Laura Ellis
From a festive table spread to window displays and more, interior designers share their best tips for decorating sans an evergreen. For example, instead of putting up your pine, look to your walls, ceilings, door, and window frames for places to add holiday cheer. "My family lived overseas in rural Africa for three years and we were forced to get creative about holiday décor, since there were no Christmas trees available," she says. "I used stockings as the main focal point by hanging one for each member of the family on the wall above our fireplace with some red ribbons." Decorating your windows is a beautiful alternative to having a Christmas tree in your home, says Kate Taylor, an interior designer based in Chicago, Ill. "Adorning your windows with bows, wreaths, twinkle lights, and even strings of ornaments can make your space feel festive, but not crowded," she says. Additionally, Haley Weidenbaum, a designer and founder of Everhem, suggests integrating some holiday foliage into your window scene.
If you have a fireplace at home, use it as a focal point for your holiday décor, recommends Becky Shea, an interior designer and lifestyle entrepreneur in New York City. If you don't have any organic items available, Breegan Jane, a Los Angeles-based designer, suggests grouping candles in warm, neutral colorways to add a bit of oomph to the scene.
"DIY a spirited centerpiece by filling a bowl with sparkly ornaments or fresh seasonal fruit like pomegranates, oranges, and pears," says Ramirez.
Alternatively, you can also arrange branches or ornaments in a glass vase with firefly lights for a twinkling tablescape display, suggests Cagney Krzywosinski of Hyphen & Co.
When you can't fill your home with the scent of a real Christmas tree, consider recreating the fragrance with candles, instead, notes Lily Lanahan, designer and founder of Elizabeth Lake. "For most urban dwellers, there simply isn't enough space to add a Christmas tree into the mix," says Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors.
