6 rules a designer always follows when decorating for Christmas

When it comes to decorating for the holidays, designer Whitney Durham and founder of Whitney Durham Interiors in Atlanta, Georgia knows how to do it like a total pro. We couldn't get enough of how she so seamlessly combines seasonal and non-seasonal accents in her space, adding cheer to every room in the house in a welcoming, non-intrusive way. Read on to take a look inside the designer's holiday-decorated family home, and be sure to pick up six of her best decorating tips that will help you improve your own holiday decor this season.

Rule #1: Don't be afraid of artificial greenery

While Durham always decorates the outside of her home with vibrant greenery, she isn't afraid to use artificial options indoors. “When there is real greenery inside, it is best for a Christmas party or get-together,” she explains. “Otherwise it looks pretty for a few days and then makes such a mess when it dries out – and it dries quickly!” To ensure her garland, whether real or artificial, looks designer-level, she mixes in some magnolia, pine, pinecones, berries, or bows.

Rule #2: Mix vintage and new

When it comes to ornaments for your tree or the plates on your dinner table, don't buy everything at once. Instead, do like Durham and weave in some older, more sentimental pieces too. “This could be vintage stemware, your grandmother’s silver, celebratory dinner plates, etc.,” shares the designer. “I also have a collection of old and new nutcrackers that I sometimes group together on a mantel along with my garland and greenery!”

Rule #3: Design items as collections

Designers follow the principle of mixing like with like, and Durham is no exception. “Collections, whether holiday or non-holiday, always have a greater impact when grouped together,” she says. “If you have a collection of things like nutcrackers, Santas, angels, or little Christmas villages, always group these collections together in the display rather than scattering them in different places around your home.”

Rule #4: Feel free to go beyond red and green

Durham has masterfully integrated her Christmas decor into her home by selecting pieces that complement her everyday decor. Hence, she is a proponent of thinking beyond the hues when it comes to decorating the halls. “While red, green and white are your traditional Christmas color palette, you don't have to use just those colors when decorating your own home,” says Durham. Since much of her room is decorated in blue, the designer incorporated a lot of this hue into the Christmas decorations. “If you like pink or brown accents, mix these colors with ornaments on your tree, ribbons on your tree, bows with your wreaths, and your wrapping paper,” she suggests.

Rule #5: Mix high and low

Decorating for the holidays doesn't have to break your budget. Durham uses many budget-friendly tricks in her own home, including wrapping her gifts in classic brown kraft paper. “I add a pretty ribbon and gift tag to dress it up,” she says. “The brown kraft paper is inexpensive, fits any decor style and works with any color bow!” Another money-saving technique she offers is hanging candy canes on the tree. This is a great solution if you are still expanding your ornament collection. “They’re inexpensive and look very festive,” she says. “I usually use the classic red and white, but you can also mix multicolored colors, green and white, blue and white, etc.” Durham also likes the idea of ​​tying satin ribbons in colors that match your room decor to tree branches for a little extra flair at a reasonable price.

Rule #6: Don't forget to spruce up smaller areas

Bring the Christmas spirit throughout your home by placing some vases of fresh greenery in other areas of the house, from the kitchen to the bathroom. “Most often you can find evergreens or foliage from your own garden to mix into your vases,” says Durham. “Or go to your local Christmas tree store and ask them for leftover tree trimmings!”