens, leaves, and branches from your dining room light fixture for a festive fall look. 

5) Place a knitted throw on your sofa, lounge chair or bed. These from A Touch of Tradition are beautiful and cost-effective. 


6) Hang a mirror over a table or dresser to reflect light from a window or table lamp.


















7) Use area rugs in your family or living room to join seating and visually warm the space.


8) Flameless candles are safe and the new versions are waxy with realistic wicks. Add them to table-scapes, mantles, inside hurricanes filled with fall colored items, and in wall and floor-mounted candelabras.

9) Fill hurricanes or large scale apothecary urns with seasonal items including greens, gourds, acorns, leaves, and other free 'findings'. For and elegant look add moss covered balls, glass ornaments in fall colors, clear and even mercury glass.  

10) Add fabric to your windows. Even if you already have blinds, using side panels or a top treatment can add warmth and texture, and even help stop cold drafts from windows.  Simple no-sew panels from inexpensive upholstery fabric can make your rooms look elegant and dramatic.  With functional Roman Shades for spring and summer, these windows are rich and warm even with white fabric by adding a fixed panel to the sides for fall and winter. The reverse holds true as well.  If you have panels and something is missing, add a great woven blind or wood blinds in the color of your trim to add texture and dimension.