These are some of the items I’m using for holiday décor this year — they’re my faves. Hopefully you can also find something for decking your halls! This year, I kept things simple. In fact, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably only use a third of your décor. After all, it’s the little things that make the biggest statement when decorating your home for the holidays. Of course, your tree is the star … so make that fabulous! I found the most beautiful glass balls (see below) to add to our tree, and along with special family ornaments, they nicely compliment the beaded garland and pinecones.
Once you’ve set the stage with your tree, you can add other festive touches here and there. Bowls of pinecones, small “tabletop” faux trees, accents of vintage ribbon tied around vases or candles, beautiful wrapping paper for presents under the tree, new hand towels at the ready for bar clean up … you get the idea. Switch out a few things and your home will feel ready!
Clouz Houz Tip: One of the easiest things you can do to make your home feel festive is use cut fresh greenery. Mix it in with faux stems for arrangements all around the house. This helps the faux look more real, AND you don’t have to worry about the entire arrangement drying out and looking horrible by Christmas!
Next week on the blog, I’ll be sharing more tips and pics for the holidays, as well as ways you can bring little festive touches to your home this holiday season.
1
8' Faux Tree
This is our first year with a faux tree, and we must admit, it's pretty nice! No debating about the tree being too small or too big, or straightening it in the stand, or untangling and adding lights, etc. What a major production! This year, it took me all of 30 minutes to assemble and fluff the branches -- gotta love that. We purchased this pre-lit, 8' King Noble Fir and it's very realistic. I do miss the smell of a fresh tree, but we added plenty of fresh cut cedar throughout the house ... and besides, that's what candles are for!
2
Faux Wreath with rope
This wreath is soooooo good for the price! I added a few clippings of real cedar and pine to each one to fill it out a bit, but otherwise it's realistic and cute. Hang it in a window, over a bed, or in a bathroom for a festive touch.
3
Buffalo Check Wrapping Paper
I'm all about wrapping pretty packages! I typically try to find a color palette that I also want to use for under the tree. This year, I went with navy and white buffalo check paper from the Amber Interiors Collection for Etsy. I also used mustard yellow velvet ribbon, and brown butcher paper with navy velvet ribbon. And, I found the cutest little green pine sprays from Amazon to add to each package's bow.
4
Iridescent Glass Ornaments
These ornaments are the perfect addition to our Winter Wonderland-vibe tree!I wanted something that was subtle but pretty with the white lights. This set comes in varying shades of white, light brown and the prettiest blush color. I ordered two sets, and they really don't disappoint.
5
Tabletop Tree with Lights
This tree is the perfect size for tabletop. We installed it on the table in our office/dining room, and it's so pretty when lit up! It also looks great in a basket with nothing else. It's all about simple greens and white lights in this case.
6
Tree Collar
In years past, we have wrapped the base of our tree in a blanket or tree skirt. But, this year, we finally decided to try a tree collar. This one is simple yet gorgeous, and we're really happy with it.
7
Kitchen Dish Towel
I bought a couple of these kitchen dish towels to have on hand at our bar and sink area. They come in handy, and don't feel so holiday-ish that you couldn't extend their use beyond the holidays. I could see also using them for wrapping a bottle of champagne as a holiday party hostess gift!
8
Mohair Throw Blanket
This blanket is super soft and cozy. It comes in a beautiful green as well, but I chose the charcoal grey since I knew it would go the distance beyond the holidays. These blankets are the perfect accompaniment for curling in by the fire and watching a good Christmas movie.
I used this ribbon everywhere, from wrapping packages to tying bows on wreaths. It's the perfect weight, and easy to tie. And, I LOVE choosing a color that is a bit out of the "norm." Although this reads somewhat gold, it gives a more current look to an old time, traditional holiday color.
10
Beaded Garland
We love the natural quality this garland added to our tree! It would also look equally beautiful strung on a mantle with garland. I used the natural color (which is now sold out), but the brown color is really pretty as well. In fact, I may have to snag some to add to the garland I strung on our living room fireplace.
We just signed on with the sweetest family, and one of the first things they said was, “We don’t really love our house.” A home can be objectively beautiful and still not feel good to live in.
In this house, the kitchen, dining room and living room are all one big great room. It sounds ideal until you realize the dining table is taking up the exact real estate the living room desperately needs.
Instead of making the kitchen bigger, we’re making it smarter. One move solved several problems at once: more storage, a better dining area, and enough square footage to give the living room the footprint it deserved.
Now we’re moving into one of my favorite phases... layering in materials. This is why I love the conceptual phase. Before a single cabinet is ordered, we’re already changing the way this family will live in their home.
If you’ve been looking around your own home thinking, “I know this could work better, I just don’t know how,” we’d love to help. Whether you’re planning a renovation, reworking your layout, or just need an expert eye before making expensive decisions, that’s exactly what we have to offer!
Check out our services through the link in our bio or send this post to a friend who’s struggling with this exact thing.
While renovations are an investment, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned after years of designing homes is this: It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about where you spend it.
The homes that feel the most elevated aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones where every decision was made with intention.
That’s the philosophy behind everything we do. We help our clients understand where it’s worth investing, where they can save without sacrificing the overall look, and how to create a home that feels layered, timeless, and beautifully functional. Because a thoughtfully planned home will always feel more luxurious than one filled with expensive choices that don’t work together.
Good design isn’t about spending more. It’s about making every dollar work harder for you-and creating a home you’ll love living in every single day.
If you’re planning a renovation or a furnishing project, we’d love to help. Learn more through the link in our bio.
People often ask why renovations have always been my favorite. The easy answer is that I love watching a transformation. But if I’m honest, I think it’s something much deeper than that.
Years ago, our family walked through a season that forced us to start over. It wasn’t something I would have chosen, but looking back, it changed the way I see everything. Homes. People. Even myself. I stopped looking at what something was and started paying attention to what it could become. Maybe that’s why fixer-uppers have always felt so familiar to me. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re starting over. I know what it’s like to wonder if something beautiful can come from a season that feels uncertain. That’s why I love renovations. They’re hopeful. Every wall that comes down makes room for something new. Every decision is an act of believing that what’s ahead can be better than what was there before.
The funny thing is... I don’t think this is really about houses. I think all of us have something in our lives that feels unfinished, overlooked, or in need of another chance. I’ve learned that the middle of the story rarely looks like the ending. And sometimes the most beautiful things aren’t built from scratch. They’re simply revealed. For anyone who’s ever had to start over... I’m rooting for you!
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the little things. After moving across the country, leaving behind everything we’d known, and living in the middle of a major renovation, I’ve realized that joy isn’t waiting for me on the other side of a finished house.
It’s in the fresh flowers on the counter. The windows open on a summer morning. A glass of rosé at the end of the day. Clipping greenery from the yard. Lighting a candle just because.
These small rituals have become the way I slow down, stay present, and make this house feel like home-even while it’s still a work in progress.
ICYMI, I wrote all about this in my post “A Home That Feels Like Summer.” It’s a collection of the simple rituals, thoughtful edits, and favorite finds that are helping me embrace this season instead of waiting for the next one.
You can read the full story through the link in our bio.🤍
The biggest compliment we receive isn’t about how a room looks. It’s when clients tell us their home finally works for the way they live.
Designer for a Day is designed for homeowners who want expert guidance before making expensive decisions.
Whether you’re building a new home, remodeling, or simply feeling stuck, sometimes you don’t need someone to take over the entire project—you need an experienced designer to help you move forward with confidence. Maybe you’re deciding between floor plans, finalizing cabinetry, selecting finishes, reviewing lighting, or trying to make sure every decision works together before it’s too late to change.
We’ll help you prioritize what matters, answer the questions you didn’t know to ask, and create a clear plan for the way you actually want to live. By the end of your session, you’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and a direction you can move forward with—whether you continue on your own or bring us along for the journey.
And if your project doesn’t need six hours? That’s okay too. We have other ways to work together depending on where you are in the process.
For a long time, I lived with a “one day” mindset. One day, when the house is finished... One day, when life slows down... One day, when there’s something to celebrate.
But moving across the country, leaving behind everything familiar, and renovating a home while living in it has taught me something I never expected.
If I keep waiting for the perfect moment, I’ll miss the life that’s unfolding right now. So now I set the table on an ordinary Tuesday. I buy the flowers. I light the candles. I pour the wine. Not because everything is perfect. Because it isn’t.
It’s because I’ve learned that every season of life is worth enjoying—even the messy, unfinished, uncertain ones. Ironically, some of my favorite memories have been made in a home covered in dust, with projects half finished and paint samples still on the walls.
Maybe that’s the real purpose of a home. Not to impress people. But to remind us to slow down, gather together, and find beauty in the season we’re living in.
Clouz Houz Tip: One of the easiest things you can do to make your home feel festive is use cut fresh greenery. Mix it in with faux stems for arrangements all around the house. This helps the faux look more real, AND you don’t have to worry about the entire arrangement drying out and looking horrible by Christmas!
