You can have a festive room before you’ve decorated every wall, nook and cranny. The secret is to pick one focus in the room that captures the eye. This could be a table top, an entryway swag, a mantle display, a corner window, or even a small set for a family photo. When this spot is established first, everything else can enhance the main point instead of battling for attention.
A good spot to focus on is simple to see, move around, and related to the activity. If your activity is about food and people gathering, you would choose a table. If it is about guests getting excited the minute they walk in, you might choose the entryway. A mantle is great for garlands and candles, plus it stays up high. You can’t block traffic, but you can put up decorations that people love to look at. A photo area needs to be clear and uncluttered so people can see where you are in the picture without looking squeezed in or distracted.
Look at the room from the entry. Where does your eye land? Is there a tabletop where a centerpiece can work? Is there a mantel with clear space for swags or candles? Can you see if the mantel is too tall to have a big centerpiece on it that will interfere with guests? Check to see if you have an outlet to plug into lights or if battery candles would be a better, safer choice. Are there any other decorations that people might bump into on their way in, like ribbon, drapes, glass pieces, or hooks? If you are focused and organized, your home shouldn’t feel cluttered.
Before you buy or hang decorations, ask yourself this question: If I could only have five pieces, what five would I pick for my table? The answer will help you stay on budget. You might want to start with a base, like a table runner, then pick something that will add height, like a vase or lantern, and something to add texture, like greenery or a floral pick. You can always add a couple of battery candles or even a couple of ornaments to finish it off. Once you have those five items, snap a photo of your table to see if you need more or less. It is usually easier to see in a picture if a piece needs to be added, like a vase that adds height.
If you choose one main color and style to decorate with in that room, your table will look much less cluttered. For example, if your table is red and gold, it is not necessary to add more than one or two pieces of gold or red. You can tie on a bow or add greenery, or put a few ornaments on the mantle that ties the table to the room without overwhelming everything you do.
When people start with too many decorations, they become overwhelmed and it looks chaotic because everything is equally eye catching and no longer matters. The question is not if a wreath or ornament or a floral pick or paper decoration looks pretty. The question is: Does this piece contribute to the focal point? If there are two items that do the same thing, pick the one that looks the best, fits the best, and makes the color the cleanest. You can take one or two away and you will find the centerpiece looks taller, the mantle more focused, or the photo corner much clearer.
When everything looks festive, walk through one more time to catch any wires, or clear tape on a window, or uneven garland on a mantle. Are there things that block the table or mantle or photo area? Are the centerpiece arrangements too tall, blocking the conversation? Do the candles sit too close to greenery? Look over and find one or two focal points, like a candle display or a wreath. When it looks festive from afar, as well as from up close, you will find you don’t need to decorate nearly as much.