Holiday Magic

Celebrity designers share their tips for adding a little sparkle to your holiday décor.

by Melissa Meisel

As the days get shorter and the leaves fade from emerald to crimson, holiday festivities are just around the corner. No matter the conditions outside, every winter brings a blizzard of parties, family gatherings and unexpected visitors. To make your home a warm and welcome retreat, industry insiders weigh in on simple ways to spruce up your space from Thanksgiving into the new year.

 
Edible Centerpieces
With everyone feeling the pinch from the current economic situation, there is an affordable and edible way to decorate your home for the upcoming holidays, says interior designer Kenneth Brown of HGTV’s reDesign and TLC’s Over Designed fame. “All of the ‘ingredients’ needed to create beautiful one-of-a-kind arrangements for the holidays can be purchased while grocery shopping,” he says. Go for an unexpected "mod" look by slicing purple cabbage to showcase its beautiful pattern for Thanksgiving. Or, think outside the box with a healthy holiday tree centerpiece crafted from—gasp!—a Brussels sprouts stem.

A Gourd-Geous Idea
Craving a unique centerpiece? Use leftover gourds and pumpkins from Halloween and spray paint them white, suggests interior designer Erinn Valencich of OmniArte Design, who has hosted shows on E! and HGTV. “I love the juxtaposition of something shiny next to something natural, so I mixed rough woods with sleek white serving dishes and silver rimmed plates and goblets,” she says. This palette also easily transitions into the holiday season. By removing the chocolate and wood accents, you’re left with a stunning palette of silver and white ready for Christmas dinner or a New Year’s Eve party.

From Coastal to Country 
Decorate for the region where you reside, suggests designer Barclay Butera, whose clients include Renee Zellweger, Sharon Stone and Barbra Streisand. He says, “If you live at the beach, accentuate shell decor or oceanic items and translate them into holiday décor such as starfish garland or sand-dollar ornaments. In Park City, Utah? How about a horn or antler motif for the dining table, mantle or Christmas tree?”

Light it Up
According to celebrity party planner Jes Gordon, whose clients include Madonna, J-Lo and Sarah Jessica Parker, playing around with lighting helps create a completely new entertaining environment. Use inexpensive twinkle lights to canvas your space—but keep it sophisticated by sticking to one color, like soft white. Infuse a natural glow by placing 10-hour amber glass votives on every surface of a party room.

Nothing Like the Present 
At the dinner table, dress up dining room chairs by attaching gold tassels to colorful fabric draped over the seats—switching hues to match the holiday, suggests Sally Morse, director of creative services for Hunter Douglas, Upper Saddle River, N.J. Adorn chandeliers with ornaments and use wide ribbon to “gift wrap” throw pillows for sofas come December.


Experience Necessary
Hiring an interior designer that has experience with holiday decor can be a huge plus, notes Valencich of OmniArte Design: “Often times, designers have new creative takes at looking at your space, like changing the color scheme or adding texture. For example, last year I did actress Jaime Pressly's home in rust and teal with lots of feathers and branches. It was stunning and transitioned well from Thanksgiving through Christmas!”

Snag a Celebri-Tree 
Gardening retail chain Smith & Hawken usually holds an online auction of Christmas trees designed by celebrities. Last year, actresses Julianne Moore, Brooke Shields, Angie Harmon and celebrity couple Eva Longoria Parker and Tony Parker designed trees to benefit Keep America Beautiful. During the holiday season, go to www.SmithandHawken.com/Trees, pick a favorite tree and click 'Bid Now' to get your very own celebri-tree!