How To Decorate For The Holidays When You DON'T Have a Christmas Tree
This year we decided to forgo the Christmas tree. The decision is based on the simple facts that 1) it's a pain to set up, and 2) our cats love to chew on the branches.
Every year it's a battle to keep Marvin and Theo out of the tree.
Trust me when I say that we've resorted to everything from spraying them with water to wrapping the tree up in a blanket when we're not around to supervise them.
I'm well aware that wrapping a Christmas tree in a blanket is ridiculous and yes, it's a total eye-sore but what else can we do?
Without fail, they always manage their way under the blanket and it's not until we hear little munching sounds that we realize what they're up to.
Between the cat's weird fixation on eating plastic trees and our sheer desire not to want to deal with it, I jumped onto Pinterest in search of alternative Holiday decor inspiration that's minimal and chic.
Sure, it feels a little weird not having a tree this year but the truth is I don't miss it one bit.
TIPS ON DECORATING WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE
Start by gathering inspiration. I love PINTEREST for this.
Find commonalities in the photos you’re drawn to.
Start decorating. Store anything you don’t need to make room for anything holiday-themed.
Keep it simple and minimal. Set up will be easier and so will clean up when the holidays are over.
Have a focal point. Mine is the bookshelf where I put two large paper trees (from INDIGO $28-$33), a couple of cermaic houses (also from INDIGO), some garland, and holiday scented candles.
This leads me to the next tip - incorporating garland, fresh cedar, and spruce branches into your decor will automatically transform your home into the festive spirit. I got mine at my local grocery store for $8/ bundle. Cheap, cheerful, and impactful.
Try incorporating more candles into your decor. My favorites for the holidays are by NEST NEW YORK. They come in amazing scents like HOLIDAY and BIRCHWOOD PINE.
If candles aren’t for your thing but you want to add the scent of the holidays to your home, check out the NEST collaboration with PURA Smart Home Fragrance Diffuser Device ($120 CAD at Sephora). I have one and love being able to control the intensity of the fragrance through my iPhone.
Finally, if room sprays are more your thing, check out 13 DESSERTS from L'OCCITANE ($34 CAD). It's a warm scent with notes of Sweet Orange, Thyme, Cassia, Cinnamon, Patchouli, and Whisky Accord. Very festive and sophisticated.
SUGGESTED READS: 3 HOLIDAY TABLE SETTING IDEAS TO TRY THIS SEASON
This post features affiliate links. f you choose to buy something, I will get a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t impact the price you pay. Affiliate links are just another way to monetize my blog.
LATEST VIDEOS FROM WOAHSTYLE
LATEST VIDEOS FROM LIPSICK.ME
Gift Guide for the Candle Obsessed
Each holiday season I look forward to festive scented candles from Nest New York, Diptyque, Jo Malone, and yes, even Bath & Body Works. (Cheap and cheerful for the win, am I right?)
I love gifting candles and I love receiving them as gifts. When you're this obsessed with bougie candles, it's the sort of gift that never gets old.
In this post, you'll find some exquisite holiday home fragrances that will wow the candle enthusiast in your life.
And just in case you want to gift a non-holiday scent, I've also included some stunning scents from Tom Ford, YSL, Jo Malone, and Maison Margiela REPLICA that can be enjoyed all year round.
Happy gift-giving! Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
This post features affiliate links. If you choose to buy something I will get a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t impact the price you pay. Affiliate links are just another way to monetize my blog.
Holiday Candles by Nest New York, $23 - $184 CAD
Nest New York makes some of my favorite candles and each year I look forward to their limited edition holiday scents. The scent, appropriately named Holiday, is a blend of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, and cinnamon alongside a hint of vanilla and amber and comes in a beautiful limited edition vessel. Affordable and high quality, Nest makes candles in a variety of sizes as well as diffusers. The Birchwood Pine scent is an earthy woody scent with notes of White Pine, Fir Balsam, Rich Musk, and Amber and is sure to get your home into the festive spirit.
City Edition Candles by Jo Malone, $94 CAD
It’s a given that anyone who collects bougie candles does so because of; a) the scent and b) the packaging so when Jo Malone launches a limited edition illustrated collection, you can bet it’s game over. This Holt Renfrew exclusive is part of JM’s City Editions collection and features a hand-sketched illustration inspired by London. Trust me when say that I’m tempted to put these on my wish list.
Set of 3 Holiday Mini Candles by Diptyque, $162 CAD
Each year Diptique releases a trio of limited edition holiday scents. This year the French fragrance brand has teamed up with artist Ugo Gattoni to create the illustrated gift box. The limited-edition scents include Moonlit Fir Scented Candle (aromatic woody), Floral Majesty Scented Candle (spicy rose), and Amber Feather Scented Candle (warm amber accord).
Tradition des 13 Desserts Candle by L’Occitane, $59 CAD
With notes of Sweet Orange, Thyme, Cassia, Cinnamon, Patchouli, and Whisky Accord - L'Occitane's cozy new scent Tradition des 13 Desserts is all about warmth and the holiday spirit of generosity. Available in both a candle and room spray, this is the sort of scent you'll want to gift someone, but you'll also want to buy one for yourself too.
Caban Luxury Candle by YSL Beauty, $75 CAD
The latest from YSL Beauty caught me by surprise and is something I'm extremely excited about, to say the least. Available in three signature scents, Tuxedo, Caban and Saharienne, the luxury candles are inspired by the Yves Saint Laurent lifestyle and spirit.
Fucking Fabulous Candle by Tom Ford, $158 CAD
Warm & Spicy this Tom Ford scent has notes of Bitter Almond Oil, Leather Accord, Orris Accord.
Wild Berry & Bramble Candle by Jo Malone, $160 CAD
This beautiful collection from Jo Malone comes in a textured bisque ceramic jar that's so stunning that it feels like a piece of home decor. The scent encapsulates a sunny pathway, the fragrant tapestry of thorny shrubs, brimming with red berries - perfect for gifting that special person you want to impress.
REPLICA Beach Walk Candle Gift Set by Maison Margiela, $95 CAD
This fresh floral scent from the Margiela REPLICA collection comes with a bonus travel-sized fragrance that's perfect for touch-ups. With notes of Bergamot, Heliotrope, and Coconut Milk, this scent captures salty air and warm, sunkissed skin and evokes the memory of endless summer days.
BOIS D'ENCENS LUXURY CANDLE by Armani Beauty, $135 CAD
Armani Privé outdoes themselves with a luxury candle collection that's pure and refined. Each scented candle is poured into an elegantly sculpted glass holder that embodies the Armani Privé brand.
Bois D'Encens is a luxurious woody scent with spicy notes of ginger and Peruvian pepper accentuates the precious Somali frankincense. Its powerful sensuality fuses with ambery woods and cedar.
LATEST VIDEOS FROM WOAHSTYLE
LATEST VIDEOS FROM LIPSICK.ME
The Ultimate Gift Guide For Plant Enthusiasts
The plant community is thriving in 2020 mainly due to the fact we're all spending more time at home.
For me anyway, I can't think of a more therapeutic activity (okay, other than meditation) than looking after my plants. It's a rewarding hobby where I'm constantly learning about each plant variety and their different levels of care.
In fact, my appreciation for plants has grown so much this year that I launched an online plant shop. If you haven't already, make sure you check me out on Etsy, at WoahPlants.
And with that, WoahStyle's first gift guide this year is dedicated to the plant person in your life.
Below you'll find an array of gifts and stocking stuffers, from $8 - $230 that plant enthusiasts will enjoy.
Happy gift giving!
GIFT GUIDE FOR THE PLANT ENTHUSIAST
Monstera Species Unisex T-shirt, Woah Plants $50
This Monstera species t-shirt is the first piece of clothing on my plant shop, WoahPlants, and is sure to be a hit with plant enthusiasts or just fashion enthusiasts in general. I had my favourite Saint Laurent and Balenciaga pieces in mind when I designed this shirt and approached Toronto tattoo artist German Shible (aka, brother) with the idea.
The t-shirt features an original illustration of ten monstera species from common, uncommon, to rare: Monstera Deliciosa, Monstera Siltepecana, Monstera Thai Constellation, Monstera Dubia, Monstera sp. Peru, Monstera Obliqua, Monstera Pinnatipartita, Monstera Deliciosa Variegata, Monstera Adansonii, and Monstera Esqueleto.
Tall Stacking Planter Pot, Urban Outfitters $114
This minimalist pot from Areaware feels like a work of art with its curvy stacked shape. The design discretely integrates both a planter and saucer into one form. Lift out the bottom ring to reveal a hidden saucer.
Granted, it's expensive for a planter pot so this particular piece is for the person who appreciates home decor and likes to burn bougie candles if you catch my drift.
An Entertaining Story by India Hicks, Indigo $67.50
While technically note a plant book, and actually a book on the fine art of entertaining, the latest release from India Hicks features plenty of jaw-dropping photos from the author's Bahamas estate. Island living means that beautiful tropical plants play a huge role in bringing her dinner parties to life (just look at the cover). Plant enthusiasts will be inclined to step up their dining room with plenty of plants after reading this book.
Plant Tribe book by Igor Josifovic & Judith de Graeff, Amazon $37
If the person you're gifting to is into home decor then this book might be their jam. Featuring stories from others in the plant community as well as beautiful photos of their homes, this book is jam-packed with inspiration on how to display indoor plants.
New Plant Parent by Darryl Cheng, Amazon $32
This book by Toronto-based author, Darryl Cheng, dives into the science of plants and plant care from lighting to watering, nutrients, and propagation. I highly recommend this book to all plant enthusiasts, whether blessed with a green thumb or not. Even for someone such as myself who grew up around plants and started collecting plants over a decade ago, I find this book to be a wealth of knowledge and has helped me understand plant care on a broader level.
Paddywax PARKS Collection Candles, Amazon $41
If the plant person in your life also likes candles, this might be the gift for them. Inspired by seven National Parks in the U.S., Paddywax has captured the essence of each park with its own unique scent featuring- Yosemite, Olympic, Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon.
Best of all, Paddywax supports the National Parks Foundation with a minimum donation of $25,000 to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through conservation and preservation.
Once the candle is done, the vessel can be cleaned out and reused as a planter pot. Perfect.
Monstera Wooden Serving Board, Urban Outfitters $64
This wooden serving board in the shape of Monstera Deliciosa leaf makes an excellent gift for those who love to cook and entertain. The stem of this serving board is actually a knife, making it easy to put together a spread of cheese and crackers.
6.75” Planter Pot with Stand, H&M $30
This matte black planter pot from H&M is as affordable as it is chic and comes with a sleek stand. It's excellent for displaying trees like fiddle leaf figs or rubber tree plants.
Pruning Scissors, Amazon $22
Pruning shears are a must in every plant collector's toolbox but the truth is, not all of them aesthetic enough to keep on display. These black stainless steel pruning scissors are precise and feature a fine tip - perfect for pruning bonsai trees. They also fit into dense foliage or hard to reach foliage without damaging plants.
Dr. Meter Light Meter, Amazon $56
This nifty gadget is a digital illuminance/light meter that can come in very handy when determining proper placement for indoor plants. As we all know, plants need light to survive, and sometimes we think our indoor plants are receiving plenty of ample natural sunlight when they might not be. This light meter is the perfect thing to help find the right spot for our plants so they can thrive and grow, grow, grow.
Feit Electric Full Spectrum Grow Light, Amazon $60
These LED grow lights by Feit Electric happen to be a favourite of mine (trust me, I have five of them). They come with a variety of fasteners to help you mount them on either your bookshelf, ceiling, or Ikea glass cabinet (aka, makeshift greenhouse). They provide plants with a full spectrum of light that they need to keep thriving in the winter. Best of all, they don’t run very hot.
TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier, Amazon $60
Some tropical plants thrive in high humidity conditions. Depending on where in the world you're located, high humidity can sometimes be a challenge, especially during the winter months. That's why many collectors of tropical plants will run a humidifier for their plants a couple of hours a day. If the person you're gifting to doesn't already have one, this could be a nifty gift for them.
Milsbo Glass Cabinet, IKEA $229
This IKEA glass cabinet creates an ideal condition for plants and mimics that of a greenhouse - excellent for people who collect rare plants. If the budget allows, include a couple of grow lights with this gift, and the person receiving it will be over the moon.
10 Tier Wooden Plant Stand, Wayfair $187
If an Ikea glass cabinet isn't their thing, perhaps this multi-tier plant stand is. Plants usually look better when grouped together making this gift like a functional piece of decor.
STOCKING STUFFERS UNDER $15
Tradescentia Nanouk 2.5” Live Plant, Woah Plants $10
Vattenkrasse Watering Can, IKEA $15
Moisture Meter, Amazon $15
2.5” Small Planter Pot, Woah Plants $8
Plant Identification Tags, Amazon $12
This post features affiliate links. If you choose to buy something, I will get a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t impact the price you pay. Affiliate links are just another way to monetize my blog.
LATEST VIDEOS FROM WOAHSTYLE
LATEST VIDEOS FROM LIPSICK.ME
10 Affordable H&M Home Items That Look Expensive
Image via Lone Fox
Accessories are a great way to update to your home and with the holidays just around the corner - my mind is automatically drawn towards all things glam.
While in the past I’ve decorated with plenty of red, green, and silver, this year I’m planning a monochromatic Christmas of black and white with touches of gold.
My vibe will be chic and minimal but best of all - the pieces I want to use don’t scream CHRISTMAS and can be used all year round.
Below are my favourite affordable finds from H&M home that look expensive are will help you get your home ready for the holidays!
Happy decorating!
Nathalie
Image via Pintererst
Image via Pinterest
Image via The Beauty Look Book
Image via H&M Home
Image via Pinterest
Image via Eye Swoon
Image via Pinterest
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy something, I will get a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t impact the price you pay. Affiliate links are just another way to monetize my blog.
Photos via Pinterest.com
