Homestead Holiday Style Guide

Holidays on the homestead are a special time for loved ones to gather around the table, honor family traditions and celebrate the season. But before guests arrive, the table must be set and the home filled with nature-inspired touches – a chance to bring the homestead in.

For Colleen Bennett, founder and principal designer at CBB Design Firm in Morganton, North Carolina, decorating for the holidays should be simple and layered, weaving in natural elements and heirloom pieces. With more than 20 years designing interiors around the world, she says the simplest inspiration often comes from the homestead.

“It’s so easy to go outside and find decorations,” she says. “You can embrace the natural elements around you and make something beautiful without ever stepping into a store.”

From personal touches and family heirlooms to seasonal decor, Bennett shows how the homestead can become the perfect setting for a warm, welcoming celebration.

Welcoming Entryways & Outdoor Seasonal Touches

First impressions matter, and Bennett loves to set the tone right at the entryway. Stacked baskets, plaid throws, lanterns filled with pinecones and fairy lights all create warmth.

Lighting, she says, is just as important as the decor. “Switch your light bulbs to 2700 Kelvin – just above candlelight. It creates that soft glow you want guests to feel as soon as they walk in.”

Bennett also swears by seasonal timing. In her opinion, pumpkins should only go out in October when they’re harvested, not any earlier. For Halloween, she carves pumpkins, then turns them around to display the uncut side through Thanksgiving.

On the front porch, make the season come alive by adding mums, hay bales and chalkboards displaying words like “grateful,” “thankful” and “blessed.” If the fall weather cooperates, Bennett suggests taking holiday celebrations outside: “Light a fire, bring your chairs and enjoy the crisp air. That’s part of the season, too.”

Setting the Holiday Table

Creating and setting the perfect holiday table is all about layering and adding personalized touches. From natural elements harvested from the homestead to warm textiles, every detail can bring the season, family traditions and your personal style into the room.

Centerpieces:

Wheat stalks, magnolia leaves, apples and small pumpkins grown and harvested from the land add natural texture and color. For a touch of greenery, Bennett suggests including eucalyptus.

“Layering is key,” she says. “Wheat gives that taupe color, pumpkins bring orange, magnolia adds green and fall leaves finish it off. Then mix in brass candlesticks, copper bowls or even wood chargers made from fallen trees.”

Natural centerpiece ideas include:

• Branches and lanterns: Clip branches from trees on the property. Arrange them in a tall hurricane vase. Surround them with pinecones, acorns, walnuts or other local forgeable items.
• Wood cookies: Cut a “wood cookie” – a flat slice of a fallen tree trunk – to use as a rustic base. Add mason jars as vases and fill them with wildflowers. Incorporate a few apples from an orchard around the base for a pop of color.
• Herbal centerpiece: In small clay pots or vases, include rosemary, thyme or other seasonal herbs, and place them in the center of the table. This acts as functional decor, as guests can cut sprigs to add fresh herbs to their holiday meal.

Table Settings:

For table settings, Bennett says to start with bold autumn-themed textiles such as large, layered runners in burnt orange, sage or mustard. From there, add accent pieces and dishes.

“Everyone has plain white plates,” she says. “Dress them up with plaid or gingham salad plates or floral patterns in deep, moody colors. It adds that extra “zhuzh” without having to buy a whole new set.”

Mixing textures is also key to keeping the table warm and inviting. Wooden chargers or bowls balance shiny metallics such as brass candlesticks or copper cups. For napkins, Bennett encourages something unique such as a seasonal fabric pattern or crochet napkins passed down through the family.

For place settings, Bennett recommends mixing the old with the new. Combine passed-down china with everyday dishes. Mix and match glassware and silverware. “Even if they don’t match, that’s part of the holiday charm.”

Decorating for the Senses

For Bennett, decorating for the holidays isn’t just about what guests see. Layering decor, scent, sound and warmth help to pull the entire look and feel of the season together.

“Think of all the senses,” she explains. “On your stovetop, simmer a large pot of water, cinnamon, orange peel and cloves. That aromatic sense becomes part of the holiday table. Add candles or fairy lights, play music that sets the tone – it all works together to create that warm, fall-like mood.”

Honoring Family Traditions

The holidays are a time to invite loved ones to the table for a time of food and fellowship. It’s also a time for remembrance, honoring family traditions and those who are absent from the table.

At her own holiday table, Bennett brings heirloom pieces into her decor. She includes her great-grandmother’s porcelain jar, her husbands’ great-grandmother’s china, her grandmother’s water glasses and crocheted napkins made by her mother and grandmother.

“They don’t all match, but that’s the beauty,” she says. “Mixing and matching is a way of weaving family history into the celebration.”

Even small keepsakes can be added throughout your decor. A locket nestled among leaves in the centerpiece or framed family photos on the mantle ensures every family member is thought of, remembered and honored during the holiday.

Other ways to honor family traditions include:

• Leave a place at the table as an “empty chair tribute” for loved ones who are no longer with you. Add a place setting, light a candle, a framed photo and a small floral arrangement from the garden.
• Include Grandma’s favorite recipe in the meal. Consider adding the handwritten recipe card to the table’s centerpiece.
• Keep it simple by lighting a memory candle in the center of the table in honor of absent loved ones. Invite guests to share stories as a form of remembrance.

Holiday Decorating Made Simple

If holiday decorating feels overwhelming or uncertain, Bennett says to take it one step at a time, starting with the table. The smallest touches are what guests remember the most, such as placing name cards and gratitude cards at each setting.

“Instead of a menu, the card asks, ‘What am I thankful for?’ Everyone writes their answer down and talks about it at dinner. It always opens eyes and sparks meaningful conversation.”

She also encourages homesteaders and homeowners to keep it simple: “Less is more. Start simple. All you really need is a runner, a couple of hurricanes and a candle. Layer from there.”

To learn more about Colleen Bennett and CBB Design Firm, visit www.cbbdesignfirm.com.