In Southern California, where sunshine and warmth are plentiful even at Christmastime, you can still bring the magic of winter indoors.
For Cindy Roberts, owner of Cute Pink Stuff, and her family of six—which includes her husband and four children, ages 10 to 19—her suburban Los Angeles home is kept looking pretty all year in a style inspired by feminine French-Nordic design. By adding her own handmade and natural touches, she’s able to capture a blissful and memorable winter theme.
“Each year presents a different decorating style,” says Cindy, iwho refreshes her home’s holiday scenery by introducing new DIY projects, color combinations and ornaments. Starting with a neutral background gives her plenty of room for her creativity to flourish.
The hardwood floors and most of the walls are painted in a cottage-white, which opens up the space and provides an easy opportunity to switch out the décor.
Because Cindy prefers a simple color scheme of red and white, borrowed from Swedish and French design, she can easily mix in Christmas décor with an occasional pop of pink—a beloved hue.
“In years past, I’ve been exuberant, opting for traditional red and green décor, colorful Christmas stockings,window dressings and poinsettia plants everywhere,” Cindy says.
“This year,I kept it simple with splashes of red on a white background (walls, floors, furniture) combined with rustic elements (burlap, pinecones, bird nests) and elegant shine (mercury-glass ornaments).”
While Cindy designs and sells many of the handmade decorative items found in her holiday décor, her minimalist ambience puts the spotlight on her artful pieces.
“Our home’s year-round style blends French Nordic with rustic and feminine elements,” she says. “Having a neutral palette of white makes it easy to incorporate splashes of red for the holidays. Adding natural tones of brown blends nicely without changing our year-round style.”
Cindy’s tips for creating a whimsical winter theme:
1. Simple crafting materials are all you need to add a festive touch to popular Christmas ornaments and decorations. Tie red, vintage seam binding or ribbon to vintage glass ornaments and hang them from a tension rod above a window.
2. Incorporate elements from nature for an authentic flair. Use pinecones, bird nests and boughs of holly to dress up your mantel and tabletops for a fun and organic seasonal look.
3. Display handmade pieces for a personal touch. Cindy’s burlap ruffle garland and linen rag wreaths create a unique winter aesthetic and cozy feel.
4. If you prefer a less-traditional holiday color scheme, go monochromatic. In Cindy’s all-white, cottage-style home, she opts for touches of red matched with natural tones found in twigs, pinecones and burlap, which add warmth and depth.
5. Scatter sentimental items. From vintage Christmas cards from years past to a favorite handmade piece, Cindy chooses to surround herself with items that she loves. “Collections of the same or similar items work well,” she says. “Each sentimental piece repeats a special memory that can be relived daily.”
6. Start a new holiday tradition that allows you to slow down and savor the experience. Cindy’s family sets out a special wooden bench that each child sits on to open gifts and thank the giver.
May