The holiday season has an electrifying effect on favorite spaces from parlors and porches to entry halls and mantels. As if cast under a spell of over-the-top enchantment, spaces both formal and casual transform beneath twinkling lights and fragrant garlands of pine and spruce—to dazzling effect. Festive figurines greet guests on stylish drinks tables, heirloom crystal and showstopping place settings festoon dining rooms, and treasured ornaments dress Christmas trees to the nines (and then some).
In so many ways, "joy" encapsulates the feeling that runs through the halls of a well-decorated home not just because of the visual holiday glee but the memories made while putting it all together. Time spent hanging those tricky magnolia-leaf wreaths and lighting tapered candles pays dividends in the delight it brings to family and guests as they arrive with their own yuletide greetings.
Here, a handful of inspired examples stretch cheer from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, to Vermont, each providing invaluable lessons on timeless decorating and the art of welcoming guests for the season.
You're Invited to Designer Joy Moyler's Soulful Holiday Get-Together
For a lively supper with friends, the VERANDA columnist summons the spirit of Saturday night jam sessions in her parents’ Harlem living room.
Decked in the City
Designer Alessandra Branca Sets Her Historic Chicago Townhouse Aglow for Christmas Eve Dinner
Decorator Darryl Carter Proves Simple Is Best At His Artfully Decorated Washington, D.C Home
Southern-Born Designer Richard Keith Langham Ushers in the Holiday Season Like No One Else
Suzanne Rheinstein Calls On Her Southern Heritage for an Intimate Holiday Gathering At Her California Home
Holidays in Bloom
Philanthropist Ann Getty Leaves Behind a Design Legacy of Layered Interiors and Gracious Hospitality
Amid gilt and glamour, the late philanthropist and interior designer embraced family and friends with surprisingly relaxed flair.
Festive Flourishes
Rustic Cheer
Sarah DiMarco is the Assistant Editor at VERANDA, covering all things art, design, and travel, and she also manages social media for the brand.
