We asked some of our Frontgate family to share their favorite holiday decorating tips. From carrying on family traditions to adding small touches that have a big impact, these fresh ideas will help turn a house into a home this holiday season.
Putting Family First
“I love having a colorful tree with all my kids’ handmade ornaments, as well as mine from my childhood. Our annual family tradition has always been to purchase a new ornament that celebrates our unique interests that year. I have ornaments of the sports I played, a car representing when I got my driver’s license, an Ohio State ornament from college – and now I’m excited to continue this tradition with my kids.”
–Jamie Byers
Digital Content Manager
“I continually build upon my nostalgic holiday decor, maintaining tradition, while also adding freshness every year to keep my kids from getting bored. Some years it’s a new tree and tree skirt (if I’m replacing a tree, I always move the older one into another room), some years it’s a nutcracker for my entry, and others it’s a new ornament set that adds a new color or material to the tree; my kids love to see how it changes every year!”
–Lindsay Foster
Sr. Director – Merchandising
“When my adult children come home for the holidays, I still play ‘Santa’ and hang a stocking on their bedroom door so they have something to do in the morning when they wake up. It’s all about creating those memories and traditions that family will remember and continue for generations to come.”
–Sandra Smith-Fitzgerald
SVP – Merchandising
Decor We Adore
“Pillows are an easy way to further enhance the holiday ambience without creating too much work for yourself. Simply swap out a few of your everyday pillows with new textures (think velvet) and rich color (burgundy or emerald). Pop in one or two Christmas-specific pillows for that extra ‘wow-factor’. I LOVE the Noel Bow Pillow and Snowflake Pillows – especially since they can easily work with my everyday decor in hues of blue.”
–Kate Beebe
Marketing Manager – Retail & Trade
“We love hanging a wreath on our daughter’s bedroom door! It’s a simple evergreen wreath that we add a new ornament to every year. She loves having her own sparkling decorations and I love that one day she will have a keepsake that has been built upon throughout the years!”
–Betsy Delaposta
Stylist
“To ensure my space feels both unique and beautifully styled for the holidays I am a believer in mixing the old with the new. This could mean hanging ornaments that have been passed down generationally or collected through my travels – those that tell a story. Tying these elements together with modern decor on my tree is sure to make a wonderful statement for friends and family to enjoy.”
–Emily Lewinski
Visual Merchandising Specialist
Those Special Touches
“Candlelight is an essential component for Christmas decor – it aids in capturing the magical essence of the holiday. When entertaining for the season, I have tealights and pillar candles scattered throughout my home, from the dining table, to the bar, to the powder room. (If the party is kid-friendly, opt for battery-operated candles.) Dim overhead lights wherever you can to let the candles’ magic truly shine.
–Kate Beebe
Marketing Manager – Retail & Trade
“Every year I make my mom’s special holiday cookies for family and friends. We’re always looking for a different, unique vessel in which to serve the cookies. We always finish it off with a signature ornament that represents something significant that happened that year.”
–Richard Degnan
SVP – Brand & Customer Experience
“I love to drape fresh pine garland with some added eucalyptus on our mantel to have the main floor fragranced for the season. It also makes a perfect place to nest our Christmas houses and heirloom ornaments.”
–Catherine Anderson
Sr. Director – Ecommerce
Front Porch Festive
“I love using ornaments in unexpected places. Since I add to my collection each year, I have a lot of ornaments to use! I use them on place settings for a festive touch, and I even use them outdoors, putting them inside my lanterns.”
–Sandra Smith-Fitzgerald
SVP – Merchandising
“On my front porch I like to fill oversized glass lanterns with outdoor safe ornaments and battery-powered lights. It creates a magical and festive entry.”
–Emily Hamilton
Director of Content Strategy
“Not only do I go all out when decorating the inside of my house, I also take pride in decorating my front porch. My flowerpots are filled with fresh cut greens from my yard along with large birch sticks in the center – and of course, big red bows. I wrap red and white lights around the birch sticks for festivity at night. I also have a seasonal wreath on the front door for welcoming guests.”
–Jamie Byers
Digital Content Manager
The More (Trees) the Merrier
“Being a Christmas maximalist, every major room in my home has a tree – and they are all decorated differently. I try to keep them ever-changing by adding something new each year. Since I have so many trees in different sizes, I place many of the trees in planters, especially the trees that don’t hold the presents!”
–Sandra Smith-Fitzgerald
SVP – Merchandising
“Adding a small-scale tree with fairy lights to our daughter’s room allows her to trim the tree from Thanksgiving onward. We continually add new ornaments as we collect them from family outings all season.”
–Catherine Anderson
Sr. Director – Ecommerce
We can’t wait to see how you decorate for the holidays. Use #frontgate on Instagram to share your most festive images with us. And visit our blog to learn how to transition your holiday decor for New Year’s Eve. Happy holidays!
