The maples have dropped their ruby-red leaves, snow has blanketed the mountain, and the darkest days of the year are upon us. What better time is there to shine? Creg Oosterhart, principal at Creg Richard Design and head decorator at Spruce Peak, brings style to the season with bedazzled evergreens, flickering candles, and bright red bows. Local design studio owner Brenna Brochhausen, of Brenna B Interiors, prefers a pared back approach, embracing winter neutrals with wooden-bead garlands, birch branches, and warm lanternlight. Here, both give advice for holiday decor that’s uniquely you.

Choosing a Theme

Having a blueprint, so to speak, will help guide your seasonal style. Try one of 2025’s holiday trends (see sidebar), or let your existing interior design influence your direction.

For example, if you skew toward a classic aesthetic, greens, blown glass baubles, and a red plaid tree skirt are an elegant way to elevate a traditional look. The finishing touch: A small pile of birch logs stacked next to a fireplace conjures visions of holidays past. “It’s very ‘Currier and Ives,’” says Oosterhart.

Meanwhile, a clean, crisp, contemporary design scheme begs for berries, naked branches, and a bit of glitz (think sparkly ornaments). Oosterhart recommends covering a modern sofa with a black-and-white plaid blanket tucked in like a slipcover, and add a festive red throw.

To extend the usefulness of decor beyond the holidays, Brochhausen prefers less emphasis on red and green, in favor of white or cream and shades of brown (mocha mousse is the color of the year), accented with silver or gold. This color scheme lends itself well to the whole winter season.

An Embellished Entryway

Decorating your front door is a must to set a cheerful tone. “It’s the perfect opportunity for swags, garlands, and oversized candlesticks on either side of the door—anything that invites people in,” Oosterhart says.

He suggests foraging for grapevines (they’re prevalent in Vermont) and installing them around the door’s frame. Woven with greens and berries, they’ll add impressive bulk and rich textural contrast. You can also use traditional pine garlands interspersed with baubles, ribbons, and lights.

Brochhausen likes to frame the door with large lanterns— preferably two on one side, and three on the other, eschewing perfect symmetry. To add to the overall “doorscape,” she then layers a small, seasonal coir doormat over a larger mat, increasing the focal area.

Mantle Magic

The mantle is a key place to show off your individual holiday flavor. Select your five favorite pieces of decor (be they ornaments, strings of beads, figurines—anything goes), and place or hang them on the mantle. In a nod to tradition, Brochhausen recommends incorporating family heirlooms or other treasured pieces to personalize the display.

“Next, weave in greens, garlands, or lights to pull the scene together,” Brochhausen says. She uses rechargeable LED lanterns in sleek silhouettes to add soft luminescence without the hassle of tangled cords. For the ultimate cozy vibes, just add a crackling fire!

Merry to the Max

Oosterhart is on board with 2025’s maximalist trend and encourages erring on the side of overdecorating. Larger-thanlife ornaments, bows, and stars bring whimsy to unexpected areas, adorning doorways, a set of stairs, the backs of chairs, and side tables. And don’t be afraid to pile your chairs and sofas with kitschy ho-ho-ho or deer-antler accent pillows—the more the merrier!

Feel free to go all out with your tree, too, especially if it’s located in a spacious room. Drape it with tinsel, ribbons, and garlands. Pack in as many ornaments as you can fit, stacking multiple pieces on each branch to add dimension. “Think about decorating in layers,” Oosterhart says. Begin by nestling in oversized baubles, and then squeeze smaller garnishes into every nook and cranny. It’s a celebration of abundance!

Florals Galore

Even in the dead of winter, mountain life is all about embracing nature. Bring the outdoors in with arrangements that evoke the season’s stark beauty.

First, choose a vessel. Galvanized sap buckets are always fitting for Vermont, agree Oosterhart and Brochhausen. Wooden bowls offer warmth and rustic charm, while a gilded porcelain pitcher and basin set tap into the Bridgertoninspired castlecore trend.

Next, arrange boughs of lush evergreens contrasted with thin, elegant birch branches. Deck the greenery with faux berries and beads, hang golden baubles among the branches, and strategically place ornaments or battery-operated fairy lights to lend a little shine to the neutral colors of the birch. Intersperse silk flowers to add interest; magnolias bring a classic white elegance, while dramatic amaryllis can widen your color palette with hues ranging from blush pink to wine burgundy to granny-smith-apple green.

Placing arrangements off to the sides of the room—think an entry or hall table, sideboard, or console—allows them to stretch to impactful heights (the sweet spot is between 18 inches to three feet) without taking up prime party space. In rooms with high ceilings, Brochhausen bunches branches in a corner of the room, where various lengths reaching to eight feet draw the eyes up and around the space.