Create a Winter Wonderland
in Your Home This Holiday Season
By Lauren
Flanagan, About.com Guide
Wintery
Bird Ornaments
Lauren
Flanagan
Those of us who live in colder
climates are really lucky – we get to experience the beauty of winter. Sure
it's cold and we have to bundle up when we go outside, but in exchange we get
pure, white snow; glistening icicles; crisp, cold air and all the other joys
that come with winter.
Even if you don't live in this kind of climate you can create the illusion with
your holiday décor. Here are some tips for creating a winter wonderland in your
home this holiday season.
The Palette
Let the forest be your guide. To create a rustically winter-themed scene stick
with a palette of silver, white, green and natural materials like birch bark or
other types of wood. Icy blue can also be a great addition. Avoid any strong
colors that you wouldn't find in a forest in the middle of winter. No red,
purple, orange or hot pink.
Ornaments and Accessories
- Small decorative trees are a
great addition to holiday displays. They come in tons of colors and
materials like wood, birch bark, glitter, and more.
- Garlands are always great
during the holidays. Go with natural greens or other natural materials
like bark. To up the winter ante you could try a white garland (opt for
one with sparkles if you can).
- Galvanized metal is
inherently rustic. Grab a couple of pails and stick some candles in them.
Use them indoors or out on your front steps or porch.
- Lanterns can also work
indoors or out. If you want to use them indoors you can display them on
their own or tuck them into a garland. Just remember that if you light a
candle inside of a lantern be very cautious and make sure there are no
fire hazards.
- A pinecone wreath is the
perfect rustic accessory. It's a natural, rustic material, but also
sculpturally beautiful.
- Wood spheres are great for
adding a rustic accessory. They're not festive per se, but when you add
them to this type of décor they add depth and shape without adding kitschy
clutter.
- Glass is also a great
material as it creates a little sparkle and can be reminiscent of ices. A
candle flickering in a glass vase is always a pretty and festive look.
- Decorate with branches. It's
cheap and easy. Simply collect some from outside and display them in a
clear glass cylinder vase.
Woodland Creatures
One of the keys to creating this kind of woodsy look is to include some
woodland creatures. Sparkly bird ornaments, birch bark reindeer, mercury glass
owls and any other little animals can be tucked into garlands, displayed on
mantles or hung on trees. The key is to keep it classy and not overdo it. Try
too avoid anything too cutesy like little stuffed animals. Keep them within the
palette and don't stray too far from the other materials you're using.
Where to Shop
Pottery Barn – Pottery Barn is the go-to store for this type of décor.
They have all sorts of mercury glass accessories, little woodland creature
ornaments, lanterns and more. It's also worth taking a look at the website just
to get some ideas.
West Elm – Even though West Elm tends to be a slightly contemporary
store, they have tons of silver mercury glass pieces that can contribute to the
winter wonderland theme. Check out their little votive holders and owl
figurines.
HomeSense/HomeGoods – These stores are terrific for finding these kinds
of holiday decorations. This year look for sparkly birds, birch bark reindeer
and other such objets. The inventory is constantly changing so check back
often.
These kinds of decorations can be found just about anywhere. If you're looking
to create this style on a budget you can find plenty of items in the great
outdoors. Pinecones, sticks, branches with some greenery – the list goes on.
You can also always use household items like cotton balls to create a snowy
effect and head over to the dollar store for some silver glitter to add a
little sparkle.
No matter how much you want to spend or how far you want to take the look, a
winter wonderland theme is a great way to add some holiday flair to your home.
