Do you plan a new decorating theme for the holidays every year? I usually stick with one signature style. A few years ago I started calling our holiday look “forest and sea,” and it still describes everything I put out. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I add a few new pieces to personal favorites to keep the display feeling fresh and meaningful.
This post is in partnership with World Market.
My holiday decorating always includes twinkle lights and battery-operated candles, garlands, several trees of different sizes, and a mix of sentimental ornaments—coastal pieces alongside woodland-style decorations for a layered look.
Thanksgiving is only a week away and we’ll have family here—about fourteen people for dinner this year. With Christmas right after and a looming book deadline, I wanted to get ahead where I could.
Am I fully prepared with the menu, shopping and a spotless house from top to bottom? No. 🙂
What I did do was set the table and create a warm mood ahead of time, so I feel accomplished. Even if some tasks remain, the house will feel festive and welcoming. Priorities, right? I’m confident we’ll pull together a tasty meal and no one will leave hungry.
A full guest list was the excuse I needed to refresh our tableware. I chose simple white plates and paired them with black-and-white buffalo check cloth napkins and slate blue/green woven placemats. I like a collected look, so the textured stoneware white plates I found—four subtle pattern variations—felt perfect.
While shopping, I also picked up a few seasonal accents: ruffled light-up paper trees, wood tree-and-pinecone string lights, and snowflake votive holders. They weren’t essential for Thanksgiving but will work through winter and blend nicely with our aesthetic.
The tabletop trees are battery-operated and glow softly. If I need more space on the dining table when serving, they’re easy to move to another spot. At night they create a miniature winter wonderland right on the table.
One other find I loved was a pair of candlestick wall sconces. I’d been searching for a piece like that for a long time and they add a lot of character and warmth to the space.
Combining sentimental items with fresh finds creates the most interesting mix. Sentimental pieces tell our story and evoke memories, while new additions bring unexpected joy and a sense of discovery in the present.
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Happy Holidays!
