Christmas decorating like a maximalist, decorating the house is the real fun when the holidays arrive. We have a bright idea for you if you are short of holiday decorating ideas and don’t want to unpack the same boxes or put all the light in the usual spots. It’s time to take it up a few notches. You heard it right. You can approach the weeks ahead with more holiday spirit by thinking outside of the box and using a bit of maximalist flair.
Noz Nozawa, a San Francisco-based designer at Noz Design, tells us that “more is more” when it comes to holiday decorating. “I think that going all out with holiday décor, and festooning the house with abandon will enhance the warmth and magic of the season.”
John McClain, a designer whose Studio is located in LA and Orlando, says that it’s about having fun and embracing the design elements you love. He says, “These next weeks will fly by so don’t be afraid to make bold choices.” It’s time to do what makes you happy and go all out. Just when you feel you’ve gone to far, take it a step further.
We asked a few designers to show you how they can take your holiday decor over the top and get into the spirit of the season by embracing a daring “more is more” attitude.
Rethink your ornaments
Christmas decorating like a maximalist, you’re so overwhelmed with ornaments, whether you’ve collected them or received them as gifts through the years, that you don’t know where to put them. There are many ways to display holiday trinkets and baubles around the home, rather than letting them collect dust in the garage. Jungalow designer and founder Justina Blaney love using ornaments on the tabletop to add a whimsical touch. Blakeney says that ornaments are also a great way to give guests a little something special at the end of holiday meals.
As Emily Henderson suggested in AD, you can also place them under glass covers around the home and “group them on large trays or in bowls with faux snow in your dining area to add a little bling to your holiday table setting.”
Nature is a great source of inspiration
Look at the greenery that surrounds your windows for ideas to decorate your house without spending a dime. Blakeney suggests “carefully collecting leaves, seedpods, and branches” to decorate your home. She usually displays them in vases, or adds fun shapes and textures into floral arrangements.
Get nostalgic
It’s comforting that the holidays bring back so many memories. Nozawa loves to decorate her home for the holidays with decor that brings back memories of her childhood or old movies. She explains that it “not only celebrates the warm memories and fuzzy feelings of holiday magic, but also frees us from any pressure to adorn our homes in a way that has to feel ‘stylish’ or ‘on-trend.'” Painted wooden tree ornaments, candy-wrapper-colored mercury glass, and incandescent string lights are what Nozawa reaches for to reimagine the good old times. She jokes: “Sorry, but I work on energy efficiency for eleven months so that I can use old school string lights in December!”
Display your collection
Even holiday decorations can appear cluttered if you have too much of them. In the spirit of maximalism, however, more is better. When else can you display your entire collection of holiday knickknacks – from snowmen to nativity minis to dreidels? Nozawa says that the holidays are a great time to display all your festive items, which you don’t usually show off. Nozawa recommends that you give your favorite trinkets some attention this holiday season. She suggests temporarily replacing books, family photos, or other tabletop items with festive decorations.
Reimagine Christmas trees
You can even be creative when it comes to the placement of your tree. LA-based designer Kelly Wearstler flips tradition on its head when she suspends or hangs her tree from the ceiling. She says, “It is a really simple trick that will bring a smile to your face and the faces of everyone.” “Add some garland made of dried poppy pods to create the perfect holiday moment.”
Bolder colors are here
Consider the big picture. Using color schemes that are not the usual blues, silvers, or reds, greens, can add a Whoville flair to the space, and at least jazz up your existing decor. McClain says that “those signature collections of reds and greens can look out of place when used in homes without 100% neutral finishes.” McClain suggests that you enhance your existing color palette with “bolder, more saturated shades” of oranges. blues and greens. This includes everything from ornaments to tinsel and icicles.
The colorful flocked trees are a great way to add a pop of color during the holiday season. You can buy them in a variety of candy-colored options online.
Details are important
Don’t be afraid of bold colors! The same color philosophy applies to garlands, ribbons and other decorations. McClain says that you can change up the look of your decorations by changing small details. McClain used turquoise ribbons to decorate his home for the holidays.
Celebrate the holidays in your home
Christmas decorating like a maximalist, bell suggests that instead of decorating your entire house for the holidays, you should focus your creativity on one specific area. This could be a string light display in your living room or a Charlie Brown tribute. She says that a traditional maximalist approach would have holiday décor covering every surface. However, she prefers to concentrate on larger-scale installations and moments which can take over a space. Bell draws inspiration from department store floor and window displays, as well as dazzling set design: “The staircase illumination moment in Eyes Wide Shutis absolutely timeless.”
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