Making Spirits Bright: Warm, Rejuvenating Holiday Decor

The holidays are joyful, festive and vibrant! But they can also be stressful, especially if you’re trying to balance work with time off, family gatherings with alone time, and budgeting with shopping for gifts. It’s easy to forget about the true meaning of the season. However you choose to spend your holidays, make sure you take some time to reflect, rejuvenate and breathe deeply. Today we’re sharing a few ways that holiday decor (and other essentials) in your surroundings can fill you with a sense of warmth, joy and nourishment…

Candy canes, greenery and a flickering candle create holiday cheer

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*Photos and styling by Kate Simmons for Decoist

A Sense of Warmth

Baby, it’s cold outside! Especially in certain parts of the world. During the holidays, there are more social gatherings than usual, and visiting with friends and family can create a sense of inner warmth. Yet we all tend to be out and about more, traveling and running errands on even the coldest of days when we may feel more like curling up with a fuzzy blanket and a good book.

While you may not have full control over your schedule in the midst of the festivities, you can add a few key creature comforts to the mix. Candles can bring a fragrant, cozy element to your home. If you don’t want to worry about the hassle of an open flame (or you’re traveling), try flameless candles, and incorporate fragrance through a room spray, sachets, or even a hot cup of tea.

A cozy scarf or blanket can add layers of warmth, and now is a great time to bring out accents such as sheepskin (or faux sheepskin) throws and rugs. By juxtaposing cozy accents with winter-perfect elements such as natural greenery, you can cultivate a comforting holiday aesthetic.

Treats and Snacks

We at Decoist love how food can double as decor, especially during the holidays. There’s something so joyful about the bright red and white stripes of a candy cane. Try garnishing your dessert plate with one or more small candy canes, or crush them up and sprinkle them over cups of hot chocolate:

You can use candy canes as cake and cupcake toppers, or you can dunk them in your hot chocolate to add both flavor and color:

Hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and peppermint

A quick note: while we’re not a food blog, we want to remind you to take care of yourself in terms of your holiday snacks. There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself. But if you want to feel your best, make sure to incorporate some healthier options and have them at the ready, especially if you’re traveling and at the mercy of someone else’s menu. For example, interspersing sweet treats with a handful of nuts can add a protein element to your diet.

Dried fruit and nuts for holiday snacking

Down Time

While it can be a joy to spend more time with the people you care about, it can also zap your energy, especially if you happen to be an introvert. By making a commitment to spend a little bit of time relaxing and replenishing each day, you can pace yourself and even thrive during the holidays.

RELATED: A 2015 Holiday Decor Preview

Try purchasing one or two special bath products in soothing scents. If you’re traveling, you can get smaller sizes that will easily fit into your suitcase. Even if you don’t have time to create a spa moment each day, simply surrounding yourself with items such as candles, soaps, pumice stones, and sea sponges can create a spa feel that will be calming as your schedule gets more hectic.