Q:

Tobi,
What is your top secret for holiday decorating?  I spend so much time changing out accessories and packing things away to get my home ready for the holidays.  Your holiday decor always looks so effortless.
Margaret, West Palm Beach

A:

Margaret,
My mantra for the holidays is “DON’T UNDECORATE TO DECORATE!”  What do I mean by that phrase?  Simply accent your current decor with your holiday items.  There’s no need to put 18 boxes of year round items in the attic to make room for too much Christmas “stuff.”  Take a look at these photos from my home:

Here’s my family room as it appears year round.  Take a look at the mantle.

Here’s my holiday look for the same room.  As you can see, I simply added my Christmas greenery to the mantel.  The green urns reside there year round. 

When planning your holiday decor, think about what is going to accent what you already have.  This will help you to avoid the “undecorate to decorate” cycle.
Happy Holidays!
Tobi