it’s the hoidays: decorate with intention (with what you have and without clutter)
I used to believe that a festive home during the holidays meant hauling out bins of glitter, garlands, and greenery. But these days, I’ve traded the storage overload for a simpler kind of joy — one that blends creativity with practicality. Whether you’re working with a small space, a tight budget, or both, the secret is making what you already have feel new again.
From your everyday dishes to the napkins in your drawer, it’s amazing how a few thoughtful touches can turn ordinary items into holiday magic — no attic, garage, or shed full of boxes required.
✨ Start with a Plan, Not a Cart
Before you even think about shopping, start by imagining the feeling you want your space to have this season. Cozy? Classic? Winter cabin chic? Choosing a theme or color palette helps everything feel cohesive — and keeps you from buying things that don’t fit your vibe. A great example: we have beautiful blue Chesterfield chairs. So I work much of our decor around that color, even Christmas.
Once you pick a vibe, then, shop your home first.
Take a walk around your kitchen, dining area, and storage spaces. Chances are, you already own more “decor” than you realize — white dishes, glass mason jars, cutting boards, or even scarves that can double as table runners.
My Favorite Swap: I use the same white linens, plates and serving dishes all year and just change out napkin rings or ribbons. It’s a five-minute update that looks totally new.
Easter table setting - reusing plates, napkins, napkins rings and placemats with fresh forsythia from my yard
Check out the pictures below. You can see in these two images how I reuse my white plates, napkins, and gold napkin rings. I use my everyday placemats and runner which are perfect Easter colors. I cut some fresh forsythia from my yard. The only thing I purchased was this great ceramic rabbit I found at Homesense, which will do double duty in the garden this summer.
Quick Tip: Set both a budget and a bin limit. Give yourself one tote (or one shelf) for seasonal décor. When it’s full, it’s full — it keeps things both affordable and manageable to store later.
🎁 Everyday Items, Elevated
This is where the magic happens — when you reimagine what you already own.
Dishes & Napkins: Layer your regular white plates with colorful napkins or sprigs of evergreen. It’s simple, beautiful, and instantly festive.
Glassware: Fill mason jars, pitchers, or vases with fairy lights, cranberries, or pinecones for an easy centerpiece.
Cutting Boards: Use them as rustic trays for candles, mugs, or baked goods.
Blankets & Throws: Fold a cozy plaid blanket over a chair or sofa arm for a winter touch that’s functional too.
Quick Tip: Keep it neutral. By keeping your main plates, serving dishes, glasseware neutral it not only saves money, but space because you can reuse everything for all the holidays.
🏡 Small-Space Styling That Feels Big
When space is limited (or you want to limit that cluttered-feel), the key is layers, height, and flexibility.
Hang wreaths on mirrors or doors with removable hooks to free up table space.
Create compact vignettes — a tray on your coffee table or a shelf of winter greenery feels intentional and easy to store later.
Rotate décor through the season: what’s on your mantel in December can move to your dining table in January.
And if you live in an apartment or a home with little storage, focus on items that can transition beyond December. Think cozy throws, warm lighting, or metallic accents that work beautifully into the new year.
Space-Saver Hack: Snap a photo of your décor setup before packing up. Next year, you’ll recreate your look in minutes.
✂️ DIY & Reuse with Purpose
You don’t need a craft room to make DIY magic — just a bit of imagination.
Make paper or ribbon garlands that fold flat for easy storage.
Reuse old holiday cards as gift tags or wall art.
Fill a clear vase with dried oranges or cinnamon sticks for a natural (and fragrant) display.
Repurpose fabric scraps for napkin ties or tree ornaments.
Take a walk and gather pine cones and evergreen branches to decorate your home.
When you decorate with natural materials — pine branches, greenery, dried fruit — they compost or recycle at season’s end, meaning less to store and more space for next year’s memories.
Quick Tip: If you gather pinecones from outside, let them dry in a shed or garage before decorating your home with them so you don’t inadvertantly bring in bugs.
💡 Where to Splurge (Just a Little)
Decorating with a purpose or on a budget doesn’t mean never treating yourself. It means being strategic.
Spend on the pieces that make the biggest impact:
A quality wreath you can update each year with new ribbons.
A beautiful throw blanket that transitions from holidays to winter.
A few new ornaments that mix with your existing ones.
Stick to neutral, timeless pieces so you can refresh them season after season with color accents or greenery from outside.
ElevateHer Tip: Buy post-holiday clearance items that fit your color palette — next year, you’ll thank yourself! Michaels is one of my favorite places to find end of season ribbon for wreaths and the prettiest packages next year..
🌟 Cozy, Calm, and Personal
At the end of the day, holiday decorating isn’t about trends or excess — it’s about creating warmth and joy.
Turn on soft lighting, light a candle, play your favorite music, and let your space feel alive. Add your personality — a framed family photo, a handwritten note of gratitude, or that quirky ornament your kids made. These touches tell your story far better than anything store-bought.
And when the holidays wind down, you won’t dread packing up. Everything has its place, fits neatly in a tote (or two), and your home easily transitions back to everyday life.
🎁 Final Thoughts
Your home doesn’t need to be a storage locker for the holidays. It just needs to feel like you — warm, inviting, and full of intention.
When you focus on reusing, repurposing, and simplifying, the holidays become lighter — both emotionally and literally. And the best part? You already have most of what you need right at home.
