How to Decorate for the Holidays

Danielle Pergament, Allure magazine

An interview with Jonathan Adler, a ceramicist and interior decorator who has 23 stores in the U.S. and England. his new book is
100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life (Sterling).

Holiday decorations can be corny, but I say embrace it. No matter how jaded you are the rest of the year, the holidays are the time to let your sweet, earnest side come through. I like a snow globe and tinsel as much as the next guy.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

Start simple. You don't have to cut down a whole forest or employ a team or elves to make your place feel festive. Something as simple as hanging a wreath on the door or a garland on the mantel can change the mood or your entire home. Or stack a bunch of silver ornaments in the corner and make your own sculpture. I also love a look borrowed from the great artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Dangle a strange of white Christmas lights from the ceiling and let it pool on the floor.

Zero in. I focus my energy on small spaces-a side table or centerpiece area-and do those spots up in abundance: lots of glasses, bowls, lights, candy, and greenery.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Be natural. Generally speaking, it's a good idea to stick with glass, ceramic, and wood decorations and avoid anything made of plastic or resin. That will keep everything from feeling cheesy. I apply the Michale Pollan mantra to materials: Instead of asking, "Is this food my grandmother would recognize?" I always ask, "Is this material something my grandmother would consider nice?"

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Shine on. If you have any silver trays or gilded mirrors, this is the time to break them out. Put a gorgeous silver bowl in the middle of your dining room table and fill it with candy. Or if you only have white bowls, fill them with gold and silver candy.

Trim the tree.
I'm Jewish, and I will say there is nothing happier than walking into a house with a Christmas tree. Choose ornaments that either have sentimental value or look like something you would want to keep for years.


See more from Allure:
The 12 Best Eye Creams
10 Hairstyles That Make You Look 10 Years Younger
Best of Beauty 2012
The 10 Most Gorgeous Hair-Color Ideas for Brunettes