The Holiday Hater’s Guide for Decorating This Season
Having a distinct personal style or a strong color palette at home can make holiday decorating a bit challenging. Traditional festive decor often involves an abundance of reds and greens, and an array of bows, lights, and garlands. While the classic look has its fans, it isn’t for everyone. If the usual holiday decorating approach doesn’t appeal to you because it’s too kitschy or it clashes with everything you own, consider different ways to infuse your home with festive flair.
You don’t have to conform or skip decorating altogether. Instead, you can explore alternative ways to bring the holiday spirit into your home. We consulted 10 interior designers to discover how they would style a holiday hater’s house for this upcoming festive season.
Stick to Monochrome Silhouettes
“I love using items with the silhouette of traditional decorations but are monochromatic for a more elevated holiday look,” Treana Peake, founder of Obakki, tells House Beautiful. Decorating like this can still evoke those warm holiday feelings without the need for kitschy trinkets and loud hues.
Peake likes to use winter white for her silhouette decor because it’ll pair with any florals, candles, or tableware in your space, but it also feels more timeless than traditional decor.
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Go for the Gold
When used in holiday decorating, gold shines extra brightly. Designer Cecilia Casagrande suggests embracing this metallic tone by “investing in beautiful gold vases and filling them with rich holiday-hued flowers.”
Plus, once the festive season is over, simply switch out the flowers. This way, you’ll get to enjoy the decor through the New Year and beyond.
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Make It Metallic
Designer Laura Chappetto, owner and lead designer of Element Design Network, understands how the frustration of hearing Christmas music before October is even over can turn someone off of traditional holiday decor.
Her advice on finding a happy medium? “Go hard on metallics! Gold and silver can make a world of difference when decorating your house for the holidays,” she says. Plus, their reflective sparkle leads you right into the New Year and adds a nice glow to the dark nights of January.
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Get a Little Spooky
Designed by Charlotte Moss.
If Halloween flew by a bit too quickly for you this year, then lean into the whimsigoth trend for your winter holiday decorations. While designer Becky Shea has never done this, she believes a Nightmare Before Christmas theme would be a cool, unconventional way to capture a holiday vibe.
“Imagine a Christmas tree decorated in black and white, with touches of purple or funky black ornaments,” she says. “It’s a creative way to make your space feel festive without being overly traditional, perfect for those who want a more alternative holiday atmosphere.” She would even go so far as to add cobwebs, skeletons, and other quirky accents to give it a more playful edge.
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Swap in Woodland Tones
Designed by Charlotte Moss.
This holiday, nix the red and go all in on greens and other earthy, naturalistic tones in your alternative holiday decor.
Designer Alisia Sophia calls this a “winter woodland wonderland” style. She suggests “incorporating birchwood candles, pinecones, feathers, soft cozy knit throws, and Mongolian sheepskin pillows” into your home, as well as figurines of deer, twinkle lights, and fresh greenery for a cool, idyllic scene.
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Paint It Black
Hema Persad, the founder and principal designer of Sagrada Studio, also thinks all-black makes for a very chic Christmas theme.
“It’s a great backdrop for twinkly lights and green and wood accents,” she says. “I use a black Christmas tree somewhere every year—we have a few different ones including a white one and a traditional green one—and black taper candles mixed with greenery for table decor.” This approach is less about spooky vibes than inviting in a sleek and elegant look.
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Stay True to Yourself
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Marya Karlton of Karlton Kelly Interiors puts it simply: Find holiday pieces that fit your established aesthetic, and don’t conform to traditional styles.
“While I don’t love burgundy and dark reds, I do love pink and orange, so we have pom-pom garlands from ABC Home in those colors, and they make our tree so cheerful,” Karlton says. She also suggests opting for handmade tchotchkes rather than mass-produced ones to keep with your unique look.
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Maximize Color
Don’t let traditional holiday hues confine you—designer Rebecca Bobroff wants you to decorate with any colors you want this holiday season. “I love to let go of the restraint of typical holiday palettes in favor of more prismatic ones. This time of year is filled with such vibrancy and fun; let your holiday decor play into the same,” she says.
We say this is also a great opportunity to incorporate colorful decor that isn’t necessarily holiday-themed to make this alternative idea feel less seasonal.
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Choose a Subtle Seasonal Centerpiece
Setting out a centerpiece clad in the colors of the season is how you can hint at the holidays instead of going full Santa’s Workshop. Elizabeth Mollen, CEO of Stone Textile Studio, suggests displaying green apples, pomegranates, oranges with cloves, or any mix of winter fruits in deep reds and dark purples.
Of the photo pictured above, Mollen says, “We love how the bright colors contrast with the neutral colors of the marble countertops.” It creates a fresher, lighter holiday feeling.
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Browse Grandma’s Attic
Save a few bucks this holiday season and shop from Grandma’s house instead. That’s what designer Tori Freise suggests if you’re looking for an alternative to the usual seasonal accessories.
“You may find china, crystal, and vintage ornaments that bring you joy and remind you of your childhood,” she offers. Combining these well-loved pieces evokes a nostalgic mood that can be remixed in surprisingly chic ways. “I recommend placing a vintage ornament on top of your holiday place setting for a fun and personal touch,” she says.
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