Aside: Christmas 2020
The air is getting frostier and the nights longer, yet—routinely, at least—nothing seems much different than it was in August or September. When the place you live is also the place you work, dine, unwind, rewind, and do it all over again, it feels nice to make it special for a little while longer than usual. Admittedly, it’s felt like Christmas here since Halloween night. But it’s the little things that count. Even if that means an entire weekend of undressing and redressing every shelf, cabinet, surface, and corner in sight.
This year, I’m paying extra attention to those little details that make all the difference. The details that I’d hope my friends would notice and point out when they came over for holiday gatherings. And in lieu of that happening any time soon, I’m finding peace in writing and sharing about it here.
These are a few of my favorite pieces from this year’s Christmas decor. In between, I've included some of the thinking and design principles that went into all the details. Welcome to the (virtual) Christmas party!
What tradition, trinket, or holiday detail do you look forward to every year? Chat me on Instagram, @andrewjvagner.
Turn decor into something as functional as it is aesthetic.
Gift wrap and ribbon looks great on gifts, of course, but why stow it away under the bed? Tossed into a basket next to the tree, it’s efficient and tasteful.
And all those rosemary plants on the coffee table are just waiting to make their way into dinners, cheese boards, and cocktails.
Have textiles everywhere for cold winter nights.
A pillow and a throw should always be within reach. They soften the overall look of the space and are a fun way to refresh accent colors every season.
Create contrast wherever it’s possible.
And wait for the sun to hit it just right (which might take some patience in the PNW). Stark contrast plays up the snowy, cold outdoors and lets color make an even bolder impact.
Contrast doesn’t only mean color or tone. It can be achieved through material, too, like in metals, ceramics, paper, and textiles.
Always be ready for social hour (even if it’s solo).
Obviously. A rotational bar cart scene inspires those festive after-work sips. This set up features a twist on a classic: a Cranberry French 75.
Use ornaments in places that aren’t trees.
Easily dress up a spare basket or bowl with extra ornaments. It helps to tell a cohesive color story through the space, and feels like a subtle extra touch to nod to the holidays.
Repurpose objects, new and old.
A shuffling of vases, jars, and other objects is always refreshing, especially when new seasonal pieces are mixed in. As an added bonus, hand painting and customizing objects can help tie the space completely together.
