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Minimalist Holiday Decorating: Make This Winter Season Simple and Elegant

Streamline your seasonal look.

A formal dining room with minimalist holiday decor.

During the holiday season a purposeful and uncluttered design opens up the home while spotlighting a few decorating essentials. Warm lighting, curated decor, seasonal foliage, and metallic accents lean into a pared-back aesthetic while also accentuating the festive cheer of the holidays. Keep reading below to explore tips for minimalist holiday decorating.


1. Feature Warm Holiday Lighting

A banister decorated with a garland and string lights.

Lean into minimalist holiday decorating with focused lighting designs. Weave solar string lights into holiday greenery like garlands and wreaths to add visual warmth. For refined accent lighting, consider grouping two or three battery-operated tealights next to your holiday decor. Votive candles and seasonally-scented jar candles round out an entryway or living room with a calming glow. For a glam twist on the minimalist aesthetic, mix and match gold or silver candle holders for a simple yet high-impact holiday look.

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2. Introduce Seasonal Greenery

Keep your holiday decorating sophisticated and intentional with a curated selection of festive greenery. Emphasize the holiday cheer with an elegant statement piece like a large wreath or garland hung above the dining room table or living room fireplace. Keep the look minimalist with an unadorned wreath to highlight the clean lines of the space. Faux foliage like potted evergreen plants add a fresh brightness to the space while showcasing a pared-back design. Holiday greenery like cedar, ivy, and boxwood also draw out the warmth and comfort of the winter season with their soothing natural palette.

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3. Embrace Scandinavian Influences

Make your dining table festive and refined with a sleek Scandinavian-inspired tablescape. Known for its thoughtful, minimalist aesthetic, Scandinavian design prioritizes comfort and simplicity during the holiday season. Incorporate earthy greens like sage green taper candles, faux plants, and neutral dinnerware for a grounding atmosphere. Continue highlighting the holiday spirit by pairing the soft shades of green with burgundy decor like matching napkins and napkin rings. Crystal or glass wine glasses and champagne flutes add a sense of celebration while keeping the silhouettes purposeful and modest.

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4. Select Sets of Decor

Make the most of your living room mantle with a few seasonal essentials that showcase your personal aesthetic. Group together sets of holiday decor like a trio of metal reindeer or porcelain mistletoe figurines. Ground the design with wintery faux plants like holly, eucalyptus, and pine for a welcoming look. To keep the space organized, assemble the decor on a ceramic decorative tray, wire basket, or neutral-colored placemat to unify the minimalist design.

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5. Uplift With Soft Neutrals

Highlight the simplicity and comfort of minimalist holiday decorating with neutral furnishings and decor. Warm-toned neutrals like cream, beige, and peach create an ethereal and cozy aesthetic. Consider holiday decor like pillar candles in gold jars or burlap stockings patterned with ivy; these decorative pieces draw out the warm undertones of furniture like an oak or maple coffee table. Decorative pillows in soft hues like blush and white are a discreet touch that also create a relaxing space to recharge by the fire. Finish off the look with a gold or silver framed mirror to add a sense of grandness to the understated design.

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6. Incorporate Modern Accents

Elevate your minimalist holiday decorating with modern accents. Pair saturated colors like emerald green and ruby red to add a dynamic edge to your minimalist design. Silk or velvet decorative pillows in jewel colors or textured patterns add depth and dimension to the space. Glossy accents like light-blue glass table vases or red metallic decorative books add a sleek shine to the contemporary decor. Incorporate natural holiday decorations like miniature tree figurines, foraged branches, or pinecones dusted with artificial snow on a nearby cabinet or side table to cap off the look.

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