I am not the type of person who goes all out with holiday home decor — if you’ve been here for a while you already know that I prefer subtle touches that don’t detract from my existing year-round home decor. It’s all about making easy additions or swaps that work for your style! I find that the easiest places to make these modifications are (1) door / wall decor, (2) accent pillows, and (3) tabletop decor. Sometimes adding a festive bunting to your mantle will work, but not everyone has a fireplace (or even a mantle over it, for that matter!) so I tend not to gravitate toward garlands or banners.
Regarding my selections, I prefer to use the colors of the holidays without using overtly holiday-specific items because then I can often repurpose items throughout the year (specifically with accent pillows and florals)! That said, it would be silly not to sprinkle in some tasteful items that are directly related to the holiday.
As you probably deduced from the title, this post is specifically related to decor for St. Patrick’s Day! I wrote this post last year with a roundup of all of my favorite festive St. Paddy’s home decor items and it seems to have been pretty popular! 😊 I feel like this holiday can be a bit more challenging than others to find celebratory decor that isn’t tacky (lots of glitter, bright kelly green that is tough to integrate into normal home decor, and cheesy leprechaun items) so I thought I’d share my picks again this year! (I still stand by my selections from last year, but most of those items may no longer be in stock.)
DOOR / WALL DECOR
I LOVE a front door wreath. It gives great curb appeal and provides a festive first impression upon entering your home. If there is only one thing you swap out throughout the year, I think it should be a wreath because they are just so festive and everyone has a front door, even if it’s inside an apartment building!
If you have space above a side table or bench in your entryway (or even above a bar cart!), this is another great place to swap out an art piece with a wreath or decorative wall hanging.
Since I am limited on storage space (though I would love to have a wreath for every holiday!), I usually just replace the bow on my faux boxwood wreath with a ribbon that matches the season or holiday… in this instance: a crisp white ribbon to make the green wreath stand out for St. Paddy’s Day as well as for the remainder of spring!
ACCENT PILLOWS
This is another instance of why I keep my normal home decor very neutral — I like to have the ability to add in festive accents, whatever the occasion. My couch pillows are all neutral colors so it’s very easy to mix in a few festive pillows, depending on the holiday or season. When I am shopping for accent pillows I try to look for a variety of sizes and textures to add visual interest to the space.
*Top Tip: The easiest way to do this is to get pillow covers and just swap them out instead of actual pillows (especially if you’re pressed for space like I am 😅). It’s also recommended to get covers that are one inch smaller on each side than the pillow insert because it makes for a plumper pillow!
TABLETOP DECOR
FLORALS / GREENERY
I love a floral arrangement to add a little “zhuzh” to a space (faux florals are great for reusing for multiple seasons so spending a little more on realistic flowers / greenery is a worthwhile investment). These can make a statement, such as a centerpiece on a dining room table or a larger arrangement on a coffee table, or create a more subtle ambiance with smaller arrangements sprinkled around your home on side tables or even on shelves!
I actually have some white florals that I like to repurpose in arrangements depending on the holiday. I add in red and pink flowers for Valentine’s day, deep red and blue flowers or berries for patriotic holidays, and deep red faux florals and greenery for the Christmas season! It’s an arrangement that I have displayed on our living room coffee table year-round and just adjust it to reflect the holiday or season.
For St. Patrick’s Day I will probably just stick to white, cream, and shades of white with a hint of green and add a little extra greenery to the arrangement… keeping it pretty simple and elegant.
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DINING
In addition to a dining room floral arrangement or tablescape centerpiece there are other elements that can contribute a festive flair. The table runner, linens, napkin rings, glassware, serving trays, crockery, and even charger plate options make a statement to add to your home’s seasonal decor.
I don’t necessarily suggest having festive items for ALL of these elements at once, but just as suggestions to adjust your existing table decor. Maybe you already have a set of classic napkin rings, but could use some seasonal napkins; or maybe you need a special serving tray or two, depending on the specific food needs of the holiday.
(I love this idea for DIY [faux] moss placemats for St. Patrick’s Day!)
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MISCELLANEOUS
In this situation, “tabletop” could obviously be regarding the dining room table, but it could also apply to sideboards or entryway tables, coffee tables, or even side tables. Don’t underestimate these locations — every little piece adds something to the overall effect. Decorative items could be wooden carvings (in this case, shamrocks!), a horseshoe good luck charm, fairy lights in a cloche, candy in a beautiful display jar, candles, greenery balls in a bowl, or the occasional festive knick knack.
I think a great way to display these decorative bits-and-bobs is on a raised serving tray (pedestal?), cake stand, or a tiered tray which makes them look a bit less haphazard and more intentional. Don’t try to cram everything onto them either… look around your space and see what areas / surfaces might benefit from a little color or zhuzh-ing up with festive items.
Off-topic from decor (but St. Patrick’s Day-related) — I found these delicious-sounding recipes for Corned Beef sliders and Beer Cheese Pretzel Bites that I thought I’d share in case you’re hosting a St. Paddy’s Day gathering or just wanting to celebrate at home! I love sliders because you don’t have to commit to one huge sandwich and can choose your preferred portion… and who doesn’t want to snack on cheesy pretzels?! If you’re more interested in something sweet, I have a post with a shamrock shake dupe as well as one that has a recipe for some super easy festive cookies!
You can also find even more St. Paddy’s decor inspiration (liked tiered tray styling) and food ideas on my Pinterest!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, friends!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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