Once the calendar flips to October, interior designers begin to feel the big push towards getting their clients’ homes holiday ready. I know I have been consuming a few extra cups of coffee to keep the midnight oil burning a little brighter! For many of our readers, it’s about one residence and one room, so it eliminates the pressure of managing multiple interiors projects.
As we’ll touch on in this post, statement pieces, luxury leather, beautiful benches, gracious guest quarters and pumpkin patch palettes are all part of getting your home holiday-ready. There’s no time like the present to get started, so here are some holidays design tips!
The Davlin Sofa by Bradington-Young offers a lot of style in one piece of furniture.
Every room needs a great beginning. If you are staring at an empty living space, think of its overall “voice”. Do you want it to be bold or do you need for it to whisper? Typically the larger furniture item, such as a sofa, brings out the character through its lines or architecture. The covering can also enhance the statement it makes, either through pattern, texture or color. Details, such as nailheads or trim, also can make it sing. Find the right piece and you can have a beautifulfoundation for your room.
Designer’s tip: While I don’t encourage purchasing major pieces off the cuff, there are many retailers who have beautiful, ready-to-go selections on their showroom floors. I would also inquire as to lead times and availability of sofa coverings, as special order may still be an option.
Selecting a flexible style, like the Marilyn Memories Sofa and Chair, make it possible to create multiple design options.
After you’ve determined your main upholstery item, you can further enhance it by selecting some of the other layers. Some designs allow you to move up and down for different levels of formality and styles. For example, the Hooker Furniture Marilyn Memories Sofa and Chair have straight lines but also have button-tufted backs, which make them very flexible. I’ve chosen to use the Hooker Furniture Kinsey Cocktail Table as a way to bring in a classic, yet modern look. The accessories have a bit of curve, in their edges, so the room would take on a softer appearance.
Designer’s Tip:For a twist to this space, use a rustic antique chest, substitute a modern oil painting for the mirror and you would have very different style!
Make a beautiful retreat, for your guests, with a fabulous bed and some special accoutrements. The Corsica Shelter Bed is so welcoming and would make even the smallest room feel grand. In my experience, the guest room is often a decorating afterthought. Most people are so busy considering the public domains of their homes; it’s easy to feel a bit frantic when a favorite relative or friend announces they’ll be passing through town. Of course, there is always the local inn or hotel, but wouldn’t it be a gracious gift to offer them a spot in your home? Because we’re speaking about a short term stay, it’s best to consider the most important feature . . . the bed.
I love using upholstered beds because they give a certain presence, provide a soft back board for reading or watching TV and they add texture/color when perhaps there are no other fabric treatments in the room. They also allow you to decorate with more eclectic pieces. Night stands or chests can be a mixture of finishes. Even taller end tables work so it’s not so “match-y”.
A great array of benches awaits your selection at Sam Moore! Some of my favorites?Andre, Clover, Maxim and Larache.
Designer’s Tip:Add in a pair of benches, like the Sam Moore Estaban bench, on my design board, for assistance in dressing or for keeping a suitcase within in reach. I make sure there is a good-sized mirror for grooming. The bed linens and mattress sets should be super comfy, too.
Of course, another space receiving special notice, during the holiday season, is anywhere food is served – be it a formal dining room or an open kitchen concept. Seasonal accents allow colors to be readily changed with tableware and accessories. I think using anything fresh or real just adds to the dimension.
In the dining space, above, you can see how the mixture of greenery with white pumpkins introduces a holiday transition. If your greens are preserved, you could carry them on into the New Year and enjoy them in the late months of winter. I love Hooker Furniture’s Rhapsody Dining Room setting as it’s graced by a fireplace. It beckons one to stay a little longer for conversation.
Designer’s Tip: When a living room was rarely used, but featured a beautiful fireplace, I counseled a client to move their dining room into that location for an amazing, entertaining experience. Why not enjoy the warmth and texture? The old dining room then became the home office where wall units had a better fit.
Color and texture are key ingredients for capturing the eye in dining spaces. Personal touches make it your own.
My final designer’s tip is this: Prepping for the holidays shouldn’t be stressful. Making important design decisions, under duress, is never a good thing. The reason for any home update isn’t just about appearance. It’s about creating an environment where you will feel you’re at your best. It’s like how you feel when you put on a special outfit or get a new hair color or have been paying better attention to your daily workout – whatever brings forth a more positive outlook and radiates to the rest of the world. Make wise choices to last the year-long.
Here’s hoping your home will be glowing during the holiday season!
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