How this architect/designer is preparing his home for the holidays.

Architect and interior designer Natalie Rebak, principal designer at Re: Design Architects, adds a maximalist touch to Christmas decorating. She combines thoughtful collections with a personal touch to create a festive and harmonious atmosphere. Here’s how she transforms her home for the holidays:

Collections bring joy

Rebuck says she likes to decorate her home with lots of the same items because it creates a bright, cohesive look. “Over the years, I have collected an assortment of ornamental trees made from ceramic, glass, pipe cleaners, wood, metal, etc., which were displayed on the buffet in my dining room.” She notes that this evolving forest of holiday greenery feels magical.

“My passion for collecting extends to nutcrackers, and each year another one is added to my collection to reflect the theme of the season.” Rebak also displays them together on dressers or shelves to create a whimsical display. She says they have become a playful and nostalgic element for her children. “I recently started collecting vintage street decorations, blow molds, and made a snowman and candle holders, although I’m still looking for Santa Claus.”

Seasonal natural accents

Rebuck also replaces the flowers and garlands with poinsettias, pine cones and fresh pine branches. She says it brings nature into the home and is one of her favorite ways to freshen up a space for Christmas. “Poinsettias add a pop of red to the fireplace, staircase and front door.” Her children help gather pine cones and pine branches for table decorations, making it a family activity. “To me, every decorative vase deserves to be filled—whether with fresh greenery or something festive like wind chimes or ornaments.”

Ornaments as decor

She fills clear vases or cute Christmas bowls with colorful Christmas ornaments and jingle bells for a simple yet effective decorative trick. “These vases can be placed throughout the home, adding sparkle and charm to every room, and are an easy way to extend your ornament collection beyond the tree.” And adding matching stockings and stocking holders to the mantel, Reback says, provides a cohesive and sophisticated look.

A Tale of Two Trees

Rebak has two Christmas trees, each with its own personality. “My first Christmas tree was for the kids, and I bought it from a farm.” She says she loves the smell of real wood and it’s full of decorations collected over the years. “This tree is a family tree that has all the decorations we collected, and it’s a very eclectic tree.”

Rebak usually collects jewelry from all his travels. She also buys each child an ornament that represents something they liked this year. “The tree even has my own baby rattle from when I was a kid.” This tree tells a family story and brings back memories every time Rebak looks at it.

However, the design lover has a monochromatic Christmas tree in it. “I have a tinsel tree in the basement that I decorated with red ribbons and red flocked ornaments.” She explains that this is her chance to create an elaborate, sophisticated look, and because it her tree, children should not touch it.

Vintage finds and treasures

Rebuck is always looking for Christmas items, and she especially looks for them at estate and tag sales. Many of her favorite pieces, like mid-century mercury glass jewelry, were discovered during summer shopping. “My favorite play from the 1950s: Santa and Mrs. Claus kissing on the green bench. I like it because my parents had the same thing.” Rebuck says Christmas is about remembering old memories and creating new ones. “I love mixing these old pieces with new finds to create a layered and timeless look.”

Deck Stairs

If you have stairs, Rebak says string lights are a must. “Wrapping the railing in garland creates a dramatic and festive look.” And she says garland holders are a lifesaver, keeping everything securely in place while maintaining a pristine look.

Table holidays

For Christmas dinner, Rebak likes to create a festive table. “I recently found a charming set of Santa plates that goes perfectly with the large Chinese place setting I brought back from Italy with red flowers.” It is paired with vintage red goblets and red napkins. “I add a white rose and a velvet red bow in the middle of the plate for each person who comes to the table to dine.”

As guests come and go, she found a playful way to show hospitality: creating a hot chocolate station. “I love creating it for my kids, and guests love that extra touch, too.” The chocolate station includes holiday mugs, marshmallows, red spoons and everything you need for a nice, warm mug of hot chocolate.

Make your space cozy

The rebuck also replaces seasonal pillows and adds Christmas pillows and cozy blankets. “And I used gold, red and green candlesticks to complete the transformation.”

For her, Christmas is a combination of tradition, family and her love of design. “By combining meaningful collections with carefully curated finds, my home becomes a joyful sanctuary that captures the spirit of the season.”