Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

Article content

At this time of year, it can be easy to feel lost in the madness of gift-giving and Christmas decorating. Caroline Boquist, co-owner of Vancouver-based Walrus Design has some tips and insights to guide people through both this holiday season.

Consider the look and feel you want to create for the holidays

Article content

When decorating your home, take a minute to meditate on what the end result will look like. Ask yourself: do you want a more natural feeling space or have a lot of colour around you? Having a vision in mind will help you select items from Christmas and holiday décor you already have.

Article content

Boquist says she used to use all her holiday décor but found it wasn’t the best approach as the result can look a bit random. “It’s better to have a more focused vision of what I want to create.”

She says that despite the desire to create that traditional holiday feel, it’s important to keep your space feeling personal. Being authentic about what you like means things will unfold more naturally.

“It’s great to take inspiration from other places, but it’s Christmas, so I think you want an element of personal nostalgia mixed in with what you want for your home,” says Boquist. “If you’re a minimalist and want to go Christmas maximalist — go nuts.”

Embrace natural materials and lighting

Boquist loves using lots of natural materials and the right lighting tones.

“I love coming home and smelling the cedar, eucalyptus, fresh greens in the home, and having the right tone of light,” she says.

There are so many lighting tones out there now, especially with LED; some feel a bit muted for her: “I love a bright twinkly light.”

It’s also good to consider your whole home, not just your shared spaces when decorating. “I like to pull in the fresh greens and have some in the washroom or bedroom,” she says.

Article content

Some people like nostalgia at this time of the year and pull out the same things every Christmas in keeping with their traditions. But many people are moving away from the traditional, choosing to seek out different things that inspire them each year.

Gifts that encourage people to slow down and get outdoors

Some of the gifts that are always popular at Walrus are The School of Life collection, says Boquist. “It’s a series of games and cards that spark curiosity and introspection.”

Binoculars are another hot item this year, she adds. “They invite people to slow down, like games, and go outside.”

Share this article in your social network