H2E Interiors |Inspired Design Blog

Easy Ideas for December Decorating‏

A Note From Nicholas

While it may be a nice dream to transform the whole house and redecorate for every season or holiday, the truth is that most of us don’t have the time or resources.  But we still want a festive look in our homes.  The good news is that it only takes a few small, well-placed accessories to create a completely new look and evoke the joyous mood of the season.

Enjoy the ideas in this month’s article, and enjoy your holiday season!

Fun Decorating Ideas for December

Creative holiday decorating isn’t about spending lots of money.  It’s about using your imagination and adding your personality.  

Before you run out and purchase expensive accessories, look around your home to see what you already have.  Chances are that you have everything you need to create your own unique, personal decorations.

Dress the chairs.  As you get ready to dine with friends and family, think beyond traditional table décor.  Adding glamour to your chairs is a simple way to create a big effect.  Get creative.  Tie a winter mitten to the back of a seat and use it as a “vase” for flowers.  Holiday ribbons tied with pine cones are a classic holiday look.

Create “custom” window treatments. Have fun creating your own personal treatments for the windows at holiday time.  Ideas?  Hang paper snowflakes from invisible wire so they hang at different levels across the window.  Swag garland from the top corners.  Create illuminated valances by hanging a string of icicle lights from the top of each window (there are window-sized sets made specifically for this purpose).

Spruce up the entryway.  A festive entrance will create the perfect first impression.  What can you do to surprise and delight guests as they walk in the front door?  A floor mat in seasonal colors welcomes visitors with holiday cheer.  Fresh flowers always add comfort and brightness.  How about hanging decorative ribbon from the entry chandelier?

Got candles?  Take wide pillar candles and wrap them in ribbon, flexible twigs, or thin garland.  Arrange candles in groups of three to create a lovely holiday display on any table.  When guests are visiting, light the candles and turn down the lights for a warm, holiday atmosphere.

Go for a color!  By simply decorating an area with all the same color, you can create a cheerful air.  If you have guests coming over, use a red or blue tablecloth, and match all the napkins and table décor in the same color.  Then add gold or silver accents to bring the holiday mood alive!

Create a centerpiece.  A simple holiday centerpiece will inspire a cheerful, festive mood.  Grab a large container, and fill it with colorful fruit or flowers.  Use a flat platter to display metallic ornaments.  Or create a “gift centerpiece” for extra excitement and color.  To make this centerpiece, wrap small, empty boxes in holiday paper or in colors to match your room’s décor.  Decorate each box with ribbons and bows.  Then place the “gifts” in a decorative container, or arrange them in the center of the table with fresh pine greenery.

You may be amazed at how easily and quickly you can add holiday cheer to your home!

Color Of The Month - Metallic

Add a touch of luxury to any room with metallic color.  Metallics enhance a space with light and depth, creating a warm, cheerful feeling.

Walls: Liven up a room by covering your walls in a metallic paint.  You can get metallic paint in almost any color.  Paint all the walls to immerse yourself in lavish splendor.  Or use a translucent metallic glaze over your existing paint to simply add a pretty luster.  You can also create one beautiful accent wall. 

Metallic wallpaper is another way to glam up your walls.  They come in many patterns, colors, and textures, and will add depth and excitement.

Ceilings:Inject a dramatic punch to a room by covering the ceiling in a metallic paint or wallpaper.  When light is focused up toward the ceiling, it glows beautifully and enhances the room with richness and dimension.

Fabrics: Nothing says luxury like metallic fabrics.  A little bit goes a long way.

Accessories: Accessories are the quickest way to add metallic color to a space.  Introduce a few pieces, and you’ll have a fresh look.  Replacing cabinet hardware with metallic knobs is one of the simplest ways to transform an entire room.

Fire Up Your Fireplace

A Note From Nicholas

As the winter slowly creeps towards us, we have a natural tendency to spend more time in our homes.  And what better way to warm up than to sit around the fireplace?

This month’s article gives you inspiration for decorating the mantel and the space above your fireplace.  And check out our Color of the Month for a great hue that will warm you up and help you feel cozy throughout the entire season.

Have a great month!

Fire Up Your Fireplace

Decorating a fireplace can make a huge impact on a room. Because the fireplace is often the focal point of a space, make sure you treat it as the special piece that it is.

 

 

Before decorating your fireplace, look at the rest of the room. The style and colors of your furnishings will determine the direction for your fireplace décor. If the room is contemporary, stick with straight lines and sleek accessories for the mantel. For a cozy, traditional room, you can add softer lines and a grouping of collectibles.

Often in contemporary rooms, the fireplace doesn’t have a mantel, and you only need to determine what artwork you want on the wall. But in most cases, you’ll need to consider décor for the mantel and the wall above. These are two distinct areas, and need to be treated with different types of coordinating accessories.

Common mantel accessories include candlesticks, vases, and greenery. Of course, whatever you use should support the style of your room. To create visual interest, vary the size and elevation of the objects you choose.

The area above the mantel is traditionally used to display a large piece of art. This works well if the artwork is in scale with the size of the wall space. If your room has a soaring two-story ceiling, it may be difficult to find a piece of art large enough to fill the space. Consider creating a grouping of items instead. You can hang a group of smaller paintings or mirrors, several architectural finds, a few quilts, or colorful plates and platters.

By giving your fireplace special attention, you can create a beautiful space and a warm gathering spot for family and friends.

Color Of The Month - Brown

Brown is one color that never really goes out of style. Although the shade of brown that you choose can make or break a room.

Brown is a warm, safe color that encourages conversation.  It’s a great color to use both in public rooms, where you entertain guests, and private rooms, where you retreat to feel relaxed.

Chocolate brown has been popular for a while, but now the trend is changing, as lighter, richer browns begin to make an appearance. We're seeing browns shift to the shades of spices and beverages. Think rich coffee bean, cognac, and cinnamon!

These tints of brown are being paired with interesting colors - like stonewash blue, desert sage, and silver pink, creating eye-catching, beautiful combinations.

If you are looking to add an accent or create a bold statement, choose metallic shades of brown, like copper and bronze.For more natural looks, use beige shades, like the colors of parchment, cardboard, muslin, and hay.