Hearth and home take center stage in December as families and friends gather for the holidays. Anthony Wilder photo shoot stylist, Dannye Bush, shares her top tips to infuse your home with the sight, scent, sound, feel and taste of winter and holiday cheer this season.
Scent
There is no substitute for the smell of holiday scents such as fresh pine and holiday spices. Infuse your home with the scent of winter using aromatic candles- Dannye recommends “Frasier Fir” by Thymes and “Birchwood Pine” by NEST.
“If candles are not an option, you can simmer mulling spices on the stove which will fill the room with holiday cheer.”
Sight
“I love the effect of lights- battery-operated LED string lights can be incorporated into tablescapes, arranged in glass decorative containers and strung on plants to create a festive ambiance. Depending upon where I use them, I also like slow twinkling lights because they create a snow-fall effect” says Bush.
Touch
Add texture and organic holiday warmth with fresh pine cones. You can collect a bundle from outside, and if you like, you can spray-paint them with a flat gold or silver metallic paint. Put the pine cones in glass vases and use them as centerpieces throughout the home. “I buy cinnamon scented pine cones, but you can also add cinnamon sticks into the mix to achieve the same effect. I also usually have a festive faux (or real) fur throw out to snuggle up by the fire” says Dannye.
Sound
Create holiday playlists of your favorite festive tunes to play in the background throughout the holiday season. “I like Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Bublé” says Dannye.
Taste
Impress guests and family members with your own signature holiday cocktail. Bush recommends a Holiday Cosmo [½ oz. Cointreau; 1 tsp. lime juice; ½ oz. cranberry juice; 1 oz. vodka]. Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain drink into a chilled martini glass garnished with a festive embellishment such as floating cranberries or a mini candy cane.