Let’s face it: Holiday decorating is time consuming and often overwhelming. Who hasn’t come close to a breakdown untangling strings of light? We asked local interior Lisa Luby Ryan to give a list of her yuletide yeses to make the process as holly and jolly as possible.
Less is More
“This is coming from someone who used to have a tree in every room,” laughs Ryan. “When I do clients’ homes for Christmas, I want to create something that reflects the design of the house, but also the people who live here.” Here, that meant sprucing the place up with plenty of organic finds—a real tree, fresh garland, pinecones, and berries.
The Old is Often Gold
“I always mix in vintage and antique things if I can—early 1900s mercury glass, ornaments, and a few bottlebrush trees,” Ryan says. “We’ll even put vintage and antique balls in a bowl if not on the tree. When you place it on a tray with some candles, it brings real soul to the house.”
Crank Up the Music
“I love playing carols as I’m adding fresh flowers and layering in all the fresh finishing touches to my mantel,” Ryan says. “It takes things to the next level, and I know I’m close to Christmas.”
Experiment with Faux Fir
“My little trick is the base of my garlands are artificial, which gives it weight, structure, and fullness. There’s nothing worse than limp garland,” Ryan says. “When the base is fake, you can layer in live magnolia, eucalyptus, holly, and pinecones. I also love adding dried orange slices and berries.”
Author
