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How to Transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas

November 23, 2018 by admin

There’s no denying that Christmas and Thanksgiving have blurred together over the years. Christmas songs start on the radio on November 1. It’s common to see Christmas trees up in homes and holiday lights ablaze right on Thanksgiving. In many homes, Thanksgiving has almost become “Christmas: Part One.” But Thanksgiving still deserves its due, so you’ll want to focus on how to transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Luckily, if you can’t wait to get a bit of a jump on Christmas, there are plenty of gorgeous ways to combine both Thanksgiving and Christmas styles. Below are some classy ways to transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas using creative styles from both seasons. The overall idea is that you have a little bit of Christmas with your Thanksgiving, and then after Thanksgiving it’s easier to move your space to all Christmas decorations.

Transition Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Patio Space

Subtle holiday wreaths and pumpkins go well together. Image: Leanne Michael

Combine wreaths with pumpkins

The first photo above shows how you can combine harvest themes with a light touch of Christmas in a patio space. You can see how the pumpkin menagerie around the door gives the home a solid harvest theme for Thanksgiving. Pumpkins work in the home right up to Thanksgiving Day. However, the wreath gives a look of impending Christmas festivities, with the evergreen, seasonal red flowers and large holiday bow.

By combining pumpkins and a festive wreath, you pay homage to the holidays as a whole. This style can either work outdoors on the patio or you can use the same concept around your home indoors.

Transition Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Word Banner

Holiday-themed word banners are an easy way to decorate for both holidays. Image: Live Love Create

Use holiday-themed words to transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas

Another way to make your home move cleanly between the two holidays is to use holiday-themed word art around the home. The red and green plant on the table in the photo above already sets an early tone for Christmas. But the larger “gratitude” banner sets the theme for Thanksgiving.

Then, when it gets to be closer to Christmas, you might want to simply switch the word banner to read something more Christmas-themed, like “Yuletide,” “Santa” or something else related to Christmas specifically.

This style is also an example of a great idea for a minimalist holiday decorating scheme. The word banner creates a strong focal point, meaning you have to place fewer holiday decorations around the space.

Transition Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Small Tree

Placing small trees out during Thanksgiving gives a hint of the Christmas days to come. Image: Janet Paik

Add small trees early

A good way to transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas is to add some small tabletop trees in the home around Thanksgiving. This gives the hint of Christmas days to come without going full hog yet and putting up the large tree. You might also put sparse ornaments on the smaller trees to start out, and then load them up with decorations the closer it gets to Christmas.

This idea focuses on moving your holiday decorating in stages. As you get closer to Christmas, your home gets more seasonal. It helps create a sense of momentum in the space, rather than putting everything out too early and risking getting sick of Christmas in November.

Transition Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Seasonal Plant

Seasonal container plants work well for both Christmas and Thanksgiving. Image: Le Jardinet

Try seasonal container plants

Another easy way to transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas is to go for container plants with seasonal plant life. For example, the photo above features red berries, pine cones and an ornament.

Red berries are a decorating accent that moves well between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cranberries tend to be staples on both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables. And red berries tend to grow in fall already, so they make a good harvest decoration. But you can keep the red berries up because the red coloring goes with other Christmas decorations.

As you move towards Christmas, you can add more seasonal items to the display. Examples include more pinecones, ornaments or seasonal table pieces around the potted plant.

Transition Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Owl in Hat

This owl has a harvest feel in his materials, but he’s easy to update for Christmas. Image: Interiors Unleashed

Use harvest characters with Christmas items

This cute idea in the photo above is a good way to combine harvest themes and early Christmas themes. The owl himself has a harvest feel about him. He’s made of a straw texture and stands on some branches, which are common materials to find in harvest decorations. Then by adding an early Christmas seasonal hat, you can essentially update him for Christmas.

You can handle an idea like this in a couple of ways. You could keep just the harvest character out through Thanksgiving and then add the holiday hat before Christmas. Or you could have the harvest character and Christmas hat out on Thanksgiving, if you want to blur the two holidays together in a more modern sense.

Transition Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Table Setting

A conical tree on a harvest table setting is a good item to hint at Christmas. Image: Expert Touch Interiors

Go for holiday colors and conceptual items

Another idea to transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas is to get more sneaky in how you introduce Christmas elements early. For instance, in the photo above you can see how the table setting has an overwhelmingly harvest theme. However, the tall tree starts hinting at Christmas trees to come. The white and red berry formations on the tree also start to introduce Christmas colorings into the home.

So even though your home still has a harvest theme for Thanksgiving, it’s can start to have more subtle themes that you’ll see later for Christmas. You could also keep subtle pieces like the tabletop tree up during the holidays, since the red and white colors match traditional Christmas color schemes.

How do you transition your home from Thanksgiving to Christmas? Let us know in the comments.

The post How to Transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas appeared first on Freshome.com.

5 Pinterest Christmas Table Decorating Trends You’ll Want To Try This Year

November 21, 2018 by admin

Pinterest is a great way to see what’s going on trend-wise. If you’re looking for something new and different to try this year for your Christmas tablescape, you’re going to love these five Pinterest Christmas table decorating trends.

1. Vertical Table Settings

Go beyond your dining table and think about the area over it. Hang items from your ceiling or chandelier to add some whimsy and wonder to your Christmas table.

Pinterest Christmas Table Decorating Ideas

Christmas snowflake and star paper ornaments are lightweight and easy to hang. Choose an odd-numbered grouping of paper ornaments in different patterns, colors and sizes and hang them at varying heights. Pinterest Pin: Style Estate

If it’s not possible to hang items from your ceiling or chandelier, try arranging balloons instead. These clear balloons are filled with fake snow and feature star ornaments on the ribbon that tethers them to the table. Pinterest Pin: Diane Pinto

In this tablescape, a large manzanita branch was placed in a weighted pot at one end of the table and lights and ornaments were hung from the branch. Pinterest Pin: Neptune

2. Christmas Bird Theme

A collection of birds, nests and feathers adds a unique and outdoors-chic look to your Christmas table setting.

This table has an Asiatic look, thanks to the cherry blossom twigs and small birds that rest on the branches. Pinterest Pin: Gracious Living

Owls are the theme of this Pinterest Christmas table setting and are featured as salt and pepper shakers, plates, place cards and ornaments. Pinterest Pin: Home Is Where The Boat Is

A subtle and elegant bird-themed Christmas tablescape includes feathers, nests and fine china featuring birds. Pinterest Pin: Home Is Where The Boat Is

3. A Pinterest Christmas Table Featuring Metallics

For a festive Christmas table, add some bling! Rhinestones, polished metals and crystals all create the sparkle and magic of the holidays. Don’t be afraid to mix metals and finishes.

Grey linens, vintage-looking mercury glass votives, a rhinestone-encrusted branch and polished chrome all simulate a snowy winter scene. Pinterest Pin: Look and Love With Lolo

Mix and match golds, champagne and silver tones for a fresh take on metallics. Don’t forget to add lights or candles for the ultimate reflective effect. Pinterest Pin: Pottery Barn

Crystal trees and the cool tones of grey and white create an elegant, frosty Christmas table look. Pinterest Pin: Hobby Lobby

4. Check and Plaid Christmas Table Settings

Plaid may be the biggest holiday table trend this year. For a modern take on plaid, choose a larger tartan print or buffalo check pattern.

This modern table setting features layers of buffalo checks and herringbone pattern. Pinterest Pin: Cuckoo 4 Design

A clever way to pull together your plaid-themed Christmas table setting is by hanging plaid blankets or scarves on your dining chairs. Pinterest Pin: Judy Aldridge

5. Alternative Christmas Table Setting Colors

Break away from traditional red and hunter green table settings. You’ll love these unusual yet perfect color alternatives for Christmas.

A bright emerald is a vivacious and contemporary way to add the color green to your Christmas tablescape. Pinterest Pin: Brit Morin

An elegant teal blue table setting can be paired with silver, greens, oranges or earth tones for a different take on the Christmas table. Pinterest Pin: Pier 1

To incorporate colors like purple or celadon, choose a holiday-inspired print like the tartan featured on the placemat. Pinterest Pin: House and Home

A black and white Christmas table is a modern way to decorate for the holidays. Add gold silverware and accents to warm up the tablescape. Pinterest Pin: Kait

What do you think of these Pinterest Christmas tablescape ideas? Which one are you most likely to try this Christmas?

The post 5 Pinterest Christmas Table Decorating Trends You’ll Want To Try This Year appeared first on Freshome.com.

Totally Chic And Affordable Tabletop And Furniture Finds For Your Holiday Dinners From Jet.com

November 19, 2018 by admin

This article is sponsored by Jet.com. The opinions and statements below are those of our writer’s experience. Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

The holiday entertaining countdown is on! Thanksgiving dinner, holiday cocktails, Christmas roasts and New Year’s Eve parties are all coming up. Are you ready to host the best (and most fabulous) dinners and cocktail parties around?

We’ve got a secret for you – Jet.com is a great source for the urban dweller who loves modern style and a good deal. And we’ve found great prices on dining room furniture, table accessories and dishes. Check these out:

Table Settings

Let’s work backward and start off with the icing on the cake: the table setting. A good table setting of interesting colors and textured layers is the perfect backdrop for any event from a multi-course Thanksgiving meal to a Chinese takeout New Year’s Eve night.

Layers of browns, coppers and golds can work for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Add pinecones or rustic twigs and berries for Thanksgiving or red accents for Christmas. All images: Jet.com

Get the look:

Other jet.com table setting ideas for the holidays:

Dining Chairs

Sometimes all you need to update your dining space is a striking dining chair. Mix and match yours or order the same style in several colors for a personalized look.

Best Jet.com Small Dining Sets

If you’re dealing with a small space, look for small-scale or multi-purpose pieces with storage or that can also work as a desk or kitchen prep table.

The LumiSource Sedona 5-Piece Industrial Counter Height Dining Set, $800, can also work as a bar, breakfast counter or kitchen prep table.

Modern And Farmhouse Style Dining Room Furniture

If you’re working with a regularly-sized dining room or eating area, you can add a table for six or more guests. For the ultimate flexibility, a bench can expand the seating area of a dining room. Jet.com has some good deals on these modern dining sets.

The Yumandale Teak Finish Acacia Wood 3-Piece Dining Set, $612, can be dressed up or down according to your table setting.

Turn your dining room or small eating space into an intimate, inviting place to gather this holiday. Start with the right dining furniture and dress it up with a fun and creative layered table setting.

The post Totally Chic And Affordable Tabletop And Furniture Finds For Your Holiday Dinners From Jet.com appeared first on Freshome.com.

5 Ways to Make Clever Holiday Wall Decorations

November 18, 2018 by admin

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When decorating your home for the holidays, key items to keep in mind are the holiday wall decorations. These work as strong focal points that set the seasonal design tone and help bring the whole room together. Alternatively, they can also work as small accents that add to the overall design scheme.

There are many different holiday wall decorations for sale. However, getting crafty and creative can help you make a memorable, personalized holiday season. Below are some crafty ideas for how to get homemade holiday wall decorations that will be sure to start some conversations this season.

Holiday Wall Decorations Using Chalkboard

Chalkboard walls are natural places to add a seasonal theme. Image: Katie Grace Designs

Using a chalkboard wall

If you have a chalkboard wall in your home, that is a ripe area for holiday wall decorations. The photo above shows some Christmas-themed drawings on a chalkboard wall. The added seasonal lights and the wreath complete the look. As the photo shows, you can add your favorite seasonal sayings, draw trees and make a Christmas countdown. You can get as creative as you want with this idea.

If you don’t have a chalkboard wall, you can achieve a similar look by hanging a large classic black chalkboard on a wall. Then add items like small wreaths and ornaments, along with Christmas-themed drawings and sayings. A traditional blackboard would be a great addition to a country, rustic or classic home style, too.

Sticks can make a stark, rustic tree design. Image: Robeson Design

Rustic texture holiday wall decorations

The neat idea in the photo above makes the most of some simple tree branches. It’s great for rustic or country Christmas styles. You can easily make a triangular frame with long, thin sticks. Then use wood glue to glue the branches into the tree shape. You could also drill small holes in the sticks and hang them together using twine.

A display like this is also a great idea for using seasonal lights and small ornaments. A present under the tree and surrounding seasonal items round out the festive look. The oversized ornaments surrounding the stick tree are a wonderfully whimsical touch.

Mirrors can reflect the themes and colors of the room’s seasonal design. Image: AMR Design

Making the most of mirrors

Another easy idea for holiday wall decorations is to angle mirrors so that they capture seasonal lights and colors. An example is the mirror in the photo above behind the Christmas tree. Because of the way it is placed, it actually captures the lights and colors from the Christmas tree itself. It’s basically a very creative cheat to make it look like the mirror is its own wall decoration, but it’s actually taking the colors from another element in the room. This is a good way to spread the seasonal colors about the room for easy design cohesion. Mirrors also really open up small spaces.

If you look closely, you can also see that the mirror has the decal word Christmas written on it. This is a good idea if guests are not facing the exact direction to reflect the tree. That way, the mirror still has a seasonal look, rather than looking out of place.

Holiday Wall Decorations Peacock Decoration

A gorgeous seasonal peacock is sure to draw the eye. Image: Robeson Design

Natural bird display

The idea in the photo above is a great option if you are designing a Christmas theme with a natural look or want an upscale seasonal home design. What makes this design so original is how the bird sits atop seasonal greenery and feathers. It makes it look like the seasonal greenery is part of the bird’s plumage. Crystal embellishments add a gorgeous sparkle.

Also, putting the bird on a shelf in front of the classy dividers gives the whole display a cohesive look that makes it one distinct element in the room. The dividers in the back frame the bird, making it a strong focal point against the wall, even if it’s not a traditional wall hanging.

This customizable option makes your space uniquely you during the holidays. Image: Louise de Miranda

Seasonal word decals

Another idea for holiday wall decorations is to find some seasonal decal words and put them on the wall. The words in the photo above give off a cultured feel. You can get black ones which would fit with the most modern of Christmas decorations, or you can go for a more traditional red or green display. It’s a great option if you want to personalize your space, but you don’t have the time to get extremely crafty.

A neat way to completely personalize this idea is a custom wall quote decal from Etsy. You can have the maker form any quote you’d like, making it a great way to create your own wall hanging without as much effort as the other ideas.

The post 5 Ways to Make Clever Holiday Wall Decorations appeared first on Freshome.com.

35 Small Wine Cellars and Wine Room Ideas You Can Recreate

November 15, 2018 by admin

If you look forward to wine o’clock every evening, why not turn a spot in your home into a stunning wine room or wine cellar? You don’t need a large wine cave or hundreds of thousands of dollars to build one. All you need is a small area like a closet, pantry or corner to create your very own small wine cellar. Here’s how to emulate the most chic wine cellars out there.

Turn a section of your cabinets into a wine cellar by adding shelving backed with a mirror to expand and lighten the space. Glass doors add a high-end feel to your new wine cellar. Image: Interior ID

The secret to a successful wine room is climate control

Wine is delicate and doesn’t do well with big temperature and humidity fluctuations. The most important facet in your collection of wine room ideas is how you’re going to keep your wine in good shape.

It’s all about keeping the temperature and humidity level in wine cellars from changing too much. The ideal temperature is 55 degrees F, give or take 3 to 5 degrees.

You have two options to maintain the optimal temperature and humidity in your wine cellar:

Invest in a good wine refrigerator, cooler or cooling system
Choose a cool, dry, dark spot for your wine cellar, away from windows or exterior walls, where the wine doesn’t experience exterior temperature changes

Once you’ve got that sorted, it’s time to create a space that’s well-organized and inviting. Some things you may want to add to your wine room include:

Wine racks, shelving or custom cabinets
A wine glass caddy
A bar table and stools or some armchairs for serving and lounging
Good lighting that serves as task lighting and ambiance
Barware like corkscrews, glass decanters and other accessories
A small wine refrigerator for champagne or fragile aged wine

Homeowners converted a closet into an elegant wine room complete with ambient lighting, custom shelving and a wine refrigerator. Image: Perry Custom Homes

Now it’s time for the inspiration. Check out these small wine room ideas that rival the most amazing wine cellars around. Cheers!

Wine room ideas for under the stairs

An inexpensive wire grid rack and some shelving can turn the unused space under a stairwell into a small, inexpensive wine cellar. To add resale value, invest in a glass door. Images: Zooi Designs

Glass doors and lighting add a design touch to your wine room. Image: Volansky Studio

Walnut veneer pegboard and stainless steel rods create a contemporary wine room under the stairs. Image: Genuwine Cellars

One of the most unique wine room ideas features the industrial-style use of wood crates fitted with an iron grid and backlit with warm golden light. Image: Beyond Beige

Turn a closet or pantry into a stunning wine cellar

A closet was converted into a wine room. Part of the drywall was replaced with glass to display the wine collection. Image: DCI Construction

Two pantries that were converted into a wine room. In the first case, the door was removed and the alcove finished with decorative tile. In the other example, a wine shelf was fitted inside the pantry. Images: Chairma Design Group and Mark Lewis Interior Design

Lighting is essential in a wine cellar closet conversion. Images: RH Carder Construction and Safdie Rabines Architects

For the ultimate tasting room, add a bar table or lounge chairs

Add a small, intimate table next to your wine racks for a cozy tasting room. Image: Elle Decor

A small bar area and bar stools create a spot to enjoy your wine. Image: Moretti Interior Design

Turn a sitting room into a wine tasting room by adding vertical wine storage and a bar to the area. Image: Vintage View

A large recycled wood bar table next to a wine cellar can be concealed with sliding panel doors creates a minimalist wine room. Image: Studio Tramas

Innovative wine shelves and glass doors enclose and display your wine cellar beautifully

Glass doors add a high-end jewelry box effect to a wine collection. Image: Chambers & Stark

A custom glass display is the centerpiece of this contemporary loft. Image: Vin de Garde Cellar Systems

A designated glass enclosure in a high-rise apartment creates a contemporary wine cellar. Image: Flaunt Interiors

If you choose to enclose your small wine cellar in glass, be sure that the interior is artfully organized and well-lit. Image: IWA Wine

An artisanal wine rack system is accentuated by the custom glass enclosure. Image: Harwick Homes

Glass doors keep the wine collection cooler by insulating against temperature fluctuations. Image: Vintage Cellars

Custom kitchen cabinets make great wine cellars

Create a small but practical wine room with kitchen cabinets, a sleek countertop and a small wine cooler. Image: Dooley Custom Homes

Turn a small section of your kitchen into a custom wine room – just like this homeowner did – with some wall-mounted wine racks. Image: MIDMODERN Design

When you put your wine room together, take a cue from this small one on how to display your wine objects. Image: Collins Dupont

Lower kitchen cabinets paired with upper wine shelving provide plenty of wine storage, even in the smallest spaces. Images: Connecticut Stone and Sunflower Studio

Choose contemporary shelves or unusual wine racks that make a statement

Backlit floating ledges are the perfect wine storage system since wine bottles need to rest on their sides to keep the corks moist. Image: Made Studio

Wall-mounted wine racks make use of the vertical wall space that often goes unused. Image: SES Design Group

A wall-mounted rack against a cool, stone wall is all you need to create a simple wine cellar. Image: Atwood Custom Home

Mount floor-to-ceiling vertical wine holders on a hallway or basement wall to create an instant wine room. Image: Creative Design Construction

A store-bought wine shelf is given a custom look with red LED backlighting. Image: Brayer Design

Work a wine cellar into your kitchen

The latest design trend for wine cellars (and even refrigerators) is glass doors and glass enclosures. Image: Cell Art

This wine cellar has a state-of-the-art wine cooling system. But you can recreate the look at home, minus the cooling system, for a chic wine room. Image: Vintage Cellars

Designers added a commercial wine cooler into this contemporary kitchen. Image: Flynn Architect

With fall and the holidays coming up, it’s the perfect time to create a small wine room of your own. A well-planned one is the perfect place to gather with friends and collect your favorite wines for years of enjoyment.

Want to see more stunning wine cellars and tasting rooms? Check out these 20 Luxury Residential Wine Cellars And Tasting Rooms.

The post 35 Small Wine Cellars and Wine Room Ideas You Can Recreate appeared first on Freshome.com.

4 Ways to Get Holiday Home Cleaning Off Your To-Do List

November 15, 2018 by admin

Few people actually like cleaning their home. But once you start, you get into a type of rhythm. And as your home becomes more and more presentable, that feeling of accomplishment grows until you’re looking at a pleasant, spotless home. The trick is having the motivation to get started with your holiday home cleaning.

Having people over for the holidays is a pretty solid motivator. And by coming to your holiday home cleaning with a plan, you’re more likely to actually get started and stick to that plan. So below are some tips for getting your home clean for that next get-together or holiday event.

Make sure your carpets are stain-free by planning any professional cleaning they might need. Image: ProCarpet

Plan for Any Large Overhauls

Your first step for holiday home cleaning is to take stock of everything that needs to be done. There are the obvious cleaning duties like vacuuming/sweeping, dusting, cleaning up the clutter and possibly putting out holiday decorations.

However, you may want to take a survey of your home to see if there are any major parts that need updating. For instance, that stain on the carpeting could require scheduling a professional cleaner. The curtains could start looking faded and require replacing. Do you need a bigger table for all the guests you have coming over? By looking at these large chores ahead of time, you can have time to plan for appointments and bigger purchases.

Get rid of clutter fast with a systematic approach. Image: Habitat by Resene

How to Declutter Fast

For the next step in your holiday home cleaning, you’ll want to declutter. Cleaning out all the accumulated junk will make it easy to actually see the counter in order to clean it. So here are some tips for decluttering fast:

Your first step is to identify what is quite obviously garbage and throw it away: flyers for events from months ago, bottles, old newsletters, expired medicines in the cabinets, etc.
Next, take a look at what ended up in the wrong room and put it in its right room (for instance, that remote for a TV in the bedroom that’s in the kitchen for some inexplicable reason or books that should go back near a bookshelf). You don’t have to organize everything perfectly in this stage. Things should just be in the right part of the home.
Now organize the things you want to keep into neat piles that you can then file away. For instance, that pile of bank statements, the DVDs you left out or those books that should go back to the shelf.

Decluttering just looks intimidating because of how fast things can pile up. Once you have a system in place, decluttering isn’t that hard.

Don’t forget to clean often-forgotten places like under the counters. Image: Divine Design + Build

Tips for Holiday Home Cleaning

After you’ve got everything put away or thrown out, next comes that part where you actually have to get everything clean. Here are a few handy cleaning tips:

When dusting, don’t forget hard-to-reach places. You’d be surprised what your guests notice. Get an extendable duster for cobwebs in the high corners, dust the molding and around the vents, clean the top of the ceiling fans so no one has a dust shower when they go to turn on the fan, dust the top of picture frames, etc. Be thorough.
Remember to sweep or vacuum behind doors, under the sofa and other unseen places. Accumulated gunk in these places can be unsightly in the off-chance that someone spots it and cleaning these areas can reduce odors.
Don’t forget to give surfaces a once-over with anti-bacterial wipes. The holidays can be a time for colds and the flu, so keep everyone healthy with proper sanitation.
Wipe windows and mirrors with a window cleaner for a spotless presentation.
Don’t forget to clean the often-forgotten places like inside the microwave, inside the toaster (crumbs can create a fire hazard) and inside garbage cans.

After holiday home cleaning, you’ll feel like you’re in a new home.

For easy holiday decorating, use the tree as a focal point combined with subtle accents like lights around the mantel. Image: Chris Snook

Easy Ways to Decorate for the Season

Now that your home is clean and decluttered, you can get down to the fun part: decorating for the season. There are many ideas for getting a fun, festive home. If you want something on the low-fuss end after all that extensive cleaning, there are a few tips for getting a festive home the easy way:

Decorate around large focal point decorations, like the tree or large seasonal wall hangings. You can place these in the home and use only a few smaller items as accents.
Make use of holiday-themed throw pillows or blankets. They add festive cheer with minimal effort.
Use seasonal dishes and table runners. These are also easy to place and set the seasonal tone around the dinner table.
Take a look at these minimalist Christmas decorating ideas.

As you can see, a festive vibe is possible with just a few simple room additions.

The post 4 Ways to Get Holiday Home Cleaning Off Your To-Do List appeared first on Freshome.com.

How to Keep Pets Away from Holiday Decor & Other Hazards

November 14, 2018 by admin

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The holidays are a time to gather with your family members, and that includes those with fur and four legs. This is a sweet season to enjoy with everyone you love – including your pets. But it’s also a particularly risky time of year for our animal friends. To ensure that everyone has a holly, jolly, vet-visit free season, it’s important to keep pets away from holiday decor and other seasonal safety risks.

This isn’t rocket science, but it does require a little forethought. Thinking through the potential hazards for your pet now, before the season really picks up, can make it easy to avoid disasters and expensive vet bills (the last thing you need after gift shopping). Here are a few tips and trick to keep pets away from holiday decor and keep your season merry and bright.

Putting your tree in a basket with weights in the bottom can help keep pets away from holiday decor and prevent a spillover this season. Image: 30s Magazine

Support your tree

You’ve probably seen plenty of cute pics of cats and dogs poking out from between the branches of a toppled tree. While that’s good for a giggle online, it’s definitely not a scenario to which you want to come home. Avoid this by giving your tree some extra support. Putting it in a weighted pot or elevating it on a pedestal can help it stay upright. For extra safety, move your most fragile ornaments to the highest branches.

Also, avoid edible tree decorations. While they might look cute, they can attract your pet to the tree. And don’t add anything to your tree water to preserve it because your pets could lap it up. A tree skirt can help deter a particularly curious pet from drinking the tree’s water.

If you’ve got a cat who loves to climb, you can also consider an alternative to the traditional evergreen tree. We’ve rounded up some unconventional Christmas trees for you.

Tuck away their presents

If you wrapped up a bone for Fido or some catnip for Fiona, don’t put it under the tree with the rest of the presents. Your furry friend can smell those tasty treats inside, and the temptation might become too much to bear. And once your pet has unwrapped one present, it’s harder to protect the rest. Instead, keep pets’ gifts in a secure, inaccessible location until it’s time for them to be opened.

Battery-operated lights or ones that come built into the tree minimize cord-related risks. Image: Dirt, Stains and Paint

Tie up cords

Stringing up holiday lights can be a lot of fun. Worrying about the electrical safety of those cords is decidedly less so. However, it’s also key, especially if you’ve got a pet who loves to chew. You’ve got a few options. You can mount the cords higher up the wall and out of your pets’ way. You can cover them with a heavy-duty cover. Or you can swap out your plug-in lights for battery operated ones. It’s easy to tuck the battery packs away from pets by stuffing them into tree branches, stockings or other protected areas.

Mind your holiday plants

A lot of the holiday classics are potentially harmful to pets, including poinsettias, holly and mistletoe. Before you bring something living into your home for the holiday season, do a quick Google search to check if it’s safe for your pets. You might be surprised by the results – but you’ll be glad you learned the potential risks now, rather than via a trip to the vet. It’s easier to skip these toxic items altogether than to have to worry about ways to keep pets away from holiday decor all season long.

Flameless candles can prevent a Christmastime catastrophe. Image: Falken Reynolds Interiors

Go flameless

Candles are a holiday tradition – and hazard. An open flame is pretty risky if you’ve got pets roaming around, especially when you have guests over, overstimulating your furry friends and distracting you from their activity. Avoid this potential catastrophe by swapping out real candles for battery-operated ones. The newest options look shockingly like real flames and can even be scented. Changing out your candles gives you one less thing to worry about during the hectic holiday season.

Create a drop-off zone

While you’re cognizant of the hazards the holidays pose to your pets, your guests might not be. And during the holiday season, it’s not uncommon to have chocolate in a coat pocket or purse, or tempting tinsel topping a gift. When you’re hosting, designate a room where everyone can put their jackets, bags and gifts. Add a sign to the door (you can decorate it with holiday flair!) that reminds everyone to keep the door shut. That way, you protect your four-legged family members from risks you can’t control.

Move your trash out of the kitchen to an area your pet can’t access if he or she likes to hunt for food scraps. Image: Bell Cabinetry & Design

Secure your trash

With all the holiday baking and cooking you’ve got ahead of you, your trash is probably going to fill up with some pretty tempting scraps. If you have a pet who loves to paw through the trash, this is a time of year worth taking extra precautions to avoid that. Bones are especially interesting to pets, but when chewed, can break up and pose a serious threat during digestion. Move your trash to an inaccessible area, put something heavy on top of it or invest in a trash can with a secure lid to protect your pets.

What do you do to keep pets away from holiday decor and other seasonal risks? We’d love to learn your tips and tricks so we can all protect our furry family members this season!

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Here Are The Latest Non-Chocolate 2018 Advent Calendars For Home Decorating And Gifting

November 13, 2018 by admin

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Advent calendars are a traditional European way for parents to help children keep track of how many days are left before Christmas. They often hide a small daily chocolate treat behind a door or drawer. But adults can get in on the fun, too! More and more of the stores and brands we love are creating their own unique, non-chocolate versions of 2018 Advent calendars.

Treat yourself (or someone special) in the 24 days before Christmas with a 2018 Advent calendar. Some have become cult favorites that sell out the day they’re released. Some are quite the splurge. Here are the best 2018 Advent calendars for home:

Decor-Related 2018 Advent Calendars

This whimsical, Nordic Advent calendar from Cost Plus World Market, $20, reveals a small woodland ornament each day for a Christmas wonderland theme.

The Avian Holiday Pop-Up Advent Calendar at The Met Store, $20, is based on the 1953 watercolor “Avian Holiday” by Adolf Dehn. Every day reveals a new bird to hang on the included tree.

Chocolate-Alternative Gourmet Advent Calendars

The DAVIDsTEA 24 Days of Tea 2018 Advent Calendar, $49, features holiday brews like Gingerbread, Candy Cane Crush and Caramel Shortbread.

Amitea Organics at Etsy features an Advent Tea Calendar, $47, with daily organic teas in eco-friendly packaging, complete with wooden clothesline pins for hanging on your garland.

French tea company Palais Des Thes created a Countdown to Christmas 2018 Advent calendar, available at Nordstrom for $30. Each door reveals a tea bag so you can sample a new tea every day until Christmas.

12 Nights of Wine from Vinebox, $129, features wines from around the world. The unique gift idea sold out in less than a month last year.

Create-Your-Own Countdown

If you’d rather skip the chocolates and daily indulgences, this vintage-inspired Hallmark Days ‘Til Christmas wooden block set, $25, counts down as many as 99 days until Christmas.

Pottery Barn’s Glitter Houses decorative Advent calendar, $129, lights up and reveals something special behind each daily door.

Add your own gifts and treats in each tin bucket of this large Advent Calendar Ladder at Wayfair, $145.

The Embellished Advent Calendar Pillow by Kirklands, $35, comes with a small gingerbread man that can be placed in each numbered pocket to mark how many days ’til Christmas.

Here’s an updated Nordic version of the traditional Advent calendar at Nordstrom, $70, featuring drawers where small goodies can be placed. The village scene above lights up.

2018 Advent Calendars For Indulging and Gifting

The Body Shop’s 24 Days of the Enchanted Advent Calendar, $70, has favorites from their body, skincare, makeup, hair care and accessories collections.

Lush’s Advent calendars have become a cult favorite for bath lovers. This year, they’ve designed their Wonderful Christmas Time gift box, $199, to feature a treat per day and include their best-selling bath bombs, soaps and shower products.

The Discovery Advent Calendar by Atelier Cologne at Sephora, $59, is a great gift for a man or woman. The pure perfumes and nourishing bath and body treatments feature exotic spice and citrus scents that can be worn or used by anyone.

What a great way to dress up your small home office. Kikki.K Lovers Advent Calendar, $130, hides notepads, pens, affirmation cards, a key ring and pin, gift tags, page markers and much more behind each navy and gold door.

The Ultimate Holiday Candle Advent Calendars

For candle fanatics, Diptyque Paris is the ultimate candle. Their 2018 Advent Calendar is $425 and still manages to be nearly impossible to find by Thanksgiving. It’s loaded with candles, fragrance and body care products in a gorgeous gold box.

Jo Malone’s exclusive perfume and candle scents can now be sampled in this high-end 2018 Advent Calendar, $450.

The post Here Are The Latest Non-Chocolate 2018 Advent Calendars For Home Decorating And Gifting appeared first on Freshome.com.

8 Holiday Decorating Secrets You Need This Year

November 13, 2018 by admin

Holiday decorating with colorful greenery adds curb appeal. Image: FrontGate

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Every year we tell ourselves that this will be the year we throw ourselves into holiday decorating by creating a Pinterest-worthy home for the holidays. It can happen this year, with a plan and these easy tips for seasonal decorating.

Your idea of decorating for the season could be an every-room-decorated extravaganza or simply adding a few holiday accessories. Whether you go big or keep it simple, you can make decorating easier with a little bit of planning and organization. Here’s how:

1. Find Your Inspiration

Setting the perfect holiday table starts with inspiration. Image: West Elm

You can start your seasonal decorating any time during the year by scouting out decorating inspiration. Every beautifully-decorated home starts with a vision or idea. Something you see in a catalog or on Pinterest can be the inspiration for your decorating plan.

If you aren’t using Pinterest yet, you might want to create an account to save your inspiration online. If you’re an experienced “pinner,” then you’ll want to create a holiday board for saving images in one spot. Once you look at what you’ve saved, you can see a pattern in the colors or the styles that you like.

If you prefer a more hands-on style of gathering inspiration, clipping images from catalogs and magazines works just as well as saving images on the internet. Combining the two styles of collecting ideas could be the perfect choice for you. Whatever your style of gathering inspiration, you’ll use the images the same way — as a visual kickstart to create a seasonal decorating plan. But first, it’s time to gather your team and create a simple budget.

2. Enlist Help and Ideas

Holiday decorating can be a team effort. Image: Grandin Road

We love everything about planning and finding inspiration for seasonal decorating, but not all of the work that goes into making it a reality. Once you have a vision in mind, enlist the help of friends and family to bring it to life. Working on decorating as a team not only lightens the workload for you, but can also give those close to you a feeling of ownership and connection to the results.

3. Set Your Decorating Budget

Beautiful seasonal decor becomes a stunning table setting. Image: Pottery Barn

Yes, even simple seasonal decorating is made easier with a budget. Knowing what you plan to spend on new decorations and accessories gives you a framework for what’s possible for each area of your home. A simple budget is also helpful when you’re shopping so you won’t be susceptible to too many impulse purchases.

Your budget doesn’t have to be complicated. You can simply have a total spending limit written out for each room. With a per-room budget in mind, you can deduct money from one room if you want to go a little overboard in another.

4. Create a Plan for Your Seasonal Decorating

Plan for beautiful holiday entertaining with a stylish buffet. Image: FrontGate

We promise that seasonal decorating will still be fun and creative, even if you take time to make a plan first. Your holiday decorating plan might be as simple as deciding where you’d like to add seasonal accessories or following a mood board you’ve created for each room. To get the most out of planning your seasonal decor, your plan should include your ideas for each space in your home. Your living room plan will be more elaborate than a guest bedroom, but you’ll want to have a list of what you’ll need for each room — this makes shopping a breeze.

5. Choose a Color Palette

Celebrate with beautiful holiday colors. Image: Pottery Barn

Every holiday season has its traditional colors, so it’s easy to find decor if you stay with that palette. If you’re feeling more creative with your color scheme, you can add unexpected accents to the traditional colors. Metallics are a glamorous and simple way to elevate your holiday color scheme. Look for metallics in unexpected colors like copper, blue and pink for an on-trend decorating palette.

6. Repurpose and Shop for a Fresh Look

Decorate your home with a mix of old and new. Image: Pottery Barn

Before you shop for new decorations and accessories this year, you’ll want to go through your stash from previous years to see what you can reuse or repurpose. Once you know what you already own and have a plan in your hands, shopping is more fun and more focused. A popular way to create a fresh look without buying new decor every year is by having two or three sets of accessories to rotate throughout the year.

Your accessory rotation could include throw pillows, blanket throws, guest towels and candles in seasonal colors. When decor is rotated in and out a few times a year, it won’t become stale. Purchasing a few new items to supplement your seasonal accessories gives your home that put-together look for each season or holiday.

7. Plan to Decorate Inside and Out

Create a magical entertaining space for the holiday season. Image: Overstock

The outside of your home can also shine during the holiday season. Your seasonal color palette can be used outdoors through planters, flowering plants and a door wreath. Your goal for decorating outside is to create a seamless visual transition as guests walk into your home. Patios, porches and other outdoor spaces can be decorated as an extra entertaining area for holiday gatherings.

8. Create Holiday Decorating Magic

Blend your existing interior decor with your seasonal decorations for a comfortable style. Image: Pottery Barn

All of your hard work gathering inspiration, creating a plan and shopping comes together when you implement your seasonal design. We aren’t striving for the perfection of a professionally-designed department store window, but the happiness of being surrounded by decor and colors that are beautiful and meaningful to you.

The post 8 Holiday Decorating Secrets You Need This Year appeared first on Freshome.com.

Freshome’s Tips on How to Entertain at Home

November 10, 2018 by admin

You’ve got the cake and champagne. But what else do you need to entertain at home? Image: Danenberg Design

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Whether you’ve lived in your house for years or are just moving into your first apartment, planning to entertain at home can be a big undertaking. You want your house or apartment to look its best and your guests to feel comfortable. You can cook and clean and still be left feeling like your space isn’t ready. But don’t panic! We’ve got you covered.

Our Freshome team has a very wide range of experience when it comes to entertaining at home. We all love home design and enjoy freshening up our spaces for guests, but we also know that breaking our backs to get ready for a party just isn’t worth it. So without further ado, here are our absolute essentials for when we entertain at home.

The right pans, knives and lighting set your kitchen – and you – up for success. Image: Twelve Chairs

In the kitchen

Although guests won’t spend much time in the kitchen, most parties start there. Setting yourself up to cook without any issues makes hosting much easier. Here are a few kitchen items that our Freshome team leans on when we get ready to entertain at home.

Good knives

Any chef worth their salt will tell you that their #1 must-have item is good knives. And we agree. When you entertain at home, the last thing you want is to end up with a tomato mush or behind-schedule bake because your knives weren’t up to the task. If you’re ready to upgrade your current set, this 3-piece one from Williams Sonoma is a favorite of ours.

Good pans

Whether you’re roasting something in the oven all day or just frying up a quick appetizer, the right pans make all the difference. A good pan distributes heat evenly and helps your cooking along. The wrong pan can ruin a dish – and make cleanup a total headache. At Freshome, we agree that every kitchen needs a non-stick frying pan and a cast iron skillet. If you’re hunting for some for your own kitchen, Williams Sonoma has a Calpahlon Elite Nonstick Essential Pan that cooks like a dream and makes cleanup a breeze.

Good lighting

When designing your home, you probably think carefully about the type of lighting you’re going to install in the main rooms where you’ll entertain. But don’t skip your kitchen just because it might have less foot traffic during parties. Ample, comfortable lighting makes spending time in the kitchen prepping for a major luncheon or dinner party much less tiring.

Make sure you have ample – and visually interesting – seating. Image: Allen Construction

In the living room

Unless you’re hosting a dinner party and plan to gather everyone around the dining table, the living room will probably be at the heart of your event. What makes the ideal living room for entertaining? At Freshome, we love all the design details like a gorgeous rug and an interesting coffee table, but we all agree that nothing is more important than seating. Here are a few key pieces of furniture we recommend.

A giant couch

What’s the one thing a living room absolutely has to have? A couch! And if you host people regularly, the bigger, the better. Sectionals are a favorite among our team. You can’t beat that versatility! Plus, they add structure to your space, helping you define it so your guests can understand the flow of the room at a glance. When measuring for a couch, remember that length isn’t the only thing that matters. Don’t forget depth for the comfort it adds. A deep couch, like the Lounge II from Crate & Barrel, invites everyone to kick back and relax.

An inviting chair

Not everyone wants to be squished together on the couch. Providing alternate seating helps all of your guests feel comfortable – and can make your space more welcoming. This oversized Newton Grand Armchair is a great example. It gives guests the chance to establish their own space and, when you’re not entertaining, is an ideal place to cozy up. Or, if you’re pressed for space but need additional seating, something more compact that still packs a style punch, like this Fabrizzi Mid-Century Modern Chair from Target, is a great option.

An accent loveseat or sofa

Are you sensing a trend? When you want to entertain at home, prepping your living room comes down to creating enough seating to host everyone comfortably. But don’t forget the design, either. That’s what makes accent furniture a slam dunk. It adds a pop to your room and creates a place for guests to plop down. We love velvet sofas and chairs, especially in rich jewel tones. You can grab a gorgeous one from West Elm; their Drake Sofa can be made-to-order in forest green velvet.

Creating a comfortable space makes it so much easier to welcome guests. Image: Rikki Snyder

In general

While prepping your kitchen and living room gets you off on the right foot, you certainly shouldn’t stop there when you plan to entertain. Here are a few more of our Freshome recommendations.

A comfortable space

This might seem broad, but it’s really key. In the throes of designing an entire home, it’s easy to get carried away with the way everything looks and forget about what it will be like to actually live in it. Creating comfy spaces isn’t just a plus for you and your family, either. It helps your guests relax when you have them over. A soft sofa, a cozy throw and inviting colors all help to create a room where you’ll want to entertain at home.

Plants and flowers

Plants are are a great addition to any room. Not only do they add texture and vibrancy to the room, they also clean the air. If you want to add some extra wow when getting ready to entertain at home, turn to potted plants and/or fresh flowers. Anywhere you feel needs an extra pop – whether that’s the center of your dining table or a small corner of the bathroom – plants can deliver.

How do you entertain at home?

All of us are still learning. We refine our party prep after every event we throw, so we’d love to hear about your entertaining essentials. What items do you stock to get yourself and your home or apartment ready for guests? Let us know in the comments!

The post Freshome’s Tips on How to Entertain at Home appeared first on Freshome.com.