Decorating & Design
How Designers Give Their Front Door A Festive Makeover
Updated on November 17, 2023
When we think about decorating for the holidays, trimming the tree and wrapping presents easily come to mind — but delivering Christmas curb appeal is equally important. It’s the first thing your guests see, after all! We asked some of our favorite designers — from Sarah Richardson to Nam Dang-Mitchell — how they make a merry first impression for the holidays. Scroll down and get inspired!
Natural Wonder With Nam Dang-Mitchell
“I usually do a fresh garland around the door because it suits the traditional architecture of our 1912 home, but I’ll switch up what goes into the iron urns that flank it. I hammer really big nails along the top to hang the garland on, then I add greenery to fill it out. I put Norfolk Island pines in the urns; they’re an easy solution when you’re too lazy to do an arrangement!”
English Grandeur With Colette van den Thillart
“Our house is neo-Georgian, so it really suits a layered and luscious traditional approach. I went for a lot of magnolia — it’s less fussy than cedar, and the rust-colored underside of the leaves is dead chic. I prefer real foliage on the exterior, and I’m obsessed with well-tied droopy ribbons. Living in London taught me that lavender and lilac are neutrals — they go with everything and ground most colors.”
Modern Symmetry With Sarah Richardson
“I wanted a simple yet modern look that would complement our contemporary home. The wreaths are made with birch bark. I decorate two homes for the holidays and having lovely reusable wreaths definitely makes a difference during a busy season. My two daughters help me arrange the greenery in the planters; it’s a nice way to get us into the holiday spirit!”
Victorian Splendor With James Davie
“I definitely like to decorate the same way every year — there’s no need to reinvent the wheel each Christmas. My door color inspired me. I looked long and hard for the right color of ribbon that was more purplish than red to accent the greenery. I would have loved to have hung a wreath on each of the narrow double doors, but it felt too cramped. Hanging one on the street lantern was a better choice.”
Clean & Classic With Anne Hepfer
“Some years I like more elegant and elaborate, and others I just want simple boxwood. It’s really what I’m in the mood for. We’ve had combinations of magnolia leaves, a simple boxwood wreath tied with a wide red-and-white striped bow — even peacock feathers. I ran around like a crazy designer with my paint chips in London, looking for the perfect high-gloss blue for my front door.”
House & Home November 2019