Learn how to pick seasonal decor that transitions seamlessly throughout the year.
How To Make Your Seasonal Decor Timeless
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Bring the Outside Inside
One of Malina’s first tips to keep your seasonal decor timeless is to draw inspiration from nature. “Organic elements from your outdoor environment make for beautiful natural decor that can cross over from Thanksgiving all the way through the winter,” Malina explains.
If you’re struggling for inspiration, take some time to go for a walk or to a local park. Take note of the leaves, pine cones, and other pieces of nature. If it’s safe and legal to do so, Malina urges you to “gather some pine cones from the park into a decorative bowl on your coffee table, or pick up a shapely bare twig and place it in a ceramic vessel on your dresser.” If you want to make your decor holiday-specific, “you can even line up a couple of pine branches over a mantle or along a credenza.”
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Incorporate All Your Senses
Candles don’t take up much space, and they come in various colors and scents. If you’re not sensitive to fragrances, you can take full advantage of this and add another layer to your timeless seasonal decor. For fall and winter, Malina suggests scents such as fir, balsam or spice, and she recommends swapping them out for patchouli, bergamot or eucalyptus when spring and summer roll around.
The colors of your candles can also help your decor transition through the months. While red and green certainly feel very Christmas-y, “winter-white for the cold months, and light blue in warmer weather” will still feel seasonally appropriate and will also reduce the number of candles you’ll need to keep on hand.
As a final thought, Malina cautions safety, recommending that you only burn soy or beeswax candles: “Petroleum-based candles made of paraffin oil emit carcinogenic compounds including benzene and formaldehyde. Exposure to these VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) can cause headaches, irritations to the nose or throat, disruption of liver and kidney function, and can even lead to cancer. Plant-based candles made of beeswax, soy, or coconut are a healthier alternative to safer indoor air quality. “
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 Take Advantage of Textiles
Blankets are another great way to make your space feel cozy and decked out for the season. Not only do they give you the ability to bring colors and patterns into your space, Malina explains, “they can also be used to create visual coziness and the essence of a season.”
In the winter, she suggests you “pile up a couple of mohair or alpaca throw blankets, ready to be grabbed for movie night,” while “in the summer, enjoy the cool luxury of a linen towel, which doubles as breezy bath decor.”
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Pick Your Colors Wisely
Whether it’s candles or throw pillows, your color choices can make your decor feel timeless or time-constrained. Malina’s advice about candle colors can be expanded to the rest of your decor. Oranges and blacks for Halloween feel very festive in October but will feel tired in November. Look for more neutral colors for the bulk of your decor instead: browns and creams as your base colors will take you through the fall and into winter.
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Stick With Limited Statement Pieces
Limiting your statement pieces is one of the easiest timeless seasonal decor tips. Having a few items to stand out and celebrate the holiday can be the cherry on top, but if you’re short on space or money, keep the number down.
This way, you can also save time by only having to swap out a couple of items each month or holiday instead of having to fill several large boxes with all the decor. So set out that fun centerpiece or those colorful throw pillows, but keep the rest of your decor holiday-neutral so the statement pieces really pop.
About the Expert
- Ksenya Malina is an interior designer and the founder of New York interior design studio Time & Place Interiors.
