How to Make your Guest Room Feel Holiday-Ish for Guests

Table Top Tree

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Guests & holidays go hand in hand, so when this time of year rolls around its time to get your guest room prepped and ready. It can be an easy room to forget about when it comes to adding in holiday decor. There are some simple things you can add to make your guests feel that much more at home. A table top tree is the perfect holiday touch to add to your guest room. This does not have to be a large investment, and it can make such an impact in the space. 

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Holiday Throw Pillows

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Another easy holiday decor item to add to your guest room are seasonal throw pillows. These can be something simple like furs and plaids all the way to trees and gifts or holiday sayings. You can find pillows like these at great prices in stores like Target or Homegoods. Holiday pillows with neutral colors are always a good bet so you don't have to worry about matching them perfectly to the bedding in the guest room.

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Wreath in a Frame 

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One super simple DIY you can add to your guest room is a small wreath hanging inside of an empty wall frame. This takes a simple wreath and turns it into a piece of art that is more appropriate to hang on a wall in a bedroom than just a wreath on its own. We personally love the look of a classic green wreath and red bow with a white frame, but you can take it in which ever direction you choose! 

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How to Use Heirloom / Generational Pieces in Your Holiday Decor

Outdoor Displays

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Incorporating items that have been passed down from generation to generation is your home decor is a beautiful way to pay homage to the past. It can be even more fun and fitting to include these items into your holiday decor. When it comes to your outdoor display, things like vintage skis, wagons and sleds can make for the perfect addition. The great thing about these items is they can bring back priceless memories every time you see them!

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Indoor Displays

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When it comes to incorporating heirloom pieces into your indoor holiday displays, the possibilities are endless. Vintage items work so beautifully when paired with holiday pieces. For example, a vintage pair of ice skates can be hung with winter foliage tucked inside them for a gorgeous look. Another fun idea is to take an heirloom bowl whether it be crystal, glass or something else and create a mini winter wonderland inside it as shown below!

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Popular Themes & Colors in Holiday Decor

Neutrals

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We all know the main holiday staple color combos like red and green will always be a classic and beautiful choice. If you are looking for something a little more updated and clean, using neutrals like whites, tans and grays for your holiday decor can also be a beautiful option. This is a great way of keeping the look and feel of your decor on the lighter side. It is also very easy for these neutrals to blend with whatever colors you have going on in your everyday decor!

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Silver & Gold

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One classic color combination to use that will never go out of style is silver and gold. There is just something about these colors that bring that warm feeling into a space with a touch of glam that is so fun! There are endless amounts of holiday decor to choose from in these colors which is one reason we love it so much because you can truly make it your own.

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Non-Traditional Colors

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Finally, non-traditional colors and themes are becoming popular all on their own for holiday decor. We know those old tried and true options will always be there for us, so why not try something fun and different?  These photo examples show how we incorporated pinks as well as white and black into one of our client’s holiday displays. These are not colors that usually come to mind when you think holiday, but when done right, can look gorgeous! 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Our 3 Favorite Thanksgiving Tablescape Themes

Whites and Creams 

Bright whites and creams continue to be a huge home decor trend so it makes sense that this is one of the most popular Thanksgiving tablescape themes. A great accent color to add in with these are natural muted greens. This looks very clean and fresh which is a nice departure from the classic warm rich hues that we normally associate with the season. 

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Pumpkin Theme

Another one of our favorite tablescape themes is to make it pumpkin centered. We like this theme because there are so many different directions this can be taken. Simple orange pumpkins with red and brown accents are always a great choice. Another route you could take it is with silver or gold pumpkins. This can be accomplished by spray painting them with metallic paint which can also help to preserve the look of the pumpkins themselves. 

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Woodland Theme 

Woodland themes are hugely popular in everything from weddings, to general home decor and especially in seasonal decor. This can include everything from wood slices, to pine cones, to foliage to animals. These examples show how this can be incorporated into your Thanksgiving table. This is a nice way to bring the outside into your home for the holiday. 

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What to Shop for now for Christmas Decorating

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Whether you are starting fresh with all new holiday decorating items, or just adding to your current collection, tis the season for holiday decor shopping! 

Our Favorite Places to Shop

When this time of year rolls around we have a few go-to spots for affordable holiday decor shopping. Homegoods, Pier 1, Hobby Lobby and At Home are some of the top places we hit year after year. We like Homegoods and Pier 1 for more specialty items like unique ornaments and handcrafted wreaths. We like Hobby Lobby and At Home for larger more staple items like trees and garland. All of these stores have consistently good sales so you don't have to break the bank on items that will only be out in your home about one month of the year.

HobbyLobby.com

HobbyLobby.com

Things to Replace Every Few Years

The great thing about holiday decor is you can pack it up and reuse it year after year. There are a few items however that will need to be replaced every so often to keep everything fresh and updated. Wreaths for example can begin to fade from the sun and get flatter and flatter every year so it is a good idea to update your wreath every few years. Another fun holiday decor item that will need replacing a little sooner than other items is your holiday welcome mat. Winter weather & dirty boots can give your seasonal welcome mat a beating so consider replacing that every couple years as well!

HobbyLobby.com

HobbyLobby.com

How to Create a Decorating Plan Now for Holiday Parties & Guests

The last thing you want to have to mess with last minute is decorating your home right before guests begin arriving for parties or to stay around the holidays. That is why we suggest creating a decorating plan so you know exactly when to plan to have things out and ready so its not a last minute stressor. 

Mark Your Calendar

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Pick a time that works for you to decorate your home and mark it down so you can hold yourself accountable. Although decorating around the holidays is fun for some it can feel more like a chore to others. By blocking off a good part of a day to decorate, you eliminate the feeling of being rushed before guests arrive. 

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Set Achievable Goals

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If you have a large amount of decorating to do for the holidays make sure you set goals that are manageable and achievable. For example, you don't want to only set aside a couple hours to decorate the inside and outside of your home. Break the work up over a few days so you don't burn out. Also, recruit friends or family for help with larger projects, chances are they could use your help as well!

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Stay Organized 

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When taking down your decorations and putting them away, the more organized you can stay the easier it will be when you do it all again next year. Make sure to throw items out or donate things you never took out of the box this year to put up. Label boxes with exactly what is inside as well as the room it goes in for easy access next year. 

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What’s the Process/Timing for Taking Down Holiday Decor?

Do it on Your Schedule

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

If you ask us, there is no standard date that you must have all of your holiday decor taken down by. It is all about preference and doing what works for you. Some people want all of their holiday items taken down and put away before New Years Eve hits, while others want to leave it up as long as it is acceptable. You do what works for you and your schedule!

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Keep Things Organized 

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The more organized you are when putting away all of your holiday decor, the easier it will be to unpack it all again next year. Stores carry storage options that can meet any of your specific needs. Ornament boxes and tree boxes for example are tailored to keep your items secure and in tact all year long. Labeling your boxes according to which room they belong to is another easy way to stay organized!

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Toss What you Won’t Use Anymore

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When you are putting your holiday decor away for the season, if you notice you left some things in the boxes and didn't use them at all, consider tossing or donating those items. This will keep you clutter free and make sure that you are only storing items you know you will use in the future. 

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How to Keep from Splurging too Much on your Holiday Decor

DIY Holiday Words 

ourlifeinaclick.blogspot.com

If you are like us, you want to go holiday decor shopping crazy every year around this time. These are 3 DIY holiday decor ideas that will save you from spending big bucks. This first idea is such a cute and simple one. All you need is to go to your local craft store and buy the letters that make up your favorite holiday word or phrase. Make sure the word has an “O” in it, like Joy or Noel. Then the “O” in the word is simply a small, inexpensive wreath! Try to pick out letters in different sizes, colors, or textures for a unique look!

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DIY Sparkle Branches

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This next DIY holiday decor project is another super inexpensive and easy one! These DIY sparkle branches can be used in so many different ways. You can pop them in your tree for some added interest, place them in tall thin vases, or incorporate them into a centerpiece just to name a few! All you need to make them are branches (real or fake), silver spray paint, and silver glitter! 

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DIY Stenciled Signs

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Holiday themed signs like these can be pricey when you buy them ready made. You can save quite a bit of money by simply making them yourself. Palette wood + stencils + acrylic paint are the 3 things you need to tackle this simple holiday DIY! These are both great examples of holiday signs people have made themselves that you can use for inspiration!

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Holiday Decorating Trends

Nature Inspired

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

In recent years, nature inspired elements have been huge in holiday decorating. This trend can be so beautiful and peaceful when incorporated into your holiday decor. If you are going for this look, keep your eyes out for anything that you would find in nature (animals, wood, greenery etc.) as your jumping off point. These are photos from a woodland themed tree we did for a client. We used mostly neutral colors with pops of red here and there along with woodland creatures and faux logs to create the look!

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Navy Accents

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Navy has been a big trend in all facets of decorating so it is fitting for it to now be spilling over into the world of holiday decorating. Navy is a fantastic color to incorporate into your holiday decor because it is a deep, rich color that compliments almost any color that you would normally associate with the season. 

lushhome.com

Non-Traditional Pops of Color

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Holiday decorating has taken a fun, more daring turn in the past few years. People are incorporating unexpected and non-traditional pops of fun colors into their holiday decorating. This trend can go in any direction you wish to take it in, whether it be pink and green, turquoise and brown, or purple and silver, there is no limit on the fun color combinations that can create beautiful holiday displays!

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