Holiday Sparkle for Your Home

by Diane C. DiVall

In the classic holiday movie, A Christmas Story, a large crate stamped "fragile" is delivered to the Parker family's kitchen door and the stage is set for what will surely be their most unforgettable Christmas ever. The kitchy leg lamp that is soon revealed is later proudly displayed in the family's front window. The "major award" seems to symbolize all that it means to make your own statement when decking your halls for the holidays.

But if it's not a leg lamp that welcomes guests to your home during the holiday season, chances are it's something else just as endearing to your family. This year, the interior designers we spoke with all agree that making a personal statement—and making it without a lot of bells and whistles is the way to go. Here's what some of our city's favorite designers recommend for adding sparkle to your home for the holidays.

Patti Peltier, Luxe Home Interiors
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when decorating for the holidays, according to Peltier, is trying to use every decoration they have ever accumulated. Peltier, an interior designer for eight years, says begin by weeding out some of the items that look worn, or choose only a certain style of decoration this year and leave the others for next year. Say you have a collection of snowmen that you'd like to display. Arrange them together, possibly on a contrasting color of fabric and you'll end up with an eye-pleasing snowscape that can last throughout the winter season. In addition to grouping, Peltier says varying decorations by height can add interest. If you're working with glazed gourds, try placing them on decorative boxes or hard cover books. The change in height alone will draw the eye to the different gourds. Finally, Peltier suggests paying close attention to scale. Whether you're hanging ornaments on a Christmas tree or placing fresh evergreens around your banister, appropriateness of scale is key. For a Christmas tree, hang the largest ornaments like balls or larger hand-made ornaments on the lowest branches. Save the tiniest and most delicate ornaments like blown-glass or miniature-versions for the top branches. And mix up the colors and types of ornaments on your tree. If you have a lot of firefighter ornaments, for example, sprinkle them throughout the tree rather than hanging them all in one clump. Or better yet, if you have the desire and the time, put up more than one tree. Maybe you collect angel ornaments or old-fashioned versions of fruits and vegetables. Decorate an entire tree around that one theme.

Maybe you're looking to cut way back on home decorating this year. Peltier says if you decide to spruce up just one area, choose your entryway, dining room table, or stairway. Those are the places where you welcome guests to your home. So, why not dress up your stairway with some evergreens? Adorn the greenery with clear glass balls and finish it off with a copper metallic bow. You'll have an eye-catching and pleasing decoration that visitors will notice the minute they come inside.

Carol Massat, The Growing Place
A simple and natural decoration for your entryway is always a sure bet, agrees Carol Massat of The Growing Place. She shared an easy and economical way to turn your autumn fresh outdoor display into something that will take you right through winter. Start with a container you already have, empty it all the way, make sure it's raised up off the ground, fill it with bark or Styrofoam, then fill it with branches or twigs. Add small weather-proof ornaments or a gazing ball for the holidays. Here's one your children can help with: Begin collecting pinecones from your yard or your neighbor's yard. Place the pinecones in some of your favorite baskets, add a bow or some berries on a natural vine to the basket's handle. The pinecones themselves can also be painted, left as is, or varnished for a shimmery finish.

Wreaths are a perennial holiday favorite for most homeowners. At The Growing Place, customers are welcome to bring in an existing wreath, and specialists will help give the decoration a fresh, new look by adding berries, twigs, bows, ribbons, or small glass ornaments, for example. If you are a new homeowner or still finding your way in the world of holiday home decorating, The Growing Place is holding a number of workshops and open houses designed to help. For specific times and dates check their web site at www.thegrowingplace.org.

Kim Elia, Truffles Interior Design
Kim Elia owns Truffles Interior Design in downtown Naperville. She is "a big fan" of taking greenery and bringing it inside. But, she says, there's also a lot you can do with fabric and color that can give a room a whole new look without spending a lot of money. For example, in your family room, Elia suggests changing out the pillows on your couch and chairs from summer to fall tones of purples and deep greens. Later, if they match, you can throw in some more wintery-feeling pillows in the plum or berry tones. They will add a festive touch. You can dress up a sofa table by placing a floor-length skirt around it. Again choose colors that stand out, yet compliment your décor. Do the same in your dining room. Slipcover the chair pads, for example. Or, if you want to save money, slipcover just the end chair. A popular and elegant way to do that is to embroider your initials on a crisp linen slipcover. Elia also suggests hanging some tiny crystal ornaments from a dining room chandelier to add sparkle and cheer to your room, or string garland through the fixture. Simply changing out an entry-way rug or area rug to one with a holiday décor can brighten up a hallway or emphasize a theme. Paying attention to fabric can be key when decorating for the holidays, Elia says. She recommends turning to heavier fabrics like wool and velvet or mohair, which is hot this year. Toss a velvet pillow or a mohair throw on a sofa and you're all set. Elia says most homeowners are streamlining their decorations and focusing on one or two special accessories.

Sue Finck, Little Luxuries
Another great tip for holiday decorating is to focus on color. Sue Finck, owner of Little Luxuries, advises choosing a color you love and then trying to repeat it at least three times in your overall scheme. For example, since jewel tones are so popular this holiday season, go with a blue; start with a teal blue throw, add a dark plum pillow and finish it off with a turquoise jeweled frame. "Now you have created a fun, festive new look, without adding a whole lot of stress and expense," says Finck. And, she says you don't have to re-do your entire space. "If you are like the majority of the population, and feel more comfortable with the subtle and restful shades of neutrals, try just adding pops of color and watch your room come alive." 

Decorating for the holidays can evoke wonderful memories of your childhood and how your home was decorated years ago. Finck says vintage, recycled and reclaimed items are all hot these days. So look for inspiration "right under your nose." There's still time to rummage through some of your old childhood treasures to see what "major awards" you might have saved that could grace your front window this holiday season. Who knows? Some of your neighbors might be driving around the night before Christmas fondly remembering their own Christmases past with the same feeling of pride Mr. Parker had when he opened that big "fragile" crate and got the gift of a lifetime.