Christmas 2020 is around the corner. Many are decorating earlier this year due of COVID-19, in hopes of bringing some much needed joy to their homes. We've curated holiday inspiration below from Sherwin Williams ColorSnap 8 Color ID Palettes. These decorating ideas are sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Let's get into the festive mindset and find your holiday style, shall we?

Naturalist

No doubt 2020 has raised our awareness of the the beauty the outdoors brings to our lives. We have been forced outdoors more for our sanity, but hopefully you have gained a heightened appreciation for all things in nature. The organic elements found in nature are pleasing to the eye and can easily be included in your design plan. This holiday, you may want to consider rustic ornaments and bring the outdoors in through your greenery.

Naturalist style isn’t your ordinary red and green for Christmas. It brings in a multitude of colors directly pulled from the natural world. It’s all about bringing the outdoors in, and would be best expressed with real pine boughs, magnolia leaves and pine cones for added texture.

Creative

Being creative means you see the positive possibilities that many simply can’t envision. With the challenges of COVID-19, many have had to be creative with not only solutions to social/work problems, but also with spaces around your home. Being creative brings the artist out in you and allows you to bring together unique things in a cohesive manner.

Creative design means thinking outside of the box. We love using ordinary items and turning them into art. This example shows you how to decorate your tree using items from a grocery store! It’s not only creative but it’s beautiful with all its colors. The colors are a bit bolder than the previous mentioned Naturalist and add a bit of pop to the design.

Minimalist

COVID-19 has caused many of us to look around our homes and clean out the things we don't need and become a bit more organized. Minimizing the “stuff” in your home has brought a sense of peace to many during quarantine. Beautiful design doesn't have to be excessive and neither does holiday decor. Simple touches of Christmas cheer are enough to speak volumes in decorating for the holidays.

The soft neutral tones of the colors allow the minimalist to feel peaceful. This example of holiday decor still has that cozy feel but with less. The mantle only uses pillar candles and greenery. The stockings give that gentle nod to Christmas without creating a lot of clutter.

Trendsetter

Quarantine life has caused a lot more interaction with social media and television. Design trends are all over Instagram and HGTV. Many of you are trendsetters in your own way and influence your friends around you. Were you the one that bought that cute mask and then coerced all your friends into buying the same one? If so, you are a trendsetter by nature and you probably want holiday decor that is on trend for the year. (I'm looking at you flocked tree!) This design style is what drives the industry.

This tree is full of bright pops of color instead of traditional red and green. The holiday colors and design of this style certainly aim to impress. This particular tree is fun, energetic and makes everyone want an ombre Christmas tree (am I right?).

Dreamer

COVID-19 and quarantine has allowed people time to pause and breathe, with many realizing their dreams, and planning a way to achieve them. Dreamers have a positive outlook on life and even a pandemic can't diminish that attribute. Holiday decor for this style remains calm, and its colors embrace cooler blues and neutrals for a multi-layered look.

The decorations on this tree by CintrineLiving really bring out the twinkle lights of the tree. The flowing pale gold ribbon with touches of light blues, greens and aqua create a sophisticated, soft elegance to this style. This tree makes me dream of dancing sugar plums.

Free Spirit

This year has caused many to have to take a detour in life that they simply weren't expecting. The free spirited person takes those detours and makes them exciting possibilities. They see the positive outcomes and run with it. They take lemons and make lemonade! So of course their holiday style will reflect their excitement.

The holiday decorations on this tree exemplify the nature of a free spirited design. The use of golden sun palms in the decorations takes quite the detour from the traditional poinsettia. Yet it works with this style and with this tree!

Enthusiast

Many of you during quarantine found that it was a great opportunity and time to try all the things you've wanted to do but never had the time to do them. You learned how to knit, train your dog, sew facial masks, cook French food, and a myriad of other tasks. You have kept yourself busy trying to keep your mind off all things pandemic.

Holiday design for the enthusiast uses earth tone colors to represent hard work. This beautiful collage of bottle brush trees from our friends at Foundry Interiors displays those colors while being simplistic in design. The multiple trees could represent the multiple new things you as an enthusiast have tried this year.

Nurturer

More than anything right now I think we can all relate to being a nurturer during this time of COVID-19. We have all had to cope with the disappointments life has thrown at us and our family this year. We've also spent A LOT more time at home this year and thus we want to make our house feel like home. And that is the definition of a true nurturer. This holiday style will be neutral and cozy.

The colors and texture of the holiday decor in this example create that cozy environment that a nurturer wants to provide in his/her home. A soft color palette with added darker neutrals provides the warmth of the holiday season. This look will make you want to curl up on the sofa and watch Hallmark Christmas movies.

Design in decorating truly represents one’s personality. This holiday season embrace YOUR design style. Allow your personality to come out in your holiday interpretations. If you’re not sure which style best fits you, Sherwin Williams even has a short quiz you can take to discover what your style really IS.

If the thought of decorating or choosing paint color overwhelms you, go online and book a redesign or color consultation service with us . We would love to help you shine a spotlight on your home and bring your personality into your space!

Selling your Northern Virginia home during the holidays is not ideal but sometimes can't be avoided. The decision to decorate for the holidays when selling a house is always difficult. Should you put a tree up? Should you put outside lights on the house? Should you just skip Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah all together? It can be more stress on top of what is already a stressful time of the year for most.

The good thing about selling your home during the holidays is that most buyers are serious. Those that are house shopping NEED to purchase, which is good. Historically, there are fewer homes on the market as well, which also works in your favor. However, the need for proper presentation is still key, no matter what time of year you are listing.

Just as personal belongings tend to distract buyers, your seasonal decorating can serve to be a distraction, however you don't have to ditch ALL your holiday decorating traditions. Here are 10 tips on how to navigate staging your home to sell during the holidays.

#1: Clean and declutter.

This is your first step to selling your home any time of the year. Decluttering your home before bringing out any holiday decorations is a must, or you risk your seasonal decor simply adding to the clutter that already exists.

#2: WAIT to decorate until AFTER your professional photos have been taken.

Your photos are the first thing a buyer sees and you don’t want them to see a Christmas tree in your photos in February if your house didn’t sell quickly.

#3: KISS – Keep it simple silly!

Whatever you use to decorate – keep everything simple. Display a few classic pieces instead of every heirloom family favorite. Your tree should be simple and able to fit the space. Larger trees for large rooms and slim trees for smaller spaces. If you use a real tree – make sure to daily pick up fallen needles.

#4: Use seasonal greenery.

Deck the halls with fresh garland and use a fresh evergreen wreath to adorn your front door. Greenery is traditional and simple and adds a great smell to the home.

#5: Don’t display your Christmas cards

We all love those cards we receive from family and friends. However, this can be like personal photos and create a distraction as well as provide visual disruption, no matter how you decide to display.

#6: Wrap up a few empty boxes under the tree.

This creates a finished look without causing stressing about someone stealing your actual gifts. Place your gifts under the tree when your family celebrates.

#7: Put away religious symbols.

No nativity scenes, menorahs, nutcrackers, etc. The goal is to allow anyone to envision themselves living in YOUR home, regardless of their personal beliefs. Best to keep those packed away for next year in your new house.

#8: Use white lights.

White lights are simple and elegant and do not distract or make a room crazy. If you have to string extension cords all over the house to use lights, then just avoid them altogether. You don’t want to allude to the fact there is not sufficient outlets in the home.

#9: Use simple ornaments.

Back to the "keep it simple" in tip #3. Instead of trimming your tree with your family's homemade ornaments, use simple, streamlined ornaments in the same color. This will make your tree less of a distraction and more of a part of the home for the holidays.

#10: Curb appeal

Use lights on the exterior of the home only to highlight a feature such as a great tree in the front yard or the architecture of the house. If everyone in the neighborhood lights up their house, don’t be the neighborhood grinch and shy away from the flair of the neighborhood. But in the same sense, don’t be the Griswolds of the neighborhood – remember to keep it simple and stay away from excessive lights and inflatable yard décor. AND one last thing - always make sure to clear away any snow or ice from the driveway and or sidewalks to make your house presentable and accessible.

You don’t have to skip the holidays just because your house is on the market. Following our home staging tips can help you enjoy the holidays while minimizing the stress. And who knows, you may just wake up Christmas morning with an offer!

Need additional help deciding how to prepare your Northern Virginia home for sale? We offer both interior redesign consultations for those staying in their home, and staging consultations to help get your home show ready.

Book an appointment today online!

8 Design Styles with AmazIng Holiday Inspiration