9 Tips for Holiday Decorating from Shaker Heights’ “House in the Heights”

As the holiday season settles in, many homeowners amp up their interior displays. For some, this is an exciting activity. For others, it’s a chore.

Leah Nowak, the creative behind the House in the Heights blog, sees both sides of the card. The home design influencer based in Shaker Heights has spent years mastering the art of decoration, building up her inventory and knowing how to optimize it. Whether you’re low on materials, pinching pennies or simply overwhelmed, Nowak imparts the tips that save her every season.

Work with what you love.

“Over the last several years, I have just really gone into more of what my style is,” which Nowak describes as nostalgic, colorful and eccentric. However, she still sees value in what’s trending at stores like Target, and cites it as an easy starting point for someone trying to find their direction in decorating. Learn the layout of your space, and find comfort in designs you like, even if they’re not “in.” Don’t bother forcing a new trend or style that doesn’t fit.  

Go one room at a time.

For those looking to make decorating more manageable, dedicate your time to focal points in your home, like the living room, dining room or kitchen. “I get burnt out by the end of decorating,” Nowak admits. “Focus on the spaces that you’re in the most.” If your capacity only allows you to decorate one room, that’s better than nothing.

Reuse and reduce.

If something worked for your home last year, do it again. Nowak notes that her elaborate display has rarely changed in recent years. “I really have honed in on what I love for my Christmas decor, and I reuse it every year.” Nowak says. Some of her current favorite elements aren’t the most festive, like brass objects and swan art, but they can find their way into any of her displays. And they’re versatile enough to always come back. To avoid overhaul in the coming years, focus on timelessness over trendiness, and be patient in expanding your collection. “We don't have to go out tomorrow and buy all the decorations for our house,” Nowak says. “It takes years to build up.”

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Give secondhand the upper hand.

As a sustainable influencer with vintage taste, Nowak swears by antique malls and estate sales. “I [visit] estate sales usually every other week,” she says. “If it's an older house, these usually have a basement full of good Christmas decorations.” Also stop by brick-and-mortars like Medina Antique Mall, Nowak’s favorite, or your local Goodwill or Salvation Army store for festive, nostalgic knick knacks. “Antique malls have Christmas out all year long,” she says.

Shop early.

If you see a Christmas sale in the summer, consider it. Nowak says retailers often have the best discounts on holiday gear in the off-season, sometimes even into mid-November; she’s quick to keep her social media followers in the loop on all the deals. “I start sharing about Christmas decor usually in early October,” she says. 

Shop your home.

Sometimes, the missing piece is right under your nose. “Pull something from a different room,” Nowak says. “Even if it’s not Christmas decor, it adds a cozy factor.” She advises that holiday decorating doesn’t always have to be red and green with candy canes and gingerbreads. Sometimes, it’s just a quick rearrangement. “When your house feels empty, you think, I need to go out and buy all this new stuff,” Nowak says. “No, you just need to walk around.”

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Accessorize, if you can’t decorate.

Don’t want lots of props cluttering your space? Turn simple home goods into festive statement pieces. “I bought a fun cookie platter because I host a cookie exchange with all my girlfriends,” Nowak says, noting that themed kitchenware is an easy way to feed into her holiday display.

Get crafty.

If you can’t find the decor you’re looking for, make it yourself. For children, this doubles as a family-friendly activity. “We make chain garland with old wrapping paper and wallpaper samples,” Nowak says. “Or, we slice up oranges, bake them and make garland out of them.” She adds that salt dough ornaments and paper doily snowflakes are classic crafts that her family has done for years.  

Don’t take everything down on Dec. 26.

Give your decorations their glory by finding ways to make them last. “Going into January and February, we live somewhere cold,” Nowak says. “It’s still winter, so you could leave all of this up, and just your Christmas tree and ornaments come down.” Nowak suggests simplifying supplemental items like bottle brush trees, garland, wreaths and candelabras, if you don’t want your house barren. Rely on texture and ambiance with cozy blankets, pillows, lamps and other functional decor to feel holiday joy throughout the year.

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