Tour a Colorful, Christmas-Ready Home In Atlanta

When your home’s colors are a mix of reds, pinks, blues and greens, decking the halls for the holidays is as merry as it is easy. “Our palette goes with pretty much everything except Halloween,” says Meg Monteith, who moved into husband Scott’s 1960s ranch-style house in Atlanta, Georgia, soon after they wed. Although he had replaced the white carpeting with wide-plank hardwood, rooms were half-empty and the overall vibe was outdated bachelor pad. Once the couple were having a baby, says Meg, “we wanted it to look like a family lived here.” And they knew just who to tap for help: Meg’s big brother, a.k.a. HGTV designer Brian Patrick Flynn. The friendly-with-flair scheme sprang from a knockout wallpaper by Thibaut that Scott found for the entry (totally impressing Brian). Now that they’re finished, those exuberant colors and personal touches have raised the joy factor through the roof.

Layers of blue — navy walls, a Chesterfield sofa from Anthropologie and hits of teal in the art — give the space personality. Lit up, the tree’s lights are even more golden next to the inky wall. A wide Pottery Barn bench turned coffee table is practically made for Christmas morning giftpalooza. (Wall paint color: Naval by Sherwin-Williams)

Pep plan: Paint the wood paneling white and do a combo of patterns. It worked! A paisley print on the back of the built-in (every wallpaper in the home is by Thibaut) and a geometric one on the drapes play off each other. Along with stockings and garland, holiday movies on loop dress up the fireplace during the season.

“The goal was to avoid stuffy — and plain!” says Meg. Cherry blossom wallpaper is cheery 365 days a year. Add poinsettias and mini faux-boxwood wreaths hanging from ribbon on the chairs and it’s full-on festive.

Bland beige cabinets got a bargain facelift with deep green paint — dark enough to hide grubby fingerprints yet not overpowering in a room without much natural light. The siblings debated the layout of the backsplash tiles. “Brian preferred them stacked, but I look at spreadsheets all day for work and didn’t need to stare at another grid,” says Meg. “He gave in!” Both were into black grout, a modern move that makes the white tile pop.

Not one to shy away from color, Meg had bright pink walls in her old apartment’s bedroom. She reeled it in for Scott and they chose grasscloth wallpaper with sky blue streaks and a gray upholstered bed from Wayfair. “It feels like waking up in a hotel room,” says Meg. Brian snagged the blanket during a trip to Mexico, and it brings a jolt of energy.

What do you do when you don’t want a themed nursery but you’d like some color? Decorate with books! Scott mounted shelves to display them; Christmas and winter reads (including their childhood faves) get prime placement this time of year. Other sentimental details: The couple bought the scenic poster at Patagonia, shortly after getting engaged, and Scott’s dad found the ship on the top shelf at an antiques store. The cute pouf is from World Market.