Want to add some Italian flair to your Christmas – or should we say Natale – celebrations this year? We don’t blame you. From the food to the festivities to the emphasis on family, Italian Christmas traditions have a lot to offer. And good news! If you already have a Nativity scene in your home or are planning to attend a Nativity play at your local church, you’re already honoring one of Italy’s most beloved Christmas traditions.
During the holiday season, the story of Christmas comes to life with living Nativity scenes across Italy – a tradition that dates all the way back to St. Francis of Assisi in the year 1223! Attending Midnight Mass is another Italian Christmas tradition that’s made its way to the U.S, but perhaps you want to take things a step further. Maybe you want to have an Italian Christmas dinner by incorporating the seafood-heavy Feast of the Seven Fishes. And sure, Santa is great, but have you heard of La Befana? In Italy, La Befana is a lovable witch-like woman who brings gifts to children on Epiphany Eve (January 5th), much like Santa does on Christmas Eve here in the U.S.!
Okay, so the kiddos may not want to wait an extra ten days for their presents, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a modern Italian Christmas at home. You may not think “modern design” and “Christmas decorations” go together, but there are actually many beautiful ways you can incorporate the modern Italian design principles we love here at NOLI into your Christmas decorating style. After all, modern Italian design is all about a timeless feel – and there is no holiday more timeless than Christmas.
Still not sure what we mean? Let’s walk through some of our favorite design principles and show how they can be incorporated as modern Christmas decor for your holiday season.
Design Principle #1: Neutral Palettes with Pops of Color
We’re dreaming of a white Christmas…with pops of color to accentuate the holiday vibes! This principle is simple. When choosing your modern Christmas decorations, focus on a minimalist color palette. Then add in strategic pops of Christmas colors like red and green to give your home that iconic holiday feel.
Colors like red and green are so striking that they really pop on a white or neutral background, allowing you to choose where to draw your guest’s eye – like to the Christmas tree.
And speaking of the Christmas tree…
Design Principle #2: Embrace Nature
Still not convinced modern Italian design and Christmas can go together? Then it’s time for you to think about embracing nature.
What exactly do we mean by “embrace nature?” Modern Italian design is also all about incorporating colors and textures from nature, meaning your Christmas tree, wreaths, and garlands already count as modern decor for Christmas.
Because your modern home probably already incorporates natural materials like wood and stone, these naturalistic decor items will work in harmony with your existing interiors to create the perfect winter wonderland right in your living room.
Design Principle #3: Less is More
One of the benefits of going with a modern look for your Christmas decorations is you won’t have to worry about stuffing your home like a stocking with Santa Clauses and other tchotchkes. Modern Italian decor is way more intentional than that.
Think about it – you spent a ton of time picking out the perfect Christmas tree. So when people walk into your living room where do you want them to look? That’s right! The Christmas tree! Over-decorated rooms can feel stuffy, claustrophobic, and overwhelming to the eye. Instead, focus on creating areas of visual rest within your space so that things like the Christmas tree and stocking display can get the attention they deserve!
Design Principle #4: Be Intentional
Modern Italian design is all about melding form and function. When you start decorating a room, think about how the space will be used. Is this a place where gifts are going to be opened? Where meals will be served? All of these questions will help dictate what type of decor you bring into the room.
You want to make sure anything that you’re adding helps to serve the purpose of the room, not detract from it. So, for instance, covering your dining room table in a miniature scale model of a Christmas village may be cute, but it’s going to be a pain once it’s actually time to sit down for Christmas dinner.
Instead, opt for something simple like a garland table runner to beautifully incorporate the Christmas feel without impacting your table’s functionality as a space for eating and sharing in conversation.
See? Not only is a modern Italian Christmas design possible for your home, but it’s also a beautiful (and simple!) way to decorate for the holidays.
We can’t wait to see what you create! Buon natale! (That’s “Merry Christmas” in Italian! 😉🇮🇹🎄)
