In Praise of: That Winter Glow
There are so many directions in which you can take your holiday decorating. Perhaps more so than during any other season, this time of year provides a glorious blank canvas upon which to stretch your imagination and get super creative with your home decor. While holiday decorating, entertaining, recipes, floral, crafts, projects, gifting, and so much more, could constitute, who am I kidding, an endless number of posts on Harlow & Haven, today let’s focus on one very specific element- that whimsical and warming winter glow.
Winter Delta Shelter Cabin in Mazama, Washington by Olson Kundig Architects. I am getting Bauhaus meets adult tree house vibes from this structure- in the very best way possible. (image courtesy of homeedit.com)
Have you ever been cross country skiing, or on a walk through the woods, during a light December snowfall, when the whole world feels hushed. Fluttering white and silvery gray snowflakes blanket the earth as far as your eye can see. There’s a pleasant chill in the air as your boots crunch over frozen earth coated in fresh powder. The temperatures haven’t yet reached the glacial lows that will come as January and February wrap their tendrils around New England. For now, you exist in a pleasant and utterly perfect snow globe, just like the one you had on your dresser as a young child.
How chic is Gubrandslie Cabin, a distinctly midcentury modern-esque prefabricated home near Jotunheimen National Park in Norway. Adding this to my aspirational destinations list ASAP! (image courtesy of inhabitat.com)
All at once you see it, just barely visible through the dense fir trees with their branches coated in white. A petite and picturesque log cabin with a plume of smoke lazily curling up from its brick chimney. The cozy scent of a wood-burning fireplace fills the air, and you breath in deeply, savoring the scene. Backlit by the shades of wintry white and soft gray, the cabin emits a welcoming warm glow. That inviting luminosity is precisely the aesthetic that we are striving to channel in our holiday decor!
A dreamy Wisconsin winter getaway. (image courtesy of stepoutside.org)
So what really is the difference between sparkle and glow? At first glance it might not be totally obvious, so let’s dig a little deeper. Perhaps the easiest way to describe the difference is to compare the soft warmth of a burning candle versus the eye-catching pops of light emitted by a rotating disco ball. They give off a completely different aesthetic, both great, but not alike!
Bringing that wintry glow into your home is a beautiful way to create a warm and inviting space for the holidays, whether you’re solo or hosting a home full of guests! Let’s start with the heart of the home- your dining room table. The best way to make your “merry and bright” elements pop (sorry, lame joke) is to start with the strong base of a bold, jewel-toned tablecloth in a substantial material such as velvet. I’m partial to pairing deep hunter green with shades of gold and champagne, but really any cool-leaning jewel tone that you like will do (think midnight blue, eggplant, even cobalt).
From there, start building layers with the dual goals of functionality and whimsy in mind. Yes, we have to be able to eat around the table, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun while doing it! To me, the holidays always feel like a good time to be a maximalist. I like to go with the flow creatively, and then edit myself down afterwards if need be.
Don’t be afraid to mix slightly different tones, such as gold, taupe, bronze, and blush. The final result will intentionally look eclectic, but in that wonderfully well-curated way.
I love a beautiful fresh (or faux) garland of greenery that serves as your floral piece without creating extra height, which can be distracting and make conversation difficult.
Not loving how your table turned out? No problem. Try reconfiguring, editing, even stepping away and coming back to the space with fresh eyes later. You’ll get your table set arranged perfectly eventually, and when you do, email me a picture!