The Prettiest Holiday Decor to Buy Online Right Now

As a designer based in Atlanta, I wanted a holiday design decor this year that would tap into this vibrant city's mix of the old and the new. To me a Town-and-Country holiday decorating motif is casual but rich in color and texture and perfectly represents a bit of the old and the new. I wanted a holiday theme that felt unexpectedly festive yet welcoming and a little wild around the edges. Best of all, this look is budget-friendly. No need to break the bank on holiday decor. With a few designer tips and tricks, you can have an amazing overall look for the holidays.

Shop the Floral Department

To get a similar look for your tree, you need to buy just as much from the floral department as you do from the holiday section of the store. Yes, the tree has round glass ornaments and faux sugar fruit but, it also has three different types of artificial berry spray branches, large magnolia leaf sprays, small pinecones, and kiwi vine branches. The kiwi vine branches are wildly curly, whimsical twigs that I add as the very last decoration on the tree. They come with super long stems, so don’t try to attach them to the tree. Simply stick the long stems in where you want the curly twig top peeking out from the tree.

Simple Yet Festive Mantel

The look I wanted was festive but not fussy or formal. On a whim, I grabbed a $4.99 grapevine wreath that was approximately 24" and unraveled it, pulling the vines apart with my fingers to get some distance between the strands. I then grabbed the center of the overall vine and let it loop back upon itself loosely two times. Before hanging it, I secured the new shape with a loop of fishing line. For added color, I added a few artificial magnolia leaf sprays to form an inner circle. This is a very loose uncalculated look–don’t fight it or overthink it. Let the grapevine wreath twist, turn and spiral back on itself and around the mantel. The natural curves are what beautify this look. Add a few random books wrapped in kraft paper and silk ribbon, and call it a day.

Welcoming Porch Light Wreath

Don’t make a custom wreath from scratch folks. The trick is to start with a pre-made wreath with the greenery and some of the decorations. Remove the decor you don’t like, then add in ornaments to tie into your existing decor. Don’t forget the ribbon. I always use wired ribbon because it makes the most amazing shapes and holds them in place. I used a 4” wide, and a narrower 2.5" ribbon to add color and substance to my wreath. Lastly, I added in kiwi vine branches for texture as the final step.

Tied With a Bow

For the wrapping paper, I was after festive but not formal. I never wrap anything in an actual box or with tissue paper–I use craft paper and black silk ribbon only. Because I love twine, I added a bit of it for the tags. For a more detailed breakdown of the gift wrapping process and products visit my website for Wrapping It Up: A Town and Country Christmas Gift Wrapping Tutorial.

Welcoming Brunch Table

I like to set out a brunch table of nibbles for people to enjoy before the main event of the holiday lunch. Oversized blueberry muffins, juice, chilled champagne, nuts, tangerines, and coffee are set out for guests. This small round table is set up out of the way of the kitchen, so everyone can nibble but not fill up before lunch. I keep brunch festive but light in preparation for the grand holiday meal.

Brunch Accessories

Be sure everything is labeled for guests. Don’t go out and buy new serving pieces, get creative with family treasures. Rummage around your house, inside and out, and get out that old glass pitcher your Mom got as a wedding present and vertically stack biscotti in it. Use that old yellow pottery your grandmother gave you to hold the walnuts. Even grab that galvanized bucket from the garden shed to hold the champagne–have fun with it!

A Woodsy Dining Table

Most of my tables have a similar combination of pieces: a little cut crystal, some casual pottery, some silver and some wood. As a designer, I find the combination of mixing casual pieces and formal pieces irresistible. The super casual pieces, like the rustic pottery pitcher and the small wooden quail, help ground the design so it’s still relatable and welcoming.

Non-Traditional Place Settings

I hardly ever follow the rules and this table setting is no exception. A simple length of sisal twine holds the stack of silverware. Vintage linen napkins, with my and my husband's first initials, are folded on the center of the plate.

Table Runner

Yes, you can buy a tablecloth and placemats if you want, but I bought a leftover scrap of fabric from the store and folded it to 12" wide and laid it down the center of the table. Done. You can decorate down the center of the table but be careful of the height. Tall arrangements keep guests from seeing each other and conversing across the table.

Old-Fashioned Holiday Decor

The goal of my Town-and-Country-themed rich burgundy and orange tones, sugared fruit ornaments, berries and grapevine accents was to capture the magic of the holiday season with a bit of old-fashioned, heirloom charm. I hope you like it!