Decorating the Halls for the Holidays

Although the weather may not always seem to align with it,
it is finally the season of holiday decorating in the Valley of the Sun. There’s
nothing like that thrill of unpacking that dormant box of garlands, lights, and
household adornments and transforming your home into your own winter
wonderland. Here are some of our favorite tips and tricks for taking your
festive décor to the next level.

Deck Every Hall

It can be easy to get carried away in the whirlwind of transforming
your family room into the picture-perfect setting for gathering and
gifts—before you know it, you’ve run out of decorations for the rest of the
house. Try to disperse your materials so that each room has its own share of
the festivity. Even a few simple spare pine clippings in the nooks and crannies
can spread the holiday cheer throughout the rooms and make the entire house—and
not just the hearth—feel cozy and welcoming. Focus on a unifying color among
your accents: gold, red, green, or white are classics, of course, but there is
just as much appeal in icy silvers and blues, or even warm, rustic browns.

Twinkle, Twinkle

Who doesn’t love the annual pageantry of holiday lights?
Houses draped in flashing strings are a trademark of the winter season, but the
dazzle doesn’t all have to be reserved for the exterior of your home. With a
few strands of battery-powered LED fairy lights, Jennifer Biffer suggests, you
can weave some glitter and shine into any room. Try winding them along your
mantelpiece, or around some of your potted plants to make even the lowliest
succulent a star of the table. Battery packs are much easier to hide than the
long cord of traditional light strings and make it possible to drape them
anywhere you please, rather than only within reach of a power outlet.

Let it Grow

Winter may not be exactly known for its abundance of fresh
flora, but that doesn’t mean that the season is entirely bare. Evergreen plants
such as pine and eucalyptus, of course, are classic, always stunning, and can
be the perfect natural touch for a minimalist winter décor. If you opt for the
more colorful, however, there is still plenty to choose from. Many citrus trees
are beautifully ripe in the winter; some branches of bright oranges or
tangerines are the perfect contrast to cold weather. The vivid red of holly and
winterberry adds some traditional color to the mix. And if you have access to a
winter-blooming rosemary bush, then the silvery leaves, delicate blue flowers,
and heady fragrance of a couple fresh-cut sprigs are a sublime accent to any
winter floral arrangement.

O, Christmas Tree

If your household celebrates Christmas and is investing in
the pleasure of a tree for the season—whether natural or artificial—then you
know the pressure of delivering a vision that dazzles from every angle.
Contrast the grandeur of more traditional or family heirloom ornaments with the
understated polish of minimalist decorations, such as simple metal stars or
single-color globes, for a balanced aesthetic. Jennifer Biffer also offers some
key hints for taking your evergreen above and beyond the rest: instead of
opting for a traditional tree skirt, she suggests making a fun statement with a
decorative pot or pail—this is especially ideal for helping smaller trees
become just as spectacular as larger ones. You can also intersperse some curls
of ribbon along with your ornaments to fill space between the branches and add some
variation in shape and texture. To get more holiday decorating tips, watch Jennifer Biffer’s segment on Arizona Midday!