Deck the Halls

Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger

Michael Molinar, owner of Flowers on Chestnut for the past 21 years, certainly knows how to dress up a home for the holidays. The style contributor for Plum TV, he recently opened up Distinctive Home, a contemporary home-furnishings store in Palm Springs, California, He offers 12 ways to spread holiday cheer from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.

1. Massed bunches of tulips are wonderful at holiday time and not at all expensive.
2. A tall glass vase filled with cranberries and a few stems of white lilies is long-lasting and fun.
3. Cut a variety of fresh evergreens and place on your mantel.
4. Candles everywhere!
5. Garnish a large bowl or platter of red apples with cut boxwood and cinnamon sticks.
6. A footed glass bowl filled with red (or silver, or gold) Christmas balls is easy and lasts the season.
7. A boxwood topiary is easy to make using long cinnamon sticks as the stem.
8. A table-top tree may be a great alternative to a seven-foot floor tree, and a lot less work.
9. Put your decorations up the first weekend in December so you can enjoy them all month long.
10. Put a Christmas tree with lights on a timer in your bedroom so you can enjoy it at bedtime.
11. Amaryllis plants and paperwhites are great during the holidays.
12. A glass hurricane with a fat candle surrounded by kumquats is always festive.