The holiday season is without a doubt my favorite time of the year. So much so that I like to get the Christmas decorations out early, the mulled wine flowing, and the festive music on full volume. When decorating for this season, I always turn to interior designer, entrepreneur, and HGTV star Joanna Gaines for yuletide inspiration. For one, Gaines and I share a penchant for decorating early, and we both prefer traditional Christmas decor ideas over modern trends and fast-fading fads.
'This year, many of us are opting for Christmas decor ideas reminiscent of a time before technology; one that was filled with the simpler pleasures in life and returning to a wholesome rustic lifestyle that celebrates simplicity, tradition, and nostalgia. For traditional Christmas decor, the key is to lean into warm tones, cozy textures, foraged decor, and vintage pieces,' says Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy's trend & design expert.
Creating the right atmosphere with your holiday decor can allow us to properly switch off and enjoy this precious time with our family and friends. Joanna Gaines has the traditional seasonal look down to a fine art.
Christmas is a special time for many people, so crafting the right atmosphere is vital.
It doesn't get more timeless and traditional than embracing Christmas tree ideas over the holiday season. Often sitting at the heart of our festive displays, having a classic green Christmas tree in your home is a classic way to make your home feel more joyous.
To keep things delightfully traditional, you cannot beat the beauty of having a real tree, such as a fir, spruce, or pine. Of course, these are not always the most practical options, and luckily, many wonderful faux designs can look just as good – Balsam Hill is one of our favorite places to shop for stylish artificial Christmas trees.
Michael Giannelli, owner of East Hampton Gardens says: 'For a more traditional look this Christmas, choose a large, classic fir tree and decorate it with twinkling lights, red, green, and silver or gold beaded garlands, decorative bows, and neutral ornaments – guaranteed to create a cozy, classic look.'
Many classic festive decorations look to the beauty of nature, such as wreaths for Christmas door decor and glorious Christmas garlands, creating a wonderfully rustic, seasonal feel – perfect for decoration both inside of the home and for outdoor Christmas decor ideas, too.
Set the scene for your living room by framing a door with generous swags of greenery. Choose a mixture of leaves with a variety of textures and tones and group them together in a relaxed style, leaving a few stems flowing freely to soften the edges, similar to Gaines' design. For a fuller, more dramatic look, collect pine cones, rose hips, and other foraged foliage to bump up texture – just make sure to secure properly with wire to avoid any unexpected garnishes ending up in your holiday cocktails.
Another important element of classic festive decor is the Christmas mantel. Adding a row of stockings to your mantel decor during the week or even on the night before Christmas will give you a decorative addition to look forward to. Consider coordinating your stockings with your existing room color ideas. In this example, the neutral trio of stockings perfectly coordinates with the green foliage and the muted gray-green and blue decor.
Shop the look
If, like me, you're missing the yuletides of yesteryear, then you'll find a lot to like in the Magnolia Holiday Shop and Hearth & Hand with Magnolia shop at Target.
Capture the nostalgic magic of Christmases past with a wreath decorated in sumptuous red berries and green foliage. Follow Joanna Gaines' lead and hang it above your fireplace to frame the heart of the home.
Adorn your home with exquisite greenery for a natural take on yuletide decor. This simple design will always be a festive favorite. Drape across door frames, mantels, staircases or even tables for an instant hit of color.
Do away with unsightly sticky tape, and mantel-ruining nails to hang your stockings and garlands. Crafted from marble and gilded in gold, this stocking holder is the most beautiful one I've seen this season.
Dress your christmas tree with this family-friendly garland. Soft to the touch, this simple design is a best-seller and good for families with younger children. You won't have to worry about your precious decorations shattering if dropped or knocked over.
Inspired by the Art Deco movement, these delicate glass ornaments will add a touch of luxe layering to your Christmas tree. Plus, they catch the light from every angle for a sparkling display.
Eucalyptus is a firm favorite of mine, and this bundle of stems can be used virtually anywhere. From a simple vase arrangement to using the stems to make your Christmas tree appear fuller, it is such a versatile piece.
