The holidays are the perfect time to branch out and try something new to spruce up your space. If the minimalist aesthetic that’s become popular in recent years isn’t your style, try finding inspiration from holidays past! Nostalgic holiday decor can give your home a cozy feel by drawing up good memories, making sure there’s no place like home for the holidays.
Decorate with Red and Green
Get started with the perfect color palette. Classic cranberry red and forest green are essentials in the nostalgic holiday style, and decorations in red and green are easy to find anywhere.
Start by weaving these colors into your table settings with red and green plaid tablecloths or napkins, complemented by vibrant centerpieces of holly or evergreen sprigs. Add throw pillows in rich, velvety reds or deep forest greens to your living room, creating a cozy nook for snuggling up with a cup of hot cocoa. Embracing the classic holiday colors of red and green is a surefire way to envelop your home in a warm, nostalgic ambiance that brings up memories of festive gatherings.
Deck the Halls
As the holiday season sweeps in, it’s time to deck the halls of your apartment! Start with a classic wreath on your door, an inviting symbol of holiday cheer that never goes out of style. Opt for a lush wreath with pinecones, holly berries, and a red, green, or gold ribbon.
Garlands are your best friend for giving your home a festive feel without overwhelming the space. Drape them across door frames, window frames, or furniture or weave them around railings. Add pops of color with ribbons, bells, and tree ornaments. To create a cohesive theme, hang multiple similarly decorated garlands throughout your place.
Make It Merry and Bright
Lights are a staple of the holidays! Decorate the interior of your place with string lights and candles. Weave lights into pine garlands and drape them over windows, TV stands, and dressers. Light a few candles to fill your home with a cozy glow and seasonal scents.
If your rental doesn’t allow candles, you can place LED tea lights in festive votives to achieve the same effect without an open flame. A wax melter will also give off a gentle light as well as a festive fragrance.
If you live in an apartment complex, you may be limited in the lights you can add outside. Consider adding lights by your windows, like LED candles on your windowsills or string lights hanging from the ceiling with adhesive mounting strips. This is a rental-friendly way to make your apartment look festive from both the inside and city sidewalks!
Trim the Tree
If you have the space for a tree in your apartment, it’s time to bring out the ornaments! Whether you prefer a real or fake tree, decorating a tree for the holidays is the perfect opportunity to create a focal point for your holiday decor.
Decorate your tree with lights, beaded garlands, and colorful ornaments. Grab the random ornaments you’ve collected over the years and display them on your tree to bring up good memories every time you look at your tree. As you wrap presents for your friends and family, place them around the tree to create the classic holiday vignette.
Stay Warm
Stock your space with some festive blankets for when the weather outside is frightful!
Festive quilts and plaid blankets in your living room and bedroom make great functional decor. Not only do colorful holiday quilts tie together your space's nostalgic aesthetic, but keeping blankets nearby comes in handy when Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose.
If you want to get crafty, make fleece tie blankets with festive fabric. Turn on your favorite holiday movie and make some hot cocoa, and you’ve created the perfect winter activity!
Set the Table
Your place is still missing some sweet treats! Whip up a batch of your favorite cookies and present them on a festive platter. Search for dishware and serving plates that look straight from the 90s, with holly borders and scenes from classic holiday tales. This will fill your home with the smell of your favorite holiday treats and welcome your guests with a platter of homemade goods.
Rock Around
Lastly, don’t forget to make your perfect holiday playlist! Whether you prefer contemporary holiday songs or classic carols, filling your home with the sound of music will instantly make it feel festive. If you have a record player, get some holiday music on vinyl. If you prefer to stream music, find a vintage radio wireless speaker for an old-timey feel. Combining your favorite holiday music and the retro look of a turntable or radio wireless speaker will tie together the nostalgic aesthetic of your holiday decor.
Embrace the timeless charm of these traditional decorations and let them infuse your home with warmth and nostalgia this holiday season.
