Say Goodbye to Cookie-Cutter Holiday Decor

The holidays offer the perfect excuse to turn your personal style up a notch, from your accessories game to your lipstick shade to your home decor. For instance, if you’re obsessed with ’60s architecture and have an all-pink wardrobe, you can (and should!) outfit your home with a Palm Springs-inspired gingerbread bungalow and a bubblegum-colored Christmas tree. After all, this is hardly the season for subtlety (unless, of course, that’s your thing).

Today, we’re sharing creative holiday decorating ideas, recipes and DIYs that speak to three distinct personalities and styles. Tell us, which is most you?

Natural Rustic

For the minimalist with a Kinfolk subscription

Call this style Scandinavian, rustic, or minimal — we just call it beautiful. Get the look with nature-inspired details and a neutral, monochromatic color scheme. For the tree, ditch the dated felt skirt in favor of an inverted woven basket (it conveniently hides the tree stand). Twinkle lights and porcelain ornaments complete this happy picture.

DIY Wreath Gift Toppers by Say Yes

Kraft paper and DIY mini wreaths lend a timeless, homespun feel to gift-giving. This project calls for olive and bay leaves, but feel free to substitute holly, rosemary, and other seasonal greenery. Best of all, these adorable garlands can be displayed and enjoyed long after the gifts have been opened.

DIY Holiday Votives by the Crafted Life

Add a warm glow to your holiday table with simple DIY votives; gold foil and fir sprigs create the hygge feel we’re all longing for.

Vegan Eggnog Recipe from Faring Well

Classic holiday traditions meet contemporary entertaining with this recipe for homemade (vegan) eggnog. Bonus: This nog includes no processed sugar — so feel free to have one more gingerbread cookie.

Colorful Eclectic

For the kitsch fiend with a closet full of ugly Christmas sweaters

Embrace over-the-top color and kitschy details with this eclectic take on the season — beginning with this incredible paper-cut swag created by Knot and Pop. Get the look with vintage ornaments and decorations, colorful bulb lights, ugly Christmas sweaters, and of course, an elf on the shelf.

Modern Angel Tree Topper by Skandinavious, $22+

Constructed from a single piece of wool felt, these colorful angel tree toppers add a bright, playful touch to the tree.

DIY Rudolph Ornaments from Studio DIY

The tree and the mantel are the anchors of holiday decorating, so don’t shy away from statement-making finds. We’re fans of the pink tree trend, abstract Rudolph ornaments, and vintage aluminum trees, which are illuminated with a rotating color wheel — magical!

Palm Springs Gingerbread House with A Beautiful Mess

Gingerbread architecture is an art form. Think outside the box with a Palm Springs bungalow, yurt, tree house, skyscraper, or even a log cabin.

Metallic Glam

For the magpie with elevated taste

Fresh Home

This chic approach to seasonal decor includes sparkle aplenty and elegant cocktails. Get the look with metallic accents, crystal stemware, and a (faux) fur tree skirt.

Modern Ceramic Menorah by Studio Armadillo, $127

The menorah gets a modern update in this sleek ceramic candelabra; gold candles provide a festive touch. Fun fact: Maker Studio Armadillo finds inspiration in origami, folding paper into intricate designs and translating the resulting patterns into ceramic molds.

Make a Gold Diamond Ornament with A Beautiful Mess

These DIY diamond ornaments can be customized to any color scheme of your choosing — a bevy of silver, glitter, and iridescent ornaments would make a stunning addition to a white tree.

Set of 3 Sequin and Velvet Stockings by TwentyEight12, $114

Who needs felt stockings? Raise your mantel’s glam quotient with sequins and velvet.

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