Happy Chrismukkah: Holiday Home Decor

I’m pretty much convinced I’m like the only person in San Diego who loves wintertime. Not that I enjoy freezing my ass off and/or it being pitch black outside by 4:45pm, but the main reason I love this joyous season so much can be summed up in one word: Christmas. 

I’m about as Scrooge-tastic as it gets for eleven months out of the year and then for some odd reason, as soon as I’ve inhaled my fair share of turkey and stuffing, I give grouchy old Ebenezer a swift kick in the ass and turn into jolly old Saint Nick….errr, Mrs. Claus. Whatever, you get my point. 

It’s kind of like being a Twi-tard (I’m guilty of this too sadly), but instead of drooling over a shirtless werewolf named Jacob or incessantly daydreaming about everlasting love with a gorgeous hazel-eyed vampire, you obsess over ridiculous Mariah Carey Christmas Pandora playlists and enjoy dumping bags upon bags of fake snow over every square inch of your apartment. You think I’m kidding… 

As sad as it is to admit this, it’s not even December yet and it already looks like Christmas threw up all over my apartment. So in the midst of my anti-bah humbug holiday kick I’m here to give you the inside scoop on all the best decorations for your humble abode this season.

Ornaments
If you haven’t secured yourself a Christmas tree yet, I suggest you get with the program and head down to the nearest tree lot today. Ok, so it doesn’t have to be today, but how are you supposed to hang all those cute and kitschy ornaments you’ve been collecting all year without a tree? What’s that you say? You haven’t bought a rhinestone initial ornament for you and your dog yet OR a set of delightful cupcake ornaments because your inner Fat Kid forced you to? Oh right, that’s just me. Regardless, your Christmas tree is a statement of your personality so I say, go wild and have fun with it.

We Love: From space ships to toy soldiers, West Elm’s Porcelain Toy Ornaments add to the festivities whether they’re hanging on the holiday tree or used year-round as a cute keychain or charm; Make your holidays scrumptiously sweet by trimming your tree with one of Mod Cloth’s glittery, Painted Glass Cupcake Ornaments; Anthropologie’s whimsical Woodland Brush Animal Ornaments will look très chic nestled among the pine-scented branches of your holiday tree.

Insider Tip: While the decade-old ornaments you made in grade school may still be precious in your mom’s eyes, we think it’s officially time to move on and upgrade your décor style this holiday season. Check out the heART HSN 2010 Designer Ornament Collection now!

Stockings
Even though I lack a fireplace in my apartment, I’m not about to nix the Christmas stocking tradition. Hello! That’s like sacrilegious! First of all, it’s just downright offensive and second of all, I don’t want to wake up present-less on Christmas morning because Santa had nowhere to put my gifts. And let’s face it, neither do you. With that being said, I suggest you acquire a stocking ASAP so that you don’t end up on the “Naughty List” this season.

We Love: Fabulous fur trim amps up the wow factor on West Elm’s luxurious snow-white Velvet Mongolian Stocking; Being the indie-loving girl you are, you fell straight away for Mod Cloth’s Thomas Paul Stocking with oatmeal canvas and polka dot-backed stocking with a pretty print of blue and green birds roosting in a shining gold tree; Wait for Santa in nautical style with Reiter8’s Recycled Sail Holiday Stockings made from this unique stocking reclaimed white dacron sailcloth; Anthropologie’s handknit bright and brazen Sherpa Stocking will bring an air of Himalayan tranquility and virtue to your mantle.

Artificial Trees
I’ve been anxiously waiting for Thanksgiving to be over for about six months now. Don’t get me wrong, I love my grandmother’s cornbread stuffing and my mother’s potato casserole more than life itself, but I’ve just been dying to ransack the PB Christmas Tree Lot and bring home a midget-sized noble fir so that I can wake up to the sweet smell of fresh pine every morning. 

Unfortunately, a real, live Christmas tree isn’t always the most favorable option for everyone. In all honesty, my dog will probably manage to eat the entire tree or knock it down within the first 48 hours of putting it up, so an artificial tree would probably be in my best interest. Then again, I’m not what you would call a sensible thinker. For those of you who want to ditch the pine needle mess or don’t have a car that is big enough to haul a real one home, you can still add some holiday cheer into your home with an artificial alternative. 

We Love: Dare to be unconventional and grow your own colorful crystallized tree with Mod Cloth’s Crystal State of Mind Tree; Impossibly soft caramel-colored feathers on Athropologie’s Downy Mini Tree create a fluffy holiday focal point for tabletops or tiny spaces; Learn the true meaning of the holidays with Urban Outfitter’s classically pathetic Charlie Brown Christmas Tree made of bendable wire branches and plastic needles with a crisscross wooden base; Forego your Breakfast Club’s recommendations to pick up Sixteen Candles to decorate your home for the holidays – Treetopia’s Pretty in Pink Christmas Tree will display your treasured ornaments in style this Christmas.

Holiday Decor
Aside from the standard poinsettias and cinnamon-scented pine cones that I hope and pray are already haphazardly splayed around your house/apartment, it’s time that you get in on all that other fun holiday décor as well. Yes, I’m talking about those Winter Wonderland doormats and you betcha I’m referring to those red and green kitchen towels with elves and jingle bells on them! Ok so you don’t have to be a total lameass and adorn your house in frilly Christmas furnishings like me, but you can add a little cheer by channeling your inner little kid and making your very own Gingerbread House, stringing your own popcorn garlands or making 25 different holiday themed bandanas for your dog. Wait…what? I’m not obsessive, I swear.

We Love: Celebrate the sweet magic of the holidays by building an enchanted Williams Sonoma No-Bake Winter Wonderland Gingerbread House complete with a whimsical selection of delectable decorations; Urban Outfitter’s Bitch Snow Globe globe has a snarky sculpture inside, sure to get your sentiments across before anyone passes judgment on your choice of holiday home furnishings; Anthropologie’s knitty, pompom-adorned Merry Christmas Garland is sure to spread good cheer all season long.

Discover more holiday shopping tips and trends in our San Diego shopping directory.