I love the holiday season. Christmas has always been a beautiful time of year for me. I grew up in a loving family and we enjoyed celebrating the seasons together. I have very special memories of the holidays and some of those memories include my mother’s decorations, which gave our home a cozy, delicious atmosphere. I remember in December, coming home from school to find an amazing transformation had happened while I was in my classroom. I didn’t realize at the time how much work was involved and how much thought went into the whole ‘holiday makeover’ that she did each year.
Since then, I have simplified my holiday decor down to fit our busy lifestyle, but the beauty and joy of the season still shines through. Dave and I travel between Colorado and Florida several times each month (in addition to travel for our jobs). I just don’t have time to do a total house changeover, but I do have time to change out some pillows and throws, add some greenery to the mantle and light a Christmas scented candle. Cozy, simple and beautiful is the look I’m going for in Florida and Colorado.
One of the things I learned from my mother was how to set a beautiful table. I like to have a tablescape set in the dining room well before Christmas dinner. A festive table goes a long way toward creating a cozy, delightful atmosphere. Using your beautiful dishes, Dollar store chargers, and Hobby Lobby greenery, you can transform the dining table into a winter wonderland. I stick with basic colors, white, gold, silver and green, the same way I use neutral colors when designing—trendy colors don’t last. Plus, those 4 basic colors are timeless and elegant.
You can find holiday ideas and tips in my 7 Seconds book along with step-by-step instructions for staging your home to its greatest advantage. Also, check out my YouTube channel for holiday recipes and DIY decor. I hope you and your family have a beautiful holiday season.
See you in 2025!
Karen Conrad Metcalfe