Steal These New Holiday Decorating Ideas for Your Home

We asked top designers to share their fresh takes on holiday decor. Find out how to use your current holiday decor, natural materials, lighting and vintage touches to create a new look for your home.

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December 23, 2022

By: Kamron Sanders and Felicia Feaster

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Photo By: David Christensen

Trending Decorating Tips From Top Designers

We asked an array of designers, many of them participants in the annual Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Home for the Holidays Showhouse, to weigh in on the new holiday decor ideas they are seeing. So take a cue from these top designers and find ways to freshen up your seasonal decor.

Give Your Tree a Glow Up With Multiple Lighting Layers

Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters of Forbes + Masters have a trade secret that will set your Christmas tree apart from all the rest. “When lighting your tree, use two layers — one layer of smaller bulbs and another of larger bulbs," they advise. "We like the larger bulbs with a crystal or pearlized ball on them. This technique requires patience, but it will give your tree — wait for it — a glow up!” Unlike the smaller bulbs, the crystal and pearlized balls will remain beautiful even when the lights are off.

Dried Oranges Add the Perfect Pop of Color to Live Greenery

“I love the traditional red and green of Christmas but wanted to bring in something new and different, so I included dried oranges for a pop of color,” shares interior designer Crystal Corder. “Everyone really loved that touch, and it was so easy. You can definitely make your own, but I ordered mine already pre-dried on Amazon and attached them with a clear fishing line.”

get the how-to: How to Dry Oranges and Citrus for Holiday Decorating

Unexpected Color Schemes Maintain a Classic Christmas Warmth

When the standard red and green scheme begins to lose its luster, designer Lauren Deloach recommends shaking things up just as she did in this elegant dining room. “Traditional holiday design is given new life with unexpected hues and florals throughout. Saturated potted cypress alongside an aubergine velvet scheme complements tried-and-true Christmas greenery, creating a unique warmth and whimsy,” she explains.

Small Dabs of Greenery Are All It Takes to Create a Seasonal Scene

“We chose holiday greenery of boxwood, cedar and magnolia and placed it in unexpected areas throughout our space,” explains Lauren Davenport of Davenport Designs. “We added these touches to the basket on the kitchen island and the arm of the floor lamps in the breakfast room. Just a small touch goes a long way in adding a holiday feel to your space.”

Personalized Gift Boxes Make for Luxe Place Settings

“On the breakfast room table, we wrapped small gift boxes in velvet fabric and placed them in the soup bowls,” notes designer Lauren Davenport. “In lieu of traditional ribbon, we opted for dried citrus and cinnamon sticks to give an added aromatic touch of the holidays.” Simply fill each box with a surprise treat or, as Lauren recommends, “Handwrite a personalized note including your favorite holiday memory of that person at the place setting.”

Gorgeous Garlands Aren't Just for Mantels and Banisters

“When decorating for the holidays, I prefer the overall design to be simple and sophisticated,” says Evan Millard of Jewel Box Interiors. “One of the easiest ways I accomplish this is through the use of premade, natural garlands. Garlands add a beautiful layer of complexity with natural green tones and can be draped over a headboard, armoire or even placed down the center of a table with beautiful glass votives and tea lights for that added warmth. My favorite types of garland to use are those that hold their leaves when preserved and that easily transition from fall through the new year such as fresh magnolia.”

Use Beautifully Wrapped Christmas Gifts as a Christmas Design Feature

While springing for a second Christmas tree in your outdoor space is sure to set a merry mood, designer Grayson Pratt believes you can deck the halls by simply using your Christmas gifts in more intentional ways. “Beautifully wrapped gifts are wonderful decorations. I love to fill a large basket with wrapped gifts — the big bows and festive paper make the perfect holiday display.”

Supersize It When it Comes to Seasonal Accessories

It's not always about the size of your tree. A mega-sized wreath or over-the-top garland is a big 2023 holiday decorating trend.

Cozy Is a Big Trend This Season

We all need a dose of comfort, and this season that is truer than ever. Think gorgeous, plush throws in velvets and rich jewel tones, fur accents, lots of cozy pattern and pile on the rugs and pillows.

Find the Green

The holidays are a great opportunity to shop your space. Green is trending in all parts of interior design. Move any of your existing green accessories, like these boxes, and furniture, like this velvet chair, into public spaces.

Make Your Favorite Color a Thing

Not a fan of red and green? Not a problem. Personalize your decor with your favorite shade like this very Barbiecore hot pink decor.

Learn More: How to Get the Barbiecore Look in Your Home

Create a Tree Sash

Instead of the usual tree decor, go for a beauty pageant sash that wraps ornaments around your tree.

Beautify Your Bedscape

Give your bedscape a wintery luster by adding a green quilt or duvet cover and sprigs of greenery in festive green vessels at your bedside. These are the kind of seasonal touches you can enjoy all year long.

Set Up a Toast Station in Any Room

Even a get together with neighbors or a pre-dinner cocktail becomes special when you create a special toast-tray with glasses, festive cocktail napkins and nuts in a fancy bowl at the ready. Just pop open your favorite bottle of bubbly and the moment becomes holiday magic.

Don't Overlook the Office

Yes even the home office needs some festive tidings to distract from the work at hand. Business-as-usual feels special with a decorated tree and some glitzy tabletoppers.

Combine Tradition and Sustainability

Invest in mongrammed linens in a pretty festive color like green or blue. You won't need wasteful paper products, and you can enjoy your linens for a lifetime.

Create a Garland Frame at Any Doorway

Gussy up even a pantry door, a hallway or a bathroom by draping the doorway with a pretty garland.

Embrace Botanicals

Trendy hues of green and blue and a mini-garden with cut flowers, plants and greenery are a lovely way to ornament an entryway chest of drawers.

Coordinate Wrapping Paper and Ribbons With Existing Decor

Don't feel like you have to stick with a holiday-themed color theme? Instead choose gift wrap, ribbon and other accessories that coordinate with your existing decor.

Use Tree Ornaments in New Ways

Most of us have collected more Christmas tree ornaments than we will ever use. Why not turn some of the surplus into pretty ornaments for chairs or place settings at your holiday meals this year.

Pink and Cream Holiday Dining Table

"I love doing holiday decor in non-traditional colors," says Mary Patton, the designer of this holiday table. "Red, green and gold are timeless, but I often encourage clients to pick their favorite color and run with it. I chose a soft pink, white and cream color scheme for this table, and although it’s unexpected, it still feels very much like the holidays."

Coordinate Your Holiday Decor With Key Design Elements in Your Home

This dining table created by designer Mary Patton gets dressed for the holidays in frosty pink shades and glittering white, including sparkling swans and mini Christmas trees that tie in to the gorgeous pink chandelier made of glass bottles glowing warmly overhead.