The beauty of the christmas holiday is an excuse to transform your home into a warm place of joy and celebration. You might find yourself drawn to earthy elements or enjoy taking on a crafty DIY project, or you may want to surprise your guests with colors they may not expect, but having options will inspire this season of memories. To view the complete line of holiday decorations as well as different ways to decorate, visit this collection of christmas decor.  You can connect décor choices to nature’s way of bringing in citrus or evergreen, and you can make use of the colors and beautiful lighting in your space to add uniqueness and reflect your values. Small things like changing traditional colors or trying handmade accessories open many avenues for the decorated space to feel like home.

Holiday decorating is about so much more than decoration—it is about expressing your own traditions, family, and your own creative culture. When you give every corner of your house unique touches, decoration expands joy in every gathering or celebration. Before jumping in to each idea, keep in mind that christmas decor can be as grand or simple as you would like-I am interested in setting the tone for gathering and sharing, celebrating, and still having a little fun with your style.

Use Natural Elements

Natural-themed decorating can permeate the home with freshness and charm that all leave an impression. Pine branches, dried oranges, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks all produce rich color and fragrance and can be used for handmade wreaths, garlands, or tabletop accessories. The designer refers to the “pop of color that orange adds against the greenery,” which makes everything look dynamic yet timeless. An added touch would be to have some bowls of fresh fruit scattered around the home or weave boughs with pinecones together for a rustic look on your mantel. Incorporating natural elements is a simple way to create nostalgia for holidays while being conscious of sustainable styling practices.

Do It Yourself

Making your own holiday decorations does not just add character; it makes decorating in itself a family project. Hand-poured marbled candles, simple salt dough ornaments, and hand-painted signs are only a few ideas to personalize your setting for this holiday season. For example, marbled candles are surprisingly easy and inexpensive and add brilliance in a chic, personalized way to a holiday table or mantel. These simple projects are conversation starters while making your home stand out.

Experiment with Colors

Christmas does not have to mean red and green. More homeowners are experimenting with pastel pinks, icy blues, and even black-themed trees to show their unique styles. Whether you are dreaming of a “wintry” look with silver and white or enjoy the look of bold jewel tones, using colors different from the traditional scheme can freshen up your holiday decorations so they look polished. The value behind this trend, as the Associated Press points out is an expression of one’s own uniqueness, which is refreshing, especially during the holidays. Don’t be afraid to layer textures, try glitter, metallics, or patterned ribbons and tree skirts.

Revamp Outdoor Areas

Boost your home’s curb appeal by refreshing its front porches, entryways, and yards with festive outdoor embellishments. Layer planters with live greenery, place lanterns and fairy lights down your walkway, or hang a lovely wreath on your door. Outdoor decoration encourages your neighbors and friends to be part of the holiday festivities. Use weatherproof ornaments on potted trees or create a mailbox garland or swags of greenery or garlands with embellishments for a little festive flair. The best exterior adornments create a warm welcome and festive atmosphere for guests from their arrival.

Creative Lighting Ideas

Strategic lighting can help transform a space and create a mood. Use white twinkling lights over a mantel, wherever you have cabinets (over the kitchen sink) or over garlands or even less conventional ideas, like using lights in glass jars, wrapping stair railings or hanging the lights through uncovered windows to create a little magic. While dim ambient lighting from smaller fairy lights or by using LED lanterns can help create added comfort and warmth, consider choosing a few battery-operated candles to light hard-to-reach spaces. A round-up of holiday lights can also be found on Business Insider if you need a few more ideas for holiday lighting.

Add Meaningful Decor

Making holiday decor your own means mixing some new things with items that are special to you and your loved ones, for example- you could hang ornaments your children made from previous years, vintage stockings, holiday cards from loved ones, or even crafts you or your children crafted in childhood. Adding meaningful decor creates opportunities, not just nostalgia and reminds you and your guests what is important during the holidays season. You could even set out an advent calendar filled with encouraging messages for your family, or even just a display of holiday crafts. Those things remind you to be engaged with what you already have around you, and there is a gentle reminder of the focus for this season.

Go Minimal

For those who may yearn for a little peace in the midst of a busy holiday season, there are times when a minimalist decor scheme works. Choose a palette that feels simple-such as whites and natural woods and focus on few higher quality pieces or fewer pieces that might stand out or feel special. One tabletop tree, few paper stars, and a couple of linen stockings might create beauty and not feel cluttering. A less-is-more approach can help you create aesthetically lovely, and hopefully a calmer celebration, with meaning and peace in your home, with good feelings (whether visual or emotional) for you and your guests, as a place to come home to.

Think Sustainable Before You Decorate

More eco-friendly decorating preferences are moving more to the forefront as homeowners looking to celebrate more consciously. When decorating, think LED lights, reusable or biodegradable ornaments and decorations made from recycled materials. Greenery you can use for garland is compostable, and can give a little extra life to seasonal decor. Avoiding single-use plastics, and looking locally for decor offers community support and sustainability.

Creating holiday decor is all about curating joy in family togetherness each holiday season. Whether you celebrate through meaningful traditions or embrace a new design aesthetic, the most powerful decor brings happiness to you and your loved ones and makes it merry and bright.