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.
Hiring a designer is a funny thing. You’re essentially handing someone your home your budget, years of saved inspiration, and a pretty intimate look at how your family actually lives-and trusting them to get it right.
That’s not a small thing.
And a good designer’s job is so much more than making your home beautiful. It’s listening closely enough to know when to push you toward something you wouldn’t have chosen on Your ow? when to wark with what you already love, and when to say, Nope, that doesn’t feel You should still recognize yourself in your home when we’re done. Just maybe a version you couldn’t quite figure out how to get to on your own.
That trust takes time, which is why we start every project with a conversation.
If you’ve been thinking about getting some help with your home but aren’t quite sure what that looks like yet, that’s okay. Tell us what you’re working on. We’ll start there.
Discovery calls are always the first step — link in bio or shoot us a DM.
Maybe someone in your life needs to hear this right now. Someone whose life looks completely different than they thought it would. Who’s feeling stuck in their career.
Starting over. Watching their kids grow up and wondering what’s next for them. Or just feeling that little nudge that maybe it’s time for something different.
I’ve been there. And if I’m being truthful, I still have moments where I’m there.
There were seasons of my life I never would have chosen, but they pushed me toward things I’m not sure I ever would have been brave enough to choose on my own. This business. Moving. Starting over. Taking risks when I definitely didn’t have all the answers.
I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to have life figured out when really, we’re supposed to evolve. You’re allowed to change your mind. You’re allowed to want something different. You’re allowed to start the thing you’ve been quietly thinking about for years—even if the timing feels weird or the path there looks nothing like you imagined.
Sometimes you just have to trust the nudge and see where it takes you. 🤎
And while I’m feeling sentimental, thank you for being here and following along through all the different chapters. I’ve loved the support, conversations, and little community that’s grown here more than you know. Send this to a friend who might need that reminder today.
You can have the plans. The Pinterest board. The contractor. Half the materials picked out. And still find yourself staring at two options thinking... I genuinely have no idea anymore.😂
That’s exactly where this client was. Her full-home Bay Area renovation was already underway and she had a strong vision—she didn’t need us to take over.
She just needed another set of experienced eyes on the decisions she couldn’t quite land.
So we spent our first session working through her actual list: millwork, lighting, paint + stain, cabinetry, tile, trim, fireplace and ceiling beam details... all those decisions that suddenly feel very permanent when your contractor needs an answer.
That’s really what our 6-Hour Consultation is for. You might already be 60% there. Bring us the 40% that’s making you second-guess everything.
If you’re in the middle of a project thinking “wait, this is exactly the kind of help I need”... start with a 15-minute discovery call. Tell us where you’re stuck and we’ll see if it’s the right fit.
Comment “EDIT” and I’ll send you the post when it goes live tonight at 5.
Or, subscribe to Between the Layers at the link in bio and it’ll land directly in your inbox— along with all my future sourcing lists, design deep dives + things I could never gatekeep.
Same client. Same house. Very different chapter. 🙂
She came back to us wanting to soften a few of the spaces and lean a bit more classic. And I think that’s such a normal part of living in a home-sometimes your taste changes, sometimes you realize you want a room to feel different, and sometimes you just get the itch to keep going.
So we are!
The dining room now has this really pretty pale blue linen banquette, new custom pillows, a mural wallpaper, and softer details throughout. In the living room we painted the walls and had new pillows made with a variety of blue and green fabrics.
We are commissioning an art piece by @mialauren_art and I’m telling you... obsessed with her work! It’s going to be the element that brings this design home! Stay tuned for more....I shared examples of my favorites from her work in Between The Layers.
Full article on Between The Layers (link in bio) 🤎
Sharing the real cost of our High Desert Tumalo Ranch living room felt a little vulnerable, if I’m being honest.
We invested in some areas and saved in others, because good design has never been about choosing the most expensive option—it’s about knowing where to spend.
The biggest lesson? A beautiful room alone isn’t automatically going to make you happy. The best spaces are designed around the way you actually live, what brings you comfort, and what you believe is worth investing in.
This isn’t what every living room should cost. It’s simply the real budget behind one of our most-requested projects, shared in the hopes of bringing a little more honesty to the conversation.
I think you’ll walk away thinking a little differently about renovation budgets.
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!
