How To: Update Your Christmas Decor

'Tis the season to deck your halls (or buffet) with holiday spirit. We have taken on the dining room as one of our projects in assembling a "how-to" guide on updating your holiday decor in essential spaces without taking away from the overall aesthetic. Now, pop some champagne and follow along!

Begin by layering greens. This may be the more challenging part in deciding exactly where to place the stems. We chose to highlight our favorite accents on and off the bar with a fresh cedar garland. This holiday essential adds warmth, but remains modern in its simplicity. Adding a few sprigs of the garland in the bar tray pulls together the whole setting creating a wow effect. 

This home was built in 1940, so the traditional buffet seems as though it was created just for this elegant space. While preserving the integrity of the home, we updated the holiday setting with new items in addition to traditional holiday decor. You do not have to sacrifice your favorite hand-me-down accessories, to obtain an updated look! Combining elements like the Staffordshire Couple Figurines with current furnishings is the perfect example.

Replace the traditional poinsettia throughout your home with some darker magenta or purple florals. An unexpected rich color will still portray the holiday sparkle throughout your home. Tie in whatever color you want to accentuate with a big ribbon on either a wreath or garland. In our case, we chose to accentuate the magenta in the room.  Don't forget some fruity accents...even if they are faux, it's a an unexpected element that adds a welcoming touch to the buffet!

A hint of gold will be sure to make your buffet glisten this year. Don't limit yourself to only using the traditional red and green hues to obtain a glamorous holiday look. Mix in different textures and layers throughout! We chose to fill an antique beveled glass compote with colorful match boxes to add a surprising colorful mix.

To top it off, add your favorite seasonal scent. All of your guests will be greeted with Christmas cheer from the moment they walk in the door. 

There's no place like home for the holidays...Hank agrees!