Interior Designers: 1. How do you balance tradition and modernity when styling your home for the holidays? 2. What’s your advice for incorporating color, texture, or greenery into holiday decor without overwhelming a space? 3. How do you approach sustainable holiday decorating while keeping it festive and elegant?

Living in a fast-paced world means there is always something new, and when it comes to interior design, new trends that make traditional styles less desirable and appealing. But the truth is, both the new and the old have something to offer. That said, as an interior designer, one simple way I balance tradition and modernity when styling homes for the holiday is by taking advantage of timeless traditional elements like natural textures like pinecones and holly, and giving them a modern twist. One particular way I achieve this is by using them as counterpieces. Starting with a color scheme that accents the existing space is how I incorporate color texture or greenery into holiday decor without overwhelming a space. The thing is that a color scheme helps by serving, not just as a guiding framework, but also as a unifying element that ties the entire look together. Plus, it also sets the tone for the holiday by evoking the right emotions and adding warmth to the atmosphere. One way I go about sustainable holiday decorating without compromising the festivities and elegance of the season is picking most of my decorative pieces from second-hand stores. The truth is that thrift stores are one of the best places to find some of the most unique decorative items that make a home really stand out because they are one of a kind, both in terms of material, design, and quality of the item. Plus, they are super budget-friendly, which means I would be getting more value for less.

I blend my old-fashioned love for holiday traditions with my modern taste by selecting a limited number of items from a long-ago era, like vintage tablecloths, hand-knit stockings, and combining those older items with new, modern geometric ornaments, a sleek, contemporary tree. I make sure the colors are all similar, often using a neutral background color and then adding small amounts of traditional holiday colors to add interest and visual appeal to the entire room. This way of decorating allows me to keep some of the nostalgia and sentimentality of the holidays but creates a very fresh, new look in my home. I also think about lighting when I am decorating, and use soft, warm white lights to create an ambiance around my newer and older decorations. To create an appealing backdrop that includes elements of color, texture or greenery, I concentrate on one area of my home where I can make a beautiful focal point, such as a decorated fireplace or dining table centerpiece that helps to anchor my overall design concept. To add dimension to my holiday decor without making it feel too heavy or busy, I incorporate textures like velvet or linen. When selecting colors for my design, I limit myself to 2-3 that complement each other well to create a clean visual appeal. I choose a few pieces of greenery in a vase with minimal embellishments and place them around my home in a simple yet unobtrusive way to help create a welcoming atmosphere and prevent the space from being overpopulated. For my sustainable holiday decorating, I have chosen to use biodegradable products, such as paper decorations and/or garlands made from natural fibers, which are compostable at the end of the season. reuse existing decor by transforming everyday objects into decorative holiday items, such as glass jars used as candle holders and seasonal fruit placed in bowls. When it comes to maintaining an elegant look, I choose to decorate with a neutral color palette, natural elements, white light strings, and greenery, resulting in a sophisticated, earthy aesthetic.