Whether you live in a dorm room, a tiny studio apartment, or your dream home, you can use minimalist design inspiration to style your space for Christmas and the holidays. Check out my tips for incorporating minimalist Christmas decor into your own home and living space!
Image Source: Shades of Blue Interiors
One of my favorite things about the holiday season has always been decorating for Christmas. If I had it my way, the day after Thanksgiving would be fully spent decorating for Christmas; Searching for and putting up the Christmas tree, pulling out dusty boxes of Christmas decorations, setting Spotify to the Michael Bublé holiday station, and putting up strands of white lights. I mean how can you not be happy when you have Christmas lights on in your living room? One of my roommates in college used to call them “happy lights,” which I feel is so true!
But, whether you’re that person who looks forward to decorating for Christmas at Halloween-time, or you dread pulling out boxes from the attic, you have to admit – there’s something so special about decorating for Christmas. It always gives me so much nostalgia, and brings me back to childhood.
Image Source: Homey Oh My
Is there such thing as too much Christmas sparkle? You know the lawn of your neighbor that has just one too many gigantic blowup Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph figures, or the bright purple lights for no reason? Yeah…. that’s the kind of thing we’re trying to avoid here.
Minimalist Christmas Decor Inspiration
As I’ve become older, I’ve definitely noticed that I have a more distinct sense of style. I notice it in both my personal clothing style and through styling my apartment. It also helps to date an architect. But seriously, seeing Geoff’s minimalist-inspired designs come to life, and seeing things through a designer’s mind has definitely given me a new appreciation for style and design. It makes you appreciate the “simple;” the untouched (or the almost untouched); the essentials; the stripping away of what is unnecessary. Think of it as less is more.
Whether you live in a dorm room, a tiny studio apartment, or your dream home, you can use minimalist design inspiration to style your own space. That’s one of the beautiful things about minimalist design, if you have a really small space (which I know so many of my friend in Boston, myself included do) you can still make it beautiful. I’ve gathered some of my favorite images from other bloggers and creatives to help give you the inspiration to get creative with decorating your space this holiday season. Continue reading for some of my holiday decorating tips + scroll to the very bottom of this post for some of my favorite items (many of which are on sale)!
Image Source: In The Fields
White Lights > Colored Lights
Growing up, my family always had colored lights on our Christmas tree, but I prefer the look of white lights on a Christmas tree. To me, it looks much more elegant and less “busy.” Plus, white lights fit into practically every color scheme. If your goal is to achieve a minimalist look with your holiday decor, definitely consider using white lights! I also like putting up lights around my apartment. LED string lights make decorating super easy. I like putting lights around a mirror in my living room, putting them around garland, and around doorways.
Image Source: Paige Knudsen
Trade Out Your Throws & Pillows
My living room mostly follows a neutral color palette, however, I do have turquoise colored pillows and a couple yellow ones as well (that I’ve been meaning to trade out for new ones for months now). To me, that just screams spring and summer! To achieve a more “fall and winter-y” color scheme, opt for cream colored throws and pillows, wine/burgundy, gold, dark green, and gray. If you’re opting for pillows that have a holiday message, keep it minimal and opt for one per room. With too many messages on pillows, it can start to look a bit busy and frankly, sometimes tacky.
Stock up on cozy blankets to turn your living room into a cozy oasis place you’ll never want to leave (I’m obsessing over this amazingly soft blanket and this chunky knit blanket), and they would fit perfectly in this wire basket that I just purchased from Target.
Image Source: Meidan Harmoniaa
Look to Your Backyard for Design Materials
Before driving back to Boston, I made sure to clip some branches of holly and balsam from my parents’ backyard in Maine for decorating my apartment. They look beautiful paired in a vase on a coffee table or night stand, and I also like putting them together (intertwined with white lights) in front of my TV on the TV stand!
To me, it feels good (and much more special) to gather these things yourself, rather than purchasing them (often fake ones) at the store. Make an afternoon of it with your family, loved ones, or friends and go on a hike (just try to avoid clipping branches from your neighbors’ yards… They might not be too happy 😉 ). If you want the real thing but don’t have time to hunt for it yourself, check out your local Home Depot or Lowe’s. Last year, I found 20 feet of balsam (already tied together for my convenience) that I used to drape over doorways and my kitchen. And of course, if you’re near a local farm or garden center, that’s even better! There’s nothing like the smell of the real thing ☺️.
Image Source: Style At Home
Image Source: Style At Home
Image Source: The Merry Thought
Image Source: The Merry Thought
Stick to Neutrals
Rather than throwing every color of the rainbow into your home, opt for a neutral color palette with pops of green and red. I tend to like the darker evergreen and burgundy/wine shades, more so than a bright green and red (almost highlighter-feeling) shade. These stockings I’m obsessing over here + here will have your home looking so cozy this winter!
Image Source: Lowe’s
Make Your Own Wreath
After looking on Pinterest, I am amazed at just how many variations of wreaths exist. I love all wreaths, but I’m seriously swooning over the non-traditional, olive tree-leaf wreaths (probably because you could never find something like that in New England unless it’s fake).
Image Source: The Merry Thought
Image Source: Treasures & Travels
Image Source: One Kindesign
Do you decorate your home for the holiday season? Where do you get your decor inspiration from? Shop my favorite Christmas decor here if you need additional inspiration!
Shop My Favorite Holiday Decor
Stockings/Tree Skirts
Blankets
Pillows
Ornaments
Garland, Wreaths, + Greenery
Lights/Candles
Save
Gorgeous decorations! I love all the pops of green.
-Kate
katekoutures.blogspot.com
Thank you so much Kate!! I’m obsessed with minimalist style design. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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