It’s time to devour that last piece of candy corn, clear the sad, droopy pumpkins from the stoop and replace all the scary with something a bit more cheerful. The holidays are officially here!
While most of the 2020 holiday season was spent at home with close family and friends trying to think of something creative to fill the festive void, this year we’re inching our way closer to normalcy. For many, that means hosting dinner parties and gift swaps. Here are our tips for preparing your home for the holidays:
Decorations:
The holidays are a time of joy, merriment, giving, and love. However, there’s always that one controversial topic we can’t avoid: colorful lights or white lights. Whichever camp you’re in, we say, “go for it!” Embrace your style and max it out.
- BOLD: If you’re in the color camp, opt for something bright and out of the box, like gold-leaf ornaments on a tinsel tree, brightly colored ribbons and bows, pink garland, flecked glitter wreaths, and bold holiday cards.
- Classic: If you’re in the classic camp and prefer white lights, keep it simple, understated, and sophisticated with a tree from the local tree farm, red and green ornaments, plaid bows, a traditional wreath, and gold accents on green garland.
- Organic Decor: If your friends ever accuse you of having “beige rage” (as in your home is primarily neutral with varying shades of white and beige), this holiday trend is for you. You’ve never understood why anyone would decorate for Christmas with bright rainbow colors, and while you lean towards the more traditional look, it’s still a bit chaotic for your liking. You’re in your own little niche, but don’t worry, we have decor ideas for you too. If you prefer a more natural and organic look, you can literally forage for your decor. Gather driftwood, twigs, pinecones, and pine needles, and have a craft day with your friends and family. You can make a Christmas tree out of stacked driftwood, garland out of pinecones, and wreaths out of twigs. If crafting isn’t your thing, Etsy has a beautiful collection of organic holiday decor available for purchase. This beautiful wreath, for example, is natural and fragrant, and this driftwood Christmas tree is perfect for homes with a coastal vibe.
- Neon Holiday Signs: We see them at weddings, bachelorette parties, and now in homes for the holidays. Whether you’re team color or classic, this neon sign trend is for you. Opt for the classic: “Happy Holidays” script in white or a funky “FA LA LA LA” sign in red in green. You can even get super creative and design your own on Etsy.
- Super-Sized Decor: If last year’s lack of spirit and decor has you feeling ready to make up for lost time and go BIG this year, then you’ll love this trend. Jumbo-sized ornaments are taking the place of inflatable characters on front yards this year, and we’re very into it – this holiday trend is fashionable, sophisticated, and fun.
Foodie Prep:
If you love to host and have the kind of home where friends and neighbors are constantly coming and going, you’ll always want to be ready to entertain. For this reason, we recommend preparing a few holiday food staples sure to please your guests.
- Keep a batch of homemade cookie ingredients on deck. Not only are dry, jarred cookie ingredients an adorable gift, but they come in handy too. If anyone drops in or stops by unexpectedly, take the dry dough, mix in a few wet ingredients, pop the homemade dough in the oven for 10 minutes and you’re instantly dubbed “host of the holiday season.”
- Store a jar of mixed holiday nuts. We all love to snack on holiday treats – cookies, cakes, peppermint candies, eggnog, and more. But the constant hits of sugar can take their toll. If you want to keep a festive but healthy snack on hand, opt for homemade granola. This gingerbread granola packs all the holiday flavor, as well as wholesome grains, healthy fats, and natural sweeteners.
- Homemade hot cocoa goodness. While Atlanta winters tend to be fairly mild, there’s nothing like coming home on a cold winter day to a steamy cup of hot cocoa. Keep a batch in a glass jar in your refrigerator and heat it up when the kiddos come home from school or friends pop in for a visit.
- If you’re like us and aim to stick to the four main food groups during the holiday season (you know… candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup), then you’ll need to ensure these syrup recipes are always on hand. They’re perfect for drizzling over pancakes, desserts, hot beverages, and even spaghetti.
Vibe Creation:
The holiday vibe doesn’t just magically arrive along with the season – it’s created. It’s in the twinkling lights, the cheery melodies, the comforting scents, and the warmth of a fire. Here are a few ways to create the holiday vibe in your home this season
- Candles, everywhere, all the time. Stock up on seasonal scents this year like gingerbread, peppermint, pine, cinnamon, spiced orange, fig, chestnut, sugar cookie, and more. The scent combined with that faint flickering light will transform any space into holiday mode.
- Warm, chunky, knits. It doesn’t take much to throw a few chunky knit blankets on sofas and chairs throughout your home. This one home update will create a cozy and welcome environment for guests and residents alike.
- The perfect holiday playlist. Bookmark and follow a few holiday playlists on Spotify and Pandora and keep them on deck to play when you’re home cooking, baking, or hosting guests for wine night.
For more information, or to learn more about available Lennar homes and communities in Atlanta, contact our Internet Sales Consultants: Kim, Marianne, Suzanne, Ezio, Michelle, Chrissy, and Kelly at (404) 931-7462. https://www.lennar.com/new-homes/georgia/atlanta/
