Decorating Ideas Worth Stealing: IKEA Holiday Catalog

IKEA’s winter photoshoots are treasure troves of seasonal inspiration. Even if you don’t buy a single ornament from them this year, take these styling tips and decorating ideas back to your own home. Some are tweaks on familiar tradition, but all of them embrace the warm atmosphere and special feeling of the holidays.

Go Dark: Instead of bright colors and garish decorations, go for a moodier, cozier space (lead image above). Turn off the TV and overhead lights and enjoy the candlelight instead. You’ll feel great when you hunker down and hibernate during your holiday vacation.

Embrace Imperfection: The holidays are all about making merry with people you love — not visual perfection. Resist the urge to live in a pristine winter wonderland. Instead, invite a bunch of people over to bake homemade cookies or cook a great meal. The great memories will last long past any physical decorations.

Go Au Naturel: Instead of trying to redecorate your living room in all red and green, go for neutral or organic elements that work well with your existing decor. It’ll feel like a more festive version of your actual real-life space, versus something from another planet that’s just visiting for a couple of weeks. Plus all that added texture is just fantastic.

Try Oversized: Sometimes you get tired of the same old stars, trees and wooden soldiers. This year, take a few traditional holiday shapes and crank them up a couple of sizes for something new and over the top. Or stack a load of presents as a tall tower instead of a traditional tree.

→ DIY Oversized Holiday Decorations

Use All Your Space: Instead of decorating just the flat surfaces —like walls and tables — utilize hanging space as well. Dangle lights and ornaments from the ceilings and make it more of a 3D experience. This saves space as well if you’re in a tiny home, or if you don’t want an actual tree.