Designer Holiday Homes

Christmas decor doesn’t have to be the same year after year. That’s why we’re giving you some refreshing inspiration with an exclusive look into the homes of three talented women—two award-winning interior designers and an acclaimed home design blogger. In the first look, greenery reigns king with a fireplace mantel that steals the show through nature's bounty. In the second, a soft-palette, vintage statement piece, and touches of holiday whimsy create a ‘less is more’ style that offers the perfect balance of new and old. And in the third, blush accents, natural wood, and shiny metal bring a chic twist to a traditional holiday design with California-inspired Christmas décor.

Historic Georgia by Kate O'Hara

“I love to do something different every year for the holidays. Some years, I am inspired by trees or the symbolism of wreaths, and, some holidays, I nostalgically pull out all generations of family decorations. This year was a new approach, because we have fewer people in the house while we spend more time at home than ever. Staying at home has made me appreciate my open spaces, so I wanted to find a way to honor the holiday without overfilling any room.

"Instead of trees and nostalgic decor, I focused on a statement mantel with cut citrus that will dry beautifully. I added a bit of foliage to the coffee table and shelves, along with one more wreath over the bookshelf. After that, we called it done. Much to my delight, this minimal approach turned out beautifully! The mantel is a showstopper that proclaims the season, and my house still feels as open as always.

"That’s what good design should always do: give you the style you’re after and the functionality you need. I got my sophisticated take on the holidays that leaves my living room as accessible as ever, and I don’t have to water a tree.”

– Kate O’Hara of Martha O'Hara Interiors

New Meets Old by Erin Spain

"This year, I took a very ‘less is more’ approach to my holiday decor, while bringing the focus of the room to our tree. I stuck with a color palette of yellow, silver, white, and gold, which picked up on the color scheme in my area rug and complimented all the natural wood accents throughout the room. I loved the festive feel from the yellow poinsettia and the floral elements that I weaved throughout the tree’s branches.

"My antique library card catalog is such a vintage statement piece, that I needed to make sure my holiday décor enhanced without overpowering the vibe of the room. For a touch of whimsy, I filled a vintage gumball machine with gold and silver ornaments and paired that with a small red poinsettia in a white vase. I love mixing old and new décor, whether I’m decorating seasonally or just for every day.

"You don’t need to go over the top with your décor to make a style statement. The bowl of small red ornaments are the only pop of red used on this table, and it’s subtle but effective. I also used gold as the unifying design factor for this table, placing smaller gifts wrapped in the same wrapping paper as the larger gifts under the tree as décor accents. I also loved the look and feel of this small white tree and felt it worked really nicely with the framed wallpaper and the white and gold bowl. I love putting together little vignettes like this, and I try to mix textures and varying heights when grouping items together.” 

– Erin Spain of Erin Spain Home & DIY

California-Inspired by Cynthia Soda

“Having just visited sunny California earlier in the year, I drew inspiration from my California friend’s love of succulents and even popped some cactus flowers into our office tree. A fan of all textures and colors—when used together for the greatest impact—I was drawn to blush tones this year because I wanted our family home to feel light, fun, and a little romantic.

"We chose pink roses and simple eucalyptus garlands and twigs to adorn our tree, mantels, newel post, and vases. Mixed metal accents of silver and gold were scattered throughout, set in contrast with polished and natural rustic wood elements, and the dining table was staged and set to host dinner for eight—we subsequently added five extra seats on Christmas Day. Shaggy-textured area rugs in blush and white were purchased from a home goods store and cut in half to be used as ethereal accents draped over the dining chairs to further soften the scene.

"Meanwhile, a Christmas Spirit-scented essential oil filled our home with the smell of cinnamon and oranges, accentuated by holiday music softly playing throughout the weekend.” 

– Cynthia Soda of Soda Pop Design