The Season of Martha
Honoring nostalgia, simplicity, and the art of doing things beautifully.
I grew up with the Martha Stewart Christmas. The kind where greenery draped across mantels, cookies cooled on the counter, and everything looked effortlessly perfect, yet somehow still lived-in. My mom learned from Martha, so I did too. Every December, our house felt like a page from one of her entertaining books.
People often describe Martha’s holiday style as extravagant, but the truth is, her formula was surprisingly simple. She understood something we often forget: beauty isn’t about more, it’s about meaning. With just a few thoughtful details — a handmade wreath, the scent of something baking, candles flickering in the windows — she made Christmas feel artful and alive.
That’s the nostalgia I’m leaning into this season. It’s less about starting over, and more about returning — to the things that already hold history, the rituals that ground us, and the details that tell our story.
As a designer, I’ve come to see Martha’s world not as a set of rules, but as a philosophy: quality over quantity, nature over novelty, intention over impulse. This holiday, I’m channeling that mindset into a look that feels timeless. Think fresh cedar tucked into sconces, tarnished metals beside linen napkins, the soft glow of candlelight spilling across the room.
Because at its heart, the Martha way isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating spaces that feel warm and layered with memory. And, that’s exactly what this season is all about.
Clouz Houz Tip: My mom made the gingerbread mansion in the above photo when I was younger. I remember coming home from school and finding her in the kitchen as she rolled out dough balls of gingerbread to create this masterpiece. It was a project for sure! And, while nothing really beats homemade in Martha’s eyes, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite gingerbread kits available this year. What a fun Sunday afternoon project: put it out on display as part of your holiday decor! This one by Gold Belly is adorable, and these mini ones on Amazon would be a fun way to create a small village on your kitchen counter or shelf.
How to Bring the Martha Mood Home
Simple moves, beautiful moments, and the art of making home feel alive again.
1. Start With Greenery (but go beyond the garland)
Everyone does garland on a banister… and while that’s classic, the magic happens when greenery starts showing up in quieter, more intentional places.
Tuck small cedar sprigs into wall sconces. Lay a few branches across your windowsills so the scent lingers every time you open them. Tie herbs or snippets of pine to linen napkins with raw twine. My mom used to do this every year (not for guests, just for us) and it’s one of those details that made our home feel like Christmas before we even put up the tree.
If you have a fireplace mantle, mix in dried hydrangeas or juniper berries to give texture and variation. Nature has more personality than any store-bought décor ever will.
2. Rethink Your Tree (and its story)
This year, skip the overdone ribbons and hyper-matched ornaments. Martha’s trees were always personal.
Try tucking in dried hydrangea blooms, or create a beautiful paper chain in shades of ivory and white. Layer ornaments made of materials you already love: linen bows, paper stars, small ceramic shapes. This year, I’ll tie a single oversized silk bow at the top instead of a traditional star — it drapes beautifully, feels sculptural, and adds quiet drama. I’ve also rounded up some of my favorite bows you can use to cover your tree. I have these in my cart currently (and they are on sale!). However, this extra large ivory one would be gorgeous as your topper. Or, this giant red velvet one that’s really gorgeous.
Think of your tree not as a display, but as a storyboard — a visual record of what matters to you.
3. Create a Signature Scent
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of designing homes, it’s that scent is as important as lighting. It’s what makes a house memorable.
I often keep a pot simmering on the stove. Give it a try: water, orange peels, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary. You don’t have to bake to make your home smell inviting. When I don’t have time, I’ll light beeswax tapers. They give off that subtle honeyed scent and instantly feel warm and real. There are great simmer pot kits online too. Check out this one on Amazon, or this one is so pretty. I use this simmer pot every year, and it works perfectly, while looking pretty sitting on your stove. These would make ideal hostess or teacher gifts as well.
Pro tip: add whole cloves to oranges and set them in a bowl on the counter — they’ll scent the room for days and make for great decor.
4. Mix Metals, Mix Eras
One of my favorite Martha tricks is how she mixed old and new — polished pewter beside tarnished silver, brass next to blackened iron.
Don’t worry about matching your finishes. Maybe your candle holders came from a flea market, and your flatware is new from Pottery Barn (I have loved this mis-matched hotel silverware set for so long … it’s all about the eclectic mix!). Together, they create tension and charm.
5. Layer Textures
Holiday décor can start to feel repetitive, so instead of adding more, focus on depth.
Mix velvet ribbon with linen, matte ceramic with shiny glass. A single knitted throw that’s been handed down from generations draped over a chair says more than a dozen holiday pillows.
In my home, I swap out one layer — like a linen throw blanket for a chunky wool one — to instantly change the season’s mood. I love this fringed ivory one or of course we can’t not mention the idea of a faux fur one like this. That’s the kind of subtle shift Martha always understood: not a full redo, just a thoughtful transition.
6. Set the Table With Restraint (but intention)
Your table doesn’t need to scream holiday, but it should whisper it.
Start with a base you already have: a linen tablecloth (I use this one year round and it always works no matter what I pair with it!), vintage china, or your everyday dishes. An all white set it allows you to add pattern with accents, such as holiday dessert or salad plates like these by Love Shack Fancy x Pottery Barn. They’re on sale, and I’ve just added them to my shopping cart! Or, these with the subtle but elegant pine border. Next, add natural small accents — maybe a sprig of pine at each place, a votive tucked between serving dishes, or a cluster of beeswax candles in mismatched holders.
I once layered floral napkins over a striped runner because I couldn’t decide — and it turned out perfectly imperfect. That’s the fun part! Mixing patterns you’d never expect but somehow work when they share a tone or texture.
7. Add Something Alive
A pot of paperwhites, a vase of bare branches, or even a bowl of fresh pears. Martha always included something living. It brings balance to the otherwise polished holiday look.
If your table feels too “done,” add a cutting board with a loaf of bread wrapped in linen. I’ve done this for years and it’s one of my favorite subtle styling moves. The texture, the scent, the imperfection. It makes a space feel generous.
8. Don’t Forget the Light
Light sets the emotional tone of a space. Overhead lighting flattens everything, while layered lighting (lamps, candles, sconces) creates atmosphere.
Cluster candles in different heights on the mantle, or let them spill onto the hearth and floor. Consider dimming the main lights during dinner. Even 10% less brightness changes the entire mood! And, if you don’t want to deal with drippy candles, these flameless ones that are battery powered are ahhhmazing! They come in different sizes, I purchased them last year in varying heights and plan to buy more to add to my collection this season. Layer them anywhere and everywhere for that glowy magic — the more the better!
If you have one thing to splurge on this season, make it ambiance. The mood is what people remember most.
The Beauty of What Lasts
Before you buy one more new Christmas decoration, pause for a moment and think about what actually makes this season feel special. It’s not the latest trend or the perfectly styled mantel … it’s the things that come back year after year. The crooked star that’s always tilted just a little to the left. Your grandparents’ mismatched ornaments that somehow feel like family history. The chipped plate you’ve used for Santa’s cookies since childhood. The stocking you hung on your first Christmas in this house.
Nostalgia is built on repetition. The beauty of it all lies in the pieces that have lasted and the ones that carry your story. Your holiday home doesn’t need to feel new; it needs to feel like yours.
So, if you love plaid, go for it. If you don’t, skip it. Collect what feels meaningful, display what makes you smile, and don’t worry if it’s not picture-perfect. The most beautiful homes are the ones that evolve (layer by layer, season by season) until they feel like a reflection of the people who live inside them.
Because in the end, the true charm of the holidays isn’t in recreating someone else’s look. It’s in honoring your own.🤎
