A FRESH SPIN ON HOLIDAY DECOR

Seasonal displays can be pot-bellied Santas, bottlebrush tree trimmings or handmade ornaments

Pulling out the boxes of decorations from the basement. Digging through ornaments you’ve had for years.

For many of us, Christmas decorating is a time to revisit our past.

But for some, the holiday season is an opportunity to shop, explore the latest trends and create gorgeous new seasonal displays.

Still others combine both timetested and new ideas, for their own fresh spin on the festivities.

“People are doing what works best in their home, and what speaks to them,” says Calgarybased interior designer Tracy Wharton, owner of Dovecote Design (dovecotedesign.ca).

“Christmas is way more diverse than it used to be. There isn’t just one style in stores for people to choose from.”

Whatever your preference, it can be fun to update your home this time of year. Here’s a look at four of this year’s hottest holiday decor ideas:

MODERN HERITAGE

Think of it as an updated take on classic Canadiana — rustic wood, plaid, checks and texture. You’ll find fuzzy wool, wood and bottlebrush decorations for your tree at Chapters and Indigo stores. Buffalo plaid cushions for the sofa, perhaps, or scented candles wrapped in birch bark.

West Elm has a similar, fun take on the season, with lumberjack foxes and raccoon accordionists for the tree, papier mache deer heads for the wall, and antler pillows for the sofa. “It’s reminiscent of a cabin or chalet, but with a modern spin to it,” says West Elm spokesman Andres Ortega.

Looking to add some warmth to a room? Sheepskins — real and faux — are everywhere right now, tossed casually across dining chairs, sofas and fireplace hearths. Find them at Ikea, Chapters/Indigo, Costco, Amazon.ca, you name it.

And if budgets are tight, turn to the outdoors for inspiration, Wharton says. She suggests gathering sticks or pine cones, or piling pine boughs and mandarins together in a bowl. Or mason jars filled with cranberries and tea lights. “Take a look at what you already have and pull in elements that you’ve found outside,” she says. “Anything that has a natural element to it, it’s easy to do and it doesn’t cost a lot.”

HAUTE HOLIDAY

Colour and texture is key to this look, no matter where you shop. At Canadian Tire, you’ll find silver and icy-blue “Arctic Teal” decorations for your tree and home. Gold is the metal of choice at Chapters and Indigo this season; look for gold-edged ornaments, subtle mercury glass ornaments and throw cushions with gold accents.

And at West Elm, you’ll find foxed (antiqued) glass decorations, mixed metallics, subtle LED lighting and soft rose hues. “It’s a glamorous approach,” Ortega says. “It’s very chic and elegant, with luxurious layers. But it’s very comfortable. It’s not too precious.”

VINTAGE COOL

Pot-bellied Santas. Shiny glass bulbs. And colour, the brighter the better — blue, green, magenta, red, gold, pink, silver.

Etsy.com is the place to buy atomic-era and mid-century holiday classics, from table coverings to tree-toppers.

But the retro look can be found elsewhere, too. You’ll find 1950s-inspired multi-coloured lights at Canadian Tire.

And Winners and HomeSense offer new takes on the classics, too. “I love the ’50s Christmas decorations; those are the ones I have from my grandmother’s house,” Wharton says.

But every year, Wharton does something different with them. She hangs them from her light fixtures, and piles them in dishes. She adds strings of tiny LED lights and turns them into tiny snow scenes, “little winter terrariums on the table, a sort of magical little fairyland,” she says.

GLOBAL GROOVE

Handmade ornaments from around the world are always a hit during the holidays, and this year is no exception. Check out the delicate capiz shell angels from the Philippines, beaded stars from India, and cinnamon-bark ornaments at Ten Thousand Villages. You can shop online at the non-profit fair-trade store; go to tenthousandvillages.ca

Then there are the bright, fun felted decorations and garlands from Nepal at West Elm.

“The handmade and handcrafted look is a huge part of who we are as a brand,” says Ortega.

“That’s no different around the holiday season.”

For many of us, Christmas decorating is a time to revisit our past. But for others, it is a chance to experiment.

Decorations and garlands from Nepal available at West Elm. “The handmade and handcrafted look is a huge part of who we are as a brand,” says West Elm spokesman Andres Ortega.

CANADIAN TIRE At Canadian Tire, you’ll find Arctic Teal decorations for your tree and home.