All I Want for Christmas Is?
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Large perfectly fluffy snowflakes are falling from the midnight sky, quickly covering the ground in a blanket of frosty white. Before long, the tree branches will be grazing the ground, laden with snow. Your warm breath fogs up the chilled window as you admire the silent beauty, hot cocoa in hand. The Christmas tree lights bounce off of the windows, illuminating the living room in a warm cozy glow. The fire crackles as the flames dance across the logs. The house is clean, the presents are wrapped, and no one is stirring, not even a mouse.
All I want for Christmas is… snow!
And I’m not just talking about atmospheric water vapor frozen into ice crystals. I’m setting that magical winter wonderland scene aside for a few key interior design tips this holiday season.
S - Scent
N - Nature
O - Ornamentation
W - Wrapping
Let’s dive in!
S - Scent
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The holidays smell like my husband’s caramel snickerdoodles fresh out of the oven, fresh pine garland hung over the archway, or maybe even a warm pot of wassail. Wait… what in the Old Saint Nick is wassail?
Wassail is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices.
More importantly, it makes your house smell heavenly. Check out this easy wassail recipe.
Interior design isn’t just about how a room looks, it’s how it makes you feel, how it smells, how it functions… I could go on.
It may seem obvious, but it’s so important for your home to smell good! So light a candle, bake some cookies, or warm up a simmer pot on the stove.
N - Nature
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It’s always important to bring the outdoors in, no matter the season! The winter holidays naturally lend themselves to fresh pine garlands, wreaths, and trees. This smell, for many, is nostalgic! Or if you’re like me, it’s the smell of the cardboard box you pull your artificial tree out of.
Let’s talk house plants. Whether you’ve got a green thumb or not, there are numerous benefits to surrounding yourself with green friends, and here’s why.
Health Benefits of Indoor Plants:
Reduce stress. A 2015 study found that caring for indoor plants reduced psychological and physiological stress in study participants. Interacting with plants helped suppress sympathetic nervous system activity and diastolic blood pressure.
Improve environmental wellness. “Our environment has a major impact on our overall wellness,” she says. “All areas of our wellness are interconnected. Living in an environment that is healthy and peaceful can be beneficial to your overall wellness. Our home is our sanctuary and a place for us to recharge.”
According to a 1989 NASA study, houseplants can help improve air quality by removing cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene from the air. Another study found that the soil in potted plants can also help clean indoor air.
Adding plants into your room design helps the space feel more welcoming and layered.
Don’t forget that you get to choose your own pots! This is a great way to add color and texture to your space.
O - Ornamentation
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Ornamentation is a huge part of the holiday season. As soon as December is near, we start adding little details here and there in anticipation. It starts with a simple wreath on the door and ends with your home being taken over by tiny elves adding glitter and fake snow to every surface.
Next thing you know you just took the gingerbread house decorating contest too seriously and have a miniature Taj Mahal.
The perfect vision of ornamentation in action is the iconic Christmas tree! Whether your tree is perfectly organized and has it’s own color scheme, or it’s a hodgepodge of ornaments gifted over many years, each tree is special in its own way.
Growing up, my mom started the tradition of gifting an ornament each Christmas that represented something that had happened that year. Once I had a place of my own, my mom showed up with all 20+ ornaments that spanned from my childhood to my early adulthood.
Each year I fondly unwrap each ornament and the memories come flooding back.
Moral of the story? Make things look pretty but don’t forget the true reason for the season. Gather with your families and friends, cherish the memories made, eat all the cookies, and pour yourself an extra glass of eggnog.
W - Wrapping
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Whether you’re wrapping presents for under the tree, or wrapping your walls (hello wallpaper!), the prints, colors, textures, and images are endless.
Here are a few key areas where wallpaper can shine:
Back of a bookcase
Ceiling
Powder Room
Mudroom
Hallway
The list could go on! I personally think every room in a house can be wallpapered, but it’s labor intensive and can be expensive. It’s best to choose a few key areas that are sure to stun your visitors.
And for those who are reading this and haven’t started wrapping gifts yet, check out this super helpful video on how to get those perfect edges!
Happy Holidays, Friends!
Perhaps we’ll get a white Christmas, but even if we don’t - remember that you want s.n.o.w. this holiday season!
From finding the perfect gift, to setting your table for guests, and now creating a wonderful “s.n.o.w.-y” atmosphere, you’re ready to take on Christmas like a pro.
Cheers!