Hostess with the Mostest CURATED BY Claudia By Claudia Ricciardone
Q Dear Claudia,
I contacted my interior designer last week about
getting my home ready for the holidays; however, she
informed me that if I want to custom design my dining
room in time for Christmas, it’s already too late! How
can that be? It’s only Fall! My family will be visiting
from out-of-town, and I am also hosting the dessert
course of our neighborhood’s progressive dinner party
in December. I’d like to spruce up my space in preparation.
What should I do?
Thanks in advance!
Laura in Charlotte, NC
A Dear Laura,
I often get calls from clients who are eager to overhaul
their home but are short on time. Custom room
designs can take weeks, if not months, from conception
to installation, but you can still make your home entertainment-
ready in time for the holidays. Below are my
pro tips for turning your home from Ho-Ho-Ho-Hum
to Deck the Halls in no time.
One of the most cost-effective ways to get your home ready
for entertaining is to declutter and edit what you have. Hire a
designer for a consultation or grab a design-conscious friend
and ask for feedback about what
works. Ask them to focus on what
can easily be removed and/or
changed. A fresh set of eyes will
offer you proper perspective.
A staging tip is to use accessories
that are larger than a mango. Visually,
a bunch of itty-bitty objects
read as clutter. It’s better to use a
few larger-scaled items to pull a
console together rather than several
very small ones. This is especially
true when styling a bookcase, which
can quickly mutate into visual clutter
if you’re not selective with your
accessories. When pulling a room
together, your eyes need space to
rest. Decluttering goes a long way in
updating the look of your home.
LET THE
SUNSHINE IN!
It’s not unusual to walk into a
client’s home and find that it’s too
dark to comfortably entertain. If
you’re like me, you are energy conscious
and navigate your home in
bat-like conditions. Using layered
lighting, such as table and floor
lamps, is a great fix. The easiest
way to brighten your home is to
open up the drapes, blinds, and
shutters and allow some of that
glorious sunshine to make its way
into your home. While you are at it,
and if weather permits, open your
windows and let some fresh air in
as well. Thankfully, newer homes
are built to be much more energy
efficient than homes of the past. Unfortunately, this also means
that indoor air can often smell stale. There’s nothing like fresh
air to invigorate your home.
While we’re speaking of smells, make sure your home’s scent
doesn’t offend. Avoid heavy floral or cloying fragrances when
choosing scented candles, which can trigger headaches in sensitive guests. Citrus and spice scents tend
to be more easily tolerated. Essential oils
can both pleasantly scent the air and offer
health-promoting benefits.
And don’t forget about your furry friends.
I sometimes forget that not everyone loves
pets as much as I do. Washing pet bedding
and using throw blankets that can be laundered
on your upholstered furniture may
help minimize pet hair and odors.
ACCESSORIZE WITH
NATURE
I delight in a home that’s been decorated
for the holidays. However, like accessories,
holiday décor looks best when it is carefully
curated. Whether your holiday theme is
made up of cherished family heirlooms or
decorations in your favorite color palette,
group similar items together (rather than
spreading things out over various surfaces)
so that your collection looks cohesive.
One of my favorite ways to decorate
is to use items from nature. It’s fresh,
eco-friendly, and items can be composted
when you’re done using them, which also
reduces the need for storage space. Pumpkins,
gourds, magnolia leaves, evergreen
branches, pinecones, birch logs, holly,
clove-studded citrus, cranberries, and
cinnamon sticks can all be used to create
nature-inspired, earth-friendly holiday
décor.
GIVE YOUR POWDER
ROOM A FACE-LIFT
Finally, you can add big style by giving
your powder room a makeover! Turning
your powder room into a jewel box is a
no-brainer way to wow guests. Impactful
art, wallpaper (or a gorgeous new paint col or),
fresh linens, and updated lighting can
turn a small, overlooked space into a showpiece.
As you can see, there’s plenty that you can do to make your
house fabulous in time for your guests. You’re going to rock that
dinner party!
Thanks for your question, Laura, and Happy Holidays!
Friends,
If you’d like me to answer your design
dilemma in a future column, private
message me via Instagram
@claudiajosephinedesign.com
