2021 is winding down, and the last few months of this already hectic year will be jam-packed with the usual holiday craziness. There’s a good chance you’ll be sharing some fellowship with friends and family during the coziest and most celebratory time of the year, so why not get your home into good shape for the season?
You don’t need to do much to put a festive spin on your house or apartment. Holiday decorating can make your space look better and even help you decompress from seasonal stress. These tiny touches only take a few minutes and can totally transform your home. [Of course, feeling your coziest starts with a wardrobe of super-soft, mega-comfy men's basics.]
Class-Act Holiday Candles
When it comes to holiday-themed candles, do you only think of scents like peppermint, vanilla, and gingerbread? Don’t get us wrong, we love the scent of snickerdoodles just as much as the next person, but sometimes you want something a little more stately for your home. Fortunately, there are plenty of understated holiday scents that will add just the right amount of jolliness to your space.
Think of more natural scents like fir trees or sophisticated spice combinations like cloves and nutmeg. D.S. & Durga makes an awesome candle that smells like a roaring fireplace packed full of cedar, birch, and pine. To match the lightly applied, alluring, and assumedly woody cologne on your long sleeve henley, you'll want mature scents that will invoke the spirit of the season without making your home smell like Santa’s Workshop.
Rolling Bar Cart With Seasonal Cocktails
Just imagine serving up the season's most stylish and sophisticated drinks from a stylish and sophisticated rolling bar cart while wearing a stylish and sophisticated polo shirt. Rolling bar carts are fantastic home accessories for anyone who does a lot of entertaining. They can also double as chic holiday decor when the time’s right. Fill your cart with seasonal liquors, mixers, and a handful of garnishes, and you’re in business.
Any functional bar cart needs a stainless steel shaker and strainer with a long-handled spoon for stirring drinks. If you tend to make a lot of intricate drinks, you’ll want an on-hand muddler as well. A small paring knife lets you whip up garnishes and cut fruit in a matter of seconds too.
It’s essential to have a variety of different liquors on hand. Gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, and cognac are crucial elements of any holiday home bar. You’ll also want to have some seasonal liquors available too. Irish creams, coffee liqueurs, and peppermint schnapps are especially popular during the holidays, and it’s a good call to stock your cart with seasonal craft beers and a few good bottles of wine or port.
Pack your bar cart with plenty of fine glasses. Martini glasses are great for standard gin or vodka martinis or other holiday-themed martinis, like the candy cane or cranberry varieties. Have some solid rocks glasses, wine goblets, champagne flutes, and pint glasses. You can also have a few shot glasses on hand just in case things get extra merry.
Potted Poinsettias
The easiest way to inject a little holiday spirit into your space is to scatter around some potted poinsettias. You can get these colorful red and green plants at virtually any store or supermarket come the holiday season. Poinsettias are very easy to take care of, though you should make sure you put them in a place with a lot of sunlight at a moderate temperature of 65 degrees or so.
Keep in mind that poinsettias can be poisonous to cats and dogs, and while these festive plants aren’t generally deadly, it’s a good idea to keep your furry friends away from them. Just set the plant on a high table or shelf and you should be fine.
Cozy Throw Blankets and Pillows
Another super simple way to get your living space holiday-ready is by investing in a few cozy wool throw blankets and pillows. Look for colors that reflect the season; deep greens and burgundies go well, although stark white with just a touch of light brown is a sophisticated seasonal combo too.
Of course, make sure that whatever you choose complements your existing color scheme and works with your personal style dynamic, which of course includes feeling cozy and festive in a red pullover hoodie, a white hooded long sleeve, or a green hooded long sleeve.
Pine Garlands and Simple Wreaths
Deck the halls with pine garlands and simple wreaths, and you’ll be holiday-ready in a nanosecond. Wrap pine garland around banisters or put it around your windows with small hooks or removable staples. You can also tie garland up with ribbons for some extra festive flair.
Wreaths are another great way to show your holiday spirit with virtually zero time commitment. Put one on your front door or interior doors for instant merry effect.
These simple holiday tips take only a matter of minutes to set up and can totally transform your space into a welcoming, seasonal oasis.
— Elizabeth Lavis
