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Creative Projects: Holiday Decorating

by | Sep 22, 2007 | Creative Inspiration & Projects, Seasonal Decorating & Entertaining

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Creative Projects: Holiday Decorating

As you all may know by now, I am a big fan of using what you have to decorate your home. In fact, a big part of my interior design business (in the real world) is helping people to take the nice things they already own and arranging it in a way that is pleasing and beautiful. I am passionate about creating beautiful homes for living, not about spending money or having expensive designer stuff. Everyone has their own niche and style, and this has always been where my heart is.

I enjoy looking for beauty and creating it in unexpected ways. I’ll admit it isn’t always easy to do (sometimes spending oodles of money would solve lots of problems!), but there is fun in the challenge of discovering new ways to use what you already have, or adding just a few inexpensive things to make something extraordinary. With some ingenuity, inspiration and creativity, you can make something magical.

I think the same thing translates to our holiday decorating. Using things you already have, like plants, bottles, cookie cutters, fruits and vegetables, mirrors, jewelry, garden pots and decor — you name it, if it is beautiful in some way it can be used in holiday decorating. I especially like shells and organic things for decorating — God already created beautiful things that really are more stunning than anything I’ve ever tried to create on my own. In the photo above I used those same sea urchins you saw in my star dish in a previous post. This time they are sitting in a bubble glass dish, on top of epsom salts. Simple, but I think it is so beautiful!

Creative Projects: Holiday Decorating

Also notice the simplicity of cookie cutters hanging on pale blue ribbon. While I am generally not a big fan of staging decor or vignettes (that is just me, I am more intrigued with having things you really use, not just use to create a vignette), I think during the holidays you can and should add more drama and festivity in your decor. I like the cookie cutters because while they are really simple, they conjure up thoughts of holiday baking, and might just inspire it!

Creative Projects: Holiday Decorating

18 Comments

  1. Esther Sunday

    Oh, Melissa! I love how you impart your skills to us! I just love the cookie cutter idea – simple, yet soooo effective!!! I am truly looking forward to seeing more. Have a super weekend, my friend! Love, Esther

    Reply
  2. Annica

    You have a very inspiring blog! Please pay me a visit and read about the extraordinary designer exhibition Casa Cor that is taking place in Stockholm right now. Please also spread the word about it – I need all the marketing help I can get :-)!
    Take care, Annica

    Reply
  3. Cheryl Dack

    I love your philosophy of decorating, Melissa. Just love it.

    Reply
  4. Victoria

    I gave that cute cookie jar as a gift to a teacher last year and I so wanted it for me. Your kitchen is a dream and the cookie cutters so sweet-what a clever idea! Nothing says “Happy Holidays” to me and mine like homemade cookies. Making cookies for our friends and neighbors remains a ritual to this day. So enjoy your blog.

    Reply
  5. Becky

    Oh there you go again! Just filling my head with all sorts of great ideas! Just this morning I was thinking about Christmas and wanting to make it more organic. I am a bit tired of having the same ol’ things on the trees (except for the kid’s ornaments) and thought about taking a drive and getting some pine cones to paint red and then tie red gingham bows to. Leave some natural, too. What do you think?

    Love the cookie cutters! Your home is brilliant!

    hugs,

    Becky

    Reply
  6. Karen

    This is beautiful, Melissa!

    Reply
  7. Vee

    So pleasing and so beautifully simple. Thanks for sharing your ideas with us!

    Reply
  8. Elzie

    It’s lovely to decorate like this Melissa. (You have the same name as my granddaughter LOL). Easy and cheep and that can be good as Christmas can be costly as it is. A lovely season.
    Hope you have a great week.
    Love Elzie

    Reply
  9. Beck

    How gorgeous is that cookie tin! I love it! :)

    Reply
  10. Annica

    Thanks for your visit – welcome back! I will definitely visit you again and again and again!

    Reply
  11. seeeeb

    Great idea,I agree,the art is we decor a home without spending money,suddenly i wish I could invite you to my home.have great weekend :)

    Reply
  12. Daisy Cottage

    Delightful ideas AND beautifully captured by your camera! Thank you for sharing!!

    xo,
    Kim

    Reply
  13. Rhoda

    Hi, Melissa, I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that I love to use what I have & add inexpensive yardsale things in my home. I love what you’ve done with that little vignette, so pretty & natural & just what I’d love to add more of in my own home too. You’ve got a wonderful eye for detail!

    In fact, I’m going to be talking about some natural elements for Christmas decorating very soon too! I’ve been inspired to go less glitzy this year & add a more natural flavor to my Christmas decor. I’m getting excited just thinking about it. Looking forward to seeing more of your ideas too.

    xo,
    RHoda

    Reply
  14. Penny, Mosaic Artist

    Melissa, you are a woman after my own heart! I love to create using things I already have or can purchase for little dollars. I LOVE that you used Epson Salts in the dish!!! I would have never thought of that. Thank you so much for the great affordable posts on design and decorating….
    Penny

    Reply
  15. the feathered nest

    Melissa, love the cookie cutters and I really like the idea of using natural things especially in Holiday Decorating.

    Manuela

    Reply
  16. maryam in marrakech

    I love your white pot with that beautiful plant. What is that plant?

    Reply
  17. tracy

    what a great display…so simple & lovely. I’m pretty sure I have those exact same cookie cutters, so I know what I’ll be doing with them this year! thanks for all your fantastic ideas!

    Reply

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