Is there anything better than walking around your neighborhood at this time of year and getting a sneak peek at everyone's holiday decorations? All the houses lit up, glittering and glowing, and looking so inviting. Inspired by my nosiness at how other people decorate for the holidays, I wanted to find out how designers decorate their own homes or beautiful projects for the holidays.
Of course, Holiday decor is personal, everyone has their own style and own traditions, but it's always helpful to have some new inspiration too, especially from the pros. So I asked top interior designers, to talk us through how they approach holiday decor, and what their tips are for recreating these beautiful looks.
From Emily Henderson's Scandi-style Portland home, to Shea McGee's classic and cozy Utah project, to a cozy English country manor, there's plenty of inspiration to be taken from all these beautiful homes decked out for the festive season.
1. Emily Henderson's Scandi Farmhouse Portland home
Designer Emily Henderson's home is inspiring all year round. It's got that covetable cozy yet chic, slightly Scandi-feeling, farmhouse vibe and the color palette of fresh blues and greens is such a welcome break from the many, many gray and neutral palettes that dominate trends.
And how Emily decorates for the holidays is very in keeping with her home's overall style. She explains, 'Typically, I create a theme or color palette that really works with the style of my home. It’s no secret I’m obsessed with blues and greens and my house is full of them. Because of that, I decided to lean into those colors for my holiday decor too.'
'I, of course, still want my pops of red and maroons because they add such an important jolt of Christmas energy. But I usually just keep to our already existing color palette and expand it even more with complementary and varying tones.'
Emily told me she loves to decorate for her family, 'It’s my favorite time of the year because I get to decorate with my kids. Nothing better,' she explains.
So that's what always influences her holiday decor. The brief was 'Scandi, playful, glowy and super festive' and to not go too overly chic and sophisticated and neutral, still have fun with color so her children get enjoyment out of the decor too.
Her mantel decor is a lovely example of how you can bring some color into your Christmas decor while keeping a classic feel. Emily uses rich blues, greens with hints of that classic deep red.
Decorating a kitchen for Christmas is all about balance. You want it to have that festive feel, but it's a hardworking space at this time of year so it still needs to be practical. Emily gets the balance spot on and cleverly does most of her decor at the windows, leaving the majority of the workspaces clear.
'In the kitchen, I'll usually add a little countertop corner vignette with a tree figurine or two but we also have a ton of windows that all get their own wreath. It’s so festive and doesn’t get in the way at all,' she says.
Emily's holiday look is all about the cool tones with some warm wooden accents mixed in. A rustic wooden garland layered with greenery gives a rustic, Scandi-style touch.
These are the mini trees Emily uses on her mantle. They add some height to the display and look surprisingly realistic paired with the garland, almost like they are growing from the mantel itself.
You want your faux garlands to be full and luscious so they have a really natural, organic look. This one from Terrain has a super realistic look, replicating cedar boughs.
2. A magical traditional home in Utah styled by Shea McGee
Shea Mcgee is known for her modern rustic style, blending charm with sophistication to create homes that are both cozy and classic. And when she decorates for the holidays it's no different.
This year, she decked out a beautifully traditional Utah home with her McGee & Co. holiday collection. The house is filled with luscious greenery, classic colors, and timeless motifs. Garlands feature heavily throughout the house, showcasing how greenery can be the star of the show, elevated by ornaments and lights.
Shea explains, 'A Christmas garland is the perfect way to add a lot of texture and color to your holiday palette, and they can be shaped in a lot of different forms to bring instant life to every vignette. We love draping them off to one side on a mantel, styling them on shelving, tying them with ribbon on banisters, and placing them unexpectedly throughout the home for added interest.'
'While there are times when a single garland will do the trick, I love mixing multiple pieces to add even more drama and dimension. Even mixing different types of greenery like pine and eucalyptus can go a long way in creating that freshly foraged look,' she adds.
Greenery continues at the theme into the dining room, where Shea uses that same trick as Emily by hanging a wreath at the window to add a festive feel to a practical space. Tying ribbons from the chandelier is a super simple but effective decor idea that again won't affect how much space there is in the room or at the table but creates a lovely festive focal point.
The living room is always the main player when it comes to Christmas decor, with so many opportunities to add some festive flourishes. It's often home to the Christmas tree too. Shea's tips for styling a tree focus on layers, classic colors, and textures. She recommends repeating solid-hued ornates throughout the tree to create cohesion and then adding in more unique ones that will give the tree personality on top.
The tree you choose is also key to success. 'Much like when designing a room, it’s important to start with a good base when decorating a Christmas tree,' says Shea. 'Whether you prefer to search for and cut down a real one each year or opt for a faux option, finding one with full and textural branches makes all the difference. A good faux tree can make or break the decor and if you invest in a good one it will last for years to come.'
When styling this living room Shea kept the mantle classic with plenty of greenery and tasteful ornaments. She explains the key to decorating a Christmas mantle is asymmetry.
'When layering decor on a fireplace mantel, I like to create groupings to bring asymmetry to the look,' she explains. 'Whether it’s a group of decorative trees or a layered art piece, try playing with different levels to get a balanced look. If you’re draping your garland to one side, try styling your taller items on the other. If you’re going garland-less, try using potted greenery on one side with shorter, contrasting decor on the other.'
The really subtle juniper berries within this garland give it such a realistic look and you don't need to fiddle with adding lights in because this one is pre-lit with tiny glittering bulbs.
Shea hangs four of these traditional tartan stockings on her fireplace adding a lovely traditional charm to her living room.
Mini trees are perfect for adding height to a mantle display or to decorate more unexpected spaces like windowsills and kitchen countertops.
3. A cozy and classic manor in the English countryside transformed by K&H Design
This manor house, situated in the English countryside would be an idyllic place to spend the holidays. It's decorated in keeping with the classic features of the home – simple, chic, and timeless. The grade II listed home was recently renovated by interior design studio K&H Design, who worked to restore the property and make it work for modern life, but without affecting its bones and the beautiful original features.
The studio's founder Katie Glaister explains, 'The client was incredibly open to embracing eclecticism, mixing old and contemporary, pattern and texture. The house needed to feel welcoming and lived-in. Instinctively, our clients gravitated towards multicolored fabrics, resulting in the choice of a simpler, more neutral palette for the walls, which we used throughout to aid the flow from room to room.’
The holiday decor works with the layers of color and pattern but doesn't compete with it. The Christmas tree is kept to a classic, rich color scheme of golds and greens and the mantle in the living room is all about the greenery and its wonderful textures rather than going bold with color. Greenery is the perfect way to add a festive flourish in a more subtle, but still impactful way – it's the ideal holiday decor if you are working with a colorful, layered space like this home.
4. Designer Maggie Griffin's characterful Springdale home
Designer Maggie Griffins' home is filled with character and personality. It's bold with colors and pattern and unique antique furniture, but it all works harmoniously. Maggie explains that for the holidays she takes a more pared-back approach.
'I keep literal holiday decor at a minimum but added in plenty of sparkle to add excitement for the holiday season. I love decorating the tree, adding garland around the door, and setting the table, but otherwise, I leave my home as-is, only adding in a few festive touches here and there.'
'Our living room tree is the focal point of the room during the holiday season. It's filled with gathered ornaments from travels and antique ones from our family. They have meaning and we love pulling them out year after year. This tree is arguably dressier than the others, so I wanted to portray elegance and joy. It's the epitome of the holiday season!'
The dining room deserves some decor at this time of year since it sees so much use. But with Maggie's space already being such a distinct space she chose more muted ambers and apricot shades as her palette, with just touches of the more traditional gold and red.
'The dining room is a fun blend of old and new with nods to my love of chinoiserie,' she explains. 'I have a set of antique majolica on the walls, but also a piece of my son's art. I wanted it to feel dressy enough for a candlelit dinner, but approachable enough for pizza night, too.'
'With the bold wallpaper and handsome antique pieces, I wanted to add a touch of whimsy to our dining room with the bubble glass candlesticks and layers of pattern on the china choices.'
5. Becky Shea's holiday dining room styled to perfection
Designer Becky Shea went all out for her Thanksgiving table this year. Inspired by the rich colors of Dutch Master paintings, it's a celebration of the season and is so in fitting with Becky's organic modern style that can be found in the rest of her Westchester home.
'For me, it’s essential to work with the existing foundational elements of my home when decorating for the holidays,' she explains. 'The goal is to enhance the space rather than disrupt it – adding warmth and seasonal touches without rearranging layouts or bringing in new furniture. My home is filled with walnut and ebonized oak woods, along with vintage leather Maison Regain dining chairs, so it felt natural to bring in autumnal hues that complement these textures.'
'I always lean into the seasonal colors when we entertain. It’s a way to reflect what’s happening in nature and create an experience that feels connected and intentional. Autumn, with its rich, earthy palette and the abundance of the harvest, calls for deep, saturated tones that add warmth and vibrance to a space. This season, I focused on infusing those elements into every detail, from flowers to linens, flatware, the menu, and glassware.'
'By working with the natural colors and essence of your home, you can achieve a holiday decor that feels both effortless and elevated, seamlessly blending the spirit of the season with your home’s unique personality.'
'The inspiration for my holiday decor came from the evocative depth of the Dutch masters, particularly Elias van den Broeck,' Becky continues. 'His still-life paintings capture a beauty that feels otherworldly and timeless, elevating even the simplest elements to something extraordinary. For me, it was essential to harmonize every detail with the essence of autumn. By layering tones and textures reminiscent of the season, I wanted each piece to feel as if it had grown into the setting naturally, enhancing the experience for our guests and allowing the beauty of the season to truly come alive in our interiors.'
'Candlelight is a must for me when it comes to decorating a dining room for the holidays. It adds a warm, romantic ambiance to the meal. I mix and match different candle holders, vintage and new, and tapered candles to add dimension. But the most important element, as I called it, the piece de resistance, is a stunning bouquet as a centerpiece which helps engage the senses. I like to keep arrangements low-profile to ensure guests can see each other across the table. For this dinner, I used a bowl from the Netherlands, adding a few flower frogs to create a natural, layered arrangement that gave the table the extra splash of color to compliment the menu.'
Becky's beautiful floral display is enhanced by the soft candle light and the tall taper up the drama. Crate & Barrel have a huge selection of lovely colors, pick a few similar shades for a lovely tonal look.
Give your taper candles some extra height so they aren't in the way of your guest with some tall holders. These Terrain ones would work on a table all year round, but paired with orange (or red from Christmas) taper candles they have a subtly festive feel.
Classic and simple enough to work with any scheme, these plates would elevate your thanksgiving table in an instant. Layer with more decorative smaller plates to give a more festive feel.
6. Amanda Back's Victorian vicarage decked out for Christmas
'This house has been decorated from our hearts,’ says Amanda Back, who is Head of Communication at renowned British home decor brand Designers Guild. ‘We didn’t sit down and create a plan. We only knew that we wanted it to feel warm and comfortable and neither grand nor stuffy.’
Having worked with colors and patterns her entire career, it's no surprise that Amanda's home is a lesson in how to expertly blend different shades and prints.
‘Working with color and pattern runs through my DNA and has influenced my more adventurous design choices,’ says Amanda. ‘However, a palette of greens, coupled with chocolate woodwork, anchors our home – perhaps a surprising departure from blue, given our coastal location. But we both wanted our interiors to work across all seasons, so greens, ochres, and yellows felt right.’
And when decorating for the holidays, the same rules apply.
Just like the year-round decor, the festive flourishes throughout the home are colorful, layered, and eclectic. Every surface is adorned with a thick layer of beautiful foliage and nothing looks overly styled or purposeful.
The colors, much like the rest of the home, are rich and bold giving the Christmas tree a really classic, comforting look. It's such a huge Christmas trend this year for creating holiday decor that's really nostalgic and not overly curated and this home gets that look spot on.
