The holidays invite us to open our doors—to family, to friends, and to the warmth of the season. Preparing your home isn’t just about decorating; it’s about creating an atmosphere that feels alive, welcoming, and deeply restorative. By weaving together the right color palette, thoughtful accessories, natural textures, and biophilic touches, you can design a holiday space that’s as joyful as it is serene.
Before pulling out the old standards, think about how your home will function for gatherings.
Define areas for conversation, dining, and lounging. Use furniture placement and lighting to guide movement and connection.
Combine soft ambient lighting with task and accent lighting—think candles, lanterns, and dimmable sconces—to create intimacy and calm. We are absolutely loving all of the cordless lighting available. It allows you to take your ambience anywhere from floor, to table or walls with the flexibility to change things up!
Graypants and Bellhop are some of our favorite portable rechargeable lights. You will see these all over our home and studio!
Incorporate natural scents like pine, eucalyptus, or citrus through diffusers or fresh arrangements. They add an organic layer that feels grounding and festive. Essential oils such as cypress and fir, along with coconut and soy based candles can ensure that your scents stay pure and natural. As always, be conscience of using these scents around children and your furry friends as some of them can be toxic to both
Move beyond the predictable red and green or blue.. This year, holiday color stories are taking cues from nature:
Deep moss, warm sand, ochre, and rich cranberry pair beautifully with natural wood and greenery. Allow your blues to reflect a warming tone by using a blue with green undertone versus a purple.
Soft ivory, misty gray, and sage create a peaceful, winter-white aesthetic that still feels alive. Using natural neutrals allows you to extend your decor long after the holidays are over.
Choose aged brass or brushed gold rather than high-shine finishes to evoke a sense of quiet luxury.
Use these hues through throw pillows, table linens, or accent walls for subtle yet impactful transformation.
Accessories should tell a story—not clutter one.
Bowls of pinecones, driftwood centerpieces, or hand-thrown ceramics connect us to the tactile beauty of the earth. Start with your own backyard and make it a family affair by sending everyone out to collect an item or two that reminds them of the holidays.
Add cozy textiles like wool throws, linen runners, and velvet cushions in natural tones. And since we love our four footed clients just as much as our two (full disclosure, sometimes more!), we wanted to add some warmth and cozy feels for them too!
Blend heirloom pieces or handmade ornaments with natural elements to create a collected, authentic feel.
When accessories are curated mindfully, they act as emotional touchpoints—evoking comfort, nostalgia, and joy.
Biophilia reminds us that nature isn’t just a backdrop—it’s essential for emotional well-being. During the holidays, this philosophy can bring balance to the bustle.
Swap plastic garlands for living or preserved botanicals—olive branches, magnolia leaves, eucalyptus, and evergreen boughs.
Magnolia Supply is one of our favorite sites for all things California, including our favorite eucalyptus wreathes. A treat for all the senses!
Keep window treatments minimal to maximize daylight; it supports circadian balance during darker months.
We have been loving the idea of using macrame for window coverings to filter light. Consider it art for your windows, all year long!
Choose décor with natural shapes—curved branches, asymmetrical wreaths, or imperfect pottery—that mimic the effortless beauty of the outdoors.
Every design decision affects how we feel. Soften edges, introduce gentle movement (like flickering candlelight or draped greenery), and curate a visual rhythm through repeating colors and textures. These small gestures engage the senses, lower stress, and make your home feel both dynamic and deeply calm.
Looking for a little holiday inspo from Architectural Digest? One of our favorite designers, Michael Aram, takes us on a tour of his Chelsea apartment and creates some beautiful, timeless design with spent and found florals. He combines unusual combinations of brass sculpture and natural materials to create curiosity and conversation. Did someone say ginkgo candleholders?!
This holiday season, let your home reflect what the season truly represents—connection, nature, and restoration. Through thoughtful entertaining design, grounded color palettes, and biophilic inspiration, you can create a space that nurtures not just your guests, but your own sense of peace and joy.
In good design,
Renee
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee is an absolutely wonderful designer. Very talented and easy to work with! She will transform your room or outdoor space into exactly what you want, only better!
Talented, creative, dedicated, great communicator. Renee is such a special person.
We have worked with Renee Carman at this company for almost 2 years. Renee is professional, personable, and a pleasure to know. She is very helpful and will go the extra mile to please her clients. Renee has excellent expertise and knowledge of interior design. We have a beautiful home and highly recommend her.
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee was a pleasure to work with and has great vision. We were doing a total rehab of a recently purchased property and she was able to look at a gutted out '50s cottage and turn it into a beautiful mid-century modern home. She understood our budget and timeline and was good about narrowing all our options down to just a few choices. This expedited the process, made it less difficult and more enjoyable. Once the rehab is done, we look forward to working with her again and finish the rest of the rooms.
Renee at Mandeville Canyon Interior Design was simply wonderful to work with. She was able to understand what we were looking for in terms of color, function and design from the moment we first spoke. She's easy to work with, goes above and beyond and delivers an outstanding design.
I highly recommend Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design. I don't think I will attempt to decorate another room in my house without the help of Renee!
Love working with Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design ! I had the opportunity to collaborate on a large scale design project recently and the results were fantastic! Creative, resourceful and one of kind design ideas made this design opportunity with Renee "one of a kind" Have a large or small project? You won't be disappointed!!
Renee not only has an amazingly creative eye, she also directed a massive renovation for us this past year that included the challenges of operating during the pandemic. She put together a team that had an incredible work ethic and brought the project in on-time and on-budget. She's a great listener. When we threw ideas at her, she was never dismissive; quite the contrary, she made them better. Her patience, attention to detail combined with her whacky sense of humor meant we were all able to smile while producing a home that we love. A great talent and a great lady.
Rene is amazing! Great customer care and wonderful attention to detail.
