9 Brilliantly REALISTIC HOLIDAY TIPS from Creators We Love!

There is truly no shortage of beautiful holiday decorating inspiration online, and sometimes I wonder if it discourages too many folks to decorate since we’re all so prone to compare. The thing is, it’s not about budget, access to fresh greenery, or even how adept we are with a glue gun. To welcome a spirit of good cheer or great joy into our homes is to be vulnerably open, working with our talents and available time. I would argue that even when talent and time are in short supply, we can still make up for the deficit with heartfulness. So even if you’re just getting the itch to add some sparkle this moment (need permission to chill?), put your heart into it. Draw inspiration from these talented creators with 9 realistic holiday tips I’m highlighting below.

Brilliantly REALISTIC HOLIDAY TIPS from Creators We Love!

Before the 21st century, I never dreamed we would have access to the wonders of inspiring design, decoration, and home tours as we do today. May we never take the moments of beauty for granted…for example, the way hummusbirrd keeps the mood neutral and serene yet oh co cozy for the holidays (above!). Let’s peek at more tips we can apply to our own schemes.

1. Transform Ordinary Ornaments into the Extraordinary

Emily’s lovely mercury glass ornaments look vintage and expensive, but she made them! There’s a secret for getting that finish, but it isn’t complicated which is what makes it so brilliantly realistic for us! FIND THE DIY HERE at Le Cultivateur…you’re going to be inspired by her talents!

*Psst. Emily, I’m blowing kisses to these and all of your romantically styled holiday vignettes!*

2. Go High Contrast With Sophisticated Simplicity

Oh the adventures of Sherry and the gorgeous holiday magic she shares every year when she tours Atlanta Holiday Showhouse! The first idea I scored from her post was the unique holiday color story in this Michele Gratch designed bedroom.

A deeply rich color on the wall behind the bed sets off the light toned “wreath” magically. My thought is that you don’t even have to paint the entire wall. But if you have a smallish pale wreath you love, paint a board or a frame with soft black and attach the wreath simply.

I also love this simply elegant wreath (above) she captured suspended from a beautiful dining room sconce. (Even if you don’t have a single wall sconce, I bet you have a mirror or other fixture on the wall that could be elevated with a plain wreath and a pale bow.)

(Sherry, if you’re reading this, I know what a pain blogging is, but please don’t ever stop. We need your writing voice forever and ever, Amen. I just love you and how you help me feel empowered so so dang much.)

3. Score a Winning Combo With Cedar + Red Berries

While it may not be realistic to live in a home as breathtaking as my friend Tina’s (The Enchanted Home), we can file away this idea for a winning combo for holiday curb appeal.

Cedar and little berries look so stunning at her front door, and can’t you just smell the fragrance right through the screen!?! (Don’t forget to shop The Enchanted Home shop!)

(Hey, Tina, ever wish we could time travel to 2010 in the early days of blogdom before the terms “Pinterest,” “influencer,” and “algorithm” were things? ‘Cause I’ll board that time machine with you, blog sista.)

4. Creatively Wear Vintage Bling During the Holidays

In this strike of fashionable genius, Cindy Hattersley reminded us of the power of a bit of bling for holiday outfits…specifically, cover the button of a blazer or sweater with a sparkly vintage brooch!

Love this so much, and it works for us no matter our age! (My collection of costume jewelry and such brooches is rather legendary since it has been collected over four decades!) Be sure to visit Cindy to score the sources of her enviable wardrobe and learn more of her styling hacks.

(Cindy, thank you for being my Midwest blogging bud as you soak up California sunshine with your killer smile and wardrobe! Please visit me if ever you are near the heartland, friend.)

5. Crown Your Kitchen With Holiday Romance

If you follow Mary Ann (she sometimes looks more like Reese Witherspoon than Reese Witherspoon in her fashion posts!), then you may know she relocated to the South. Look at the magnolia added to this greenery!

She is a favorite blogger of mine because of the practical timelessness of her advice, designs, and aesthetic.

(Mary Ann, your home and your content are some of the most calming and realistically brilliant out there, and I so admire how you look the other way when it comes to trends for yourself and your clients…lovely! Yer making me want to move to Florida!)

6. Capture the Soul of Nature

Elizabeth of Pinecones and Acorns embellished her tree true to brand: with collected pinecones and acorns.

You simply cannot go wrong when you connect design plans for the holidays to your unique environment. Elizabeth shared a video recently of this deer studying her on a hike, and I had to take a screenshot because the colors were so lovely…

This proves you can score a winning Christmas card with beauty right outside your door!

(Omg, Elizabeth, how long have we been bloggers, baking freaks, and bookworm buds? Thank you for cheering me on in a creative field that is often competitive and unkind.)

7. Bring on the Brown Velvet

If you know designer Dore of Burlapluxe, then you know her palette is restrained and serenely muted. So what a lovely touch she gave to her French cupboard with this brown velvet. Who can resist touches of chocolate during the holidays? Brilliant!

You can also score art and treasures from Burlapluxe HERE.

(Dore, what a gift your support has been these 15 years in the field, and I can always count on your loving energy to flow my way at just the right moment. So much like magic, it must be magic. Merci, lovely one.)

8. Create 20 Paper Bag Snowflakes

See details of my holiday foyer with paper snowflakes here, and here’s a peek at how they look during the day in bright afternoon light.

Simple, a total of $6 for the paper lunch bags, and I didn’t even add fairy lights or embellishments beyond fabric ties (recycled my well-loved men’s style pajamas that had seen better days).

9. Cat-Safe Book Tower Christmas Tree

Truth be told, I don’t know if my friend Fifi O’Neill (follow her!) stacked her beautiful design books to suggest a Christmas tree or not! But when I saw this image of her lovely blue and white Christmas vignette, it read “tree” to me!

And don’t you feel like it’s a stroke of genius when trees are hazards? If you have cats, maybe a stack of books with a star on top (or mouse like Fifi’s!) will especially make perfect sense! But which books? Hmmmm…

(Fifi, you already know it, but I think you’re the cat’s pajamas and the bee’s knees. Come to the prairie soon, and no need to bring a parka and wellies since I have extras.)

Do visit all of these creators to explore their creations, decor, and lifestyle inspiration!

Brilliantly Realistic or Brilliantly Unrealistic?

Does Martha inspire you to create or feel less than?

Hopefully it’s the former because there’s only one Martha, and she’s great at doing HER. You are free to be at peace doing YOU. Isn’t that a relief?

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

FREE (in spirit…free like all this content and the daily design consulting for email subscribers)! Isn’t it just the loveliest word?

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele