The magic of the holiday season is often felt most at home, as our spaces become cozy retreats dressed up in twinkle lights and festive boughs. However, it’s easy to fall back on a traditional holiday aesthetic each season (think a classic palette of reds, greens and silvers). This year, forgo the predictable festive look in favour of a moody interior design style, defined by dark jewel tones, rich textures and statement accents. It’ll bring a cozy, whimsical feel to your space with a touch more elegance. Here’s how to achieve the look with ease (while still staying on budget).
Turn to Nature
Nature can often be our greatest source of decor inspiration, and that especially applies during the festive season. Embrace the dark and moody decor trend with natural elements like pinecones and dried branches to evoke warmth and texture.
Garlands, whether wrapped around a staircase or draped across a mantel, are another nature-inspired holiday decor staple. We love how creator Abhi Dekate transformed his media unit into a whimsical wonderland using a lush garland studded with pinecones and berries, along with two small wooden Christmas trees. The pieces lend an earthy, festive vibe and liven up the space without taking away from the room’s modern feel. We love the high-quality nature of the look done on a budget, with both products (starting at $19.99) sourced from HomeSense.
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Embrace a Rich Palette
A dramatic, elevated aesthetic calls for a dark colour theme. Instead of traditionally bright reds and greens, go for deeper versions of those same holiday hues, such as jewel tones like burgundy and emerald green. Rich shades like charcoal grey and black will also feel at home within a moody holiday decor scheme.
Introduce these sophisticated shades through decor pieces like ornaments, ribbons or rich fabrics. Plush textures such as velvet toss cushions and faux fur throws will also add a touch of luxury to your space. If you’re after a low-commitment look, embrace a darker colour palette by sourcing elegant holiday wrapping paper for under the tree, or simple accents like black bowls and trays to display pinecones and other festive finds.
Let There Be Light
The holiday season is known for its abundance of lights that emit a cozy, familiar glow into our homes and onto our streets. Achieve a modern meets moody look by opting for more subtle forms of lighting. While string lights have their place, adding a romantic ambiance to a room, it’s best to use them sparingly. We love the branch-inspired black candle holder that adorns Abhi’s media area, providing a subdued light source while maintaining the space’s clean and uncluttered aesthetic. The charming LED holiday village also adds a wink of whimsy. Bonus: both products were HomeSense decor finds.
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Add Touches of Whimsy
Modern, minimalist spaces with a more dramatic palette can still be whimsical for the holidays. The key is to make sure the elements you introduce fit within your colour scheme. This could be in the form of a charming ceramic winter village for $16.99 or other small accents like a Nordic-look reindeer statue. An elevated decor look like this can also benefit from subtle gold or wood touches such as ornaments and vases. They’ll add an extra layer of warmth and contrast to help achieve that cozy, intimate atmosphere we all crave during the holidays.
