Deck the halls with boughs of holly—or don’t. Decorating for the holidays the traditional way, with lights, wreaths, and a tree full of ornaments, isn’t for everyone.
If you want to bring the seasonal spirit into your home without dragging boxes of holiday knick-knacks out of storage, you’re in luck. There are plenty of ways to get your home feeling festive, and not a single bough of holly is necessary.
To learn how to execute a holiday-inspired home design—one without Santas or stockings—we tapped designer Gideon Mendelson for his expert advice.
Here’s betting your guests will be utterly impressed with your refined interiors. Read on for Mendelson’s top five tips for decorating your home seasonally without kitschy holiday decor.
Gideon Mendelson is the founder and creative director of the New York-based interior design firm Mendelson Group, and he is no stranger to creating sophisticated interiors.
Design by Mendelson Group / Photo by Eric Piasecki Photography
You don’t have to wrap twinkling lights around a seven-foot-tall Christmas tree to embrace the ambient light of the season.
First things first: nix all harsh white lights. Instead, to transform your home into a winter-friendly respite, opt for warm-toned bulbs for a softer aesthetic.
“Too often, the bright, white lights can give off a cold hospital glow on your walls,” Mendelson says.
With a house full of warm light bulbs—no overhead office lighting here—keep your overhead lights off, and incorporate more lamps and wall sconces in your space. That'll invoke the same intimate feeling of holiday lights.
Design by Mendelson Group / Photo by Eric Piasecki Photography
Walking in a winter wonderland, snow falling and hot cocoa in hand, is charming. Warming
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