Sally Morse, Director of Creative Services for window fashions leader Hunter Douglas and the design expert at hunterdouglas.com believes there is always room to reinvent and come up with fresh, creative ideas for your home during the holidays. Morse's design motto is “Less is less and more is more,” so let's get to decorating with great tips from the expert herself.
Themed Trees
One Christmas tree is not enough during the holidays, especially when there are so many themes to pick from!
For your main Christmas tree (likely placed in the living room), Morse likes to use a combination of white, gold and silver—a few of her favorite holiday colors. Ornaments and tinsel are great ways to get these three colors onto your living room tree.
In the dining room, a small tree on a beautiful silver plate in the middle of the dining room table will add the right touch. Hang a few mismatched forks and spoons, toping it off with some skinny, colorful ribbon.
The kids should inspire the tree you place in your family room. This tree can consist of ornaments that your children have made, providing a showcase for years of memories from top to bottom.
Do-It-Yourself Gift Boxes & Wrapping Paper
Under the smaller trees of the house, Morse places smaller cardboard jewelry boxes that she has hot-glued moss to. She then ties a clever bow around each box.
Show a little of your own creativity by making your personalized wrapping paper for gifts and get the little ones from your household involved for a fun, holiday family activity. Using plain white or brown Kraft paper, stencil the paper using a sponge with silver, gold and any other traditional holiday colored paints.
The Outside In
For a great first impression at your front door, place greens in vases and dress them up with ribbons, and shiny ornaments. Morse says a fun idea for the porch is to hang 12- to 16-inch gold or silver balls from apple green ribbon or any holiday color all at varying lengths.
Holiday Light
For warm, diffused holiday light, Morse recommends using silhouette window shadings. The soft fabric slats suspended between sheer panels, not only softens and diffuses light, but it also offers the added benefit of allowing you to direct it by tilting the slats, or closing them when you want extra privacy.
Festive Feasts
An elegantly set table says it all during the holidays. Morse's idea of the perfect dining room table: Wrap ribbon around the dining room chairs, adding a small bunch of pine cones, ornaments and greens at the back. For your centerpiece, take a silver tray, layer it with Epsom salt to mimic snow and then place a crystal bowl of ornaments or fruits on it.
