A Holiday Bohemian Home Tour

There’s certainly a tactile, lush look to the home, which Lada attributes to “adding layers and loads of texture,” seen in the faux furs, plush carpeting and draped blankets. There’s something about small homes that feels just right for the holidays. The coziness, the sincerity, the corners to tuck into, where hours are spent with family and friends, sipping hot cocoa and curling up under blankets. And in this 750 square-foot Newport Beach home, sweet, snug spaces abound. Lada Webster, designer and owner of Squarefoot Interior Design, was asked to design the interior. She created a welcoming, warm-hearted Bohemian home for the holidays.

**SOFT SPACE.** A peaceful living room marked by simplicity comes alive for the holidays, complete with a classic tree, gifts galore and a faux fur pelt.

This stack of books serves as a landing pace for holiday décor, including small trees in a variety of materials and a vase of bright red anemones. — **SEASONAL TOUCHES.** Those books that always sit on your coffee table? They can be landing places for holiday décor, including small trees in a variety of materials and a vase of bright red anemones.

A green mason jar filled with seasonal shrubbery is placed alongside a small gold deer figure situated on a side table. — **DEER OBJECTS.** As Lada says, bringing in seasonal greens is as easy as stepping into your backyard and clipping small pieces from a shrub or pine. In this case, dusty miller and a sprig of holly rest beautifully in a Mason jar, accompanied by a golden deer.

There’s certainly a tactile, lush look to the home, which Lada attributes to “adding layers and loads of texture,” seen in the faux furs, plush carpeting and draped blankets.

Cozy Living in a Bohemian Home

While the big goal was to maximize space, Lada added warmth and easy living by bringing in vibrant colors and editing the furnishings and accents smartly. Choosing just a few key pieces yet ensuring each one was special was how she created a “casual Bohemian home look.”

Lada advises, “Commit to a large pop of color in small spaces, like a sofa or an accent wall. This creates a focal point in the room and is far more dramatic than sprinkling a little color throughout. Then neutralize the rest.”

**ALL THE TRIMMINGS.** Paper stars on a tree from Ikea serve as reminders of childhood Christmases, evenings spent crafting next to a fire. Heirloom ornaments also work to achieve a throwback look. And neither stars nor heirlooms are complete without a real, fresh-from-the-farm tree.

Not all décor needs to be seasonal. Use your existing accessories. For example, if you have a grouping of vases on your dining room table, don’t remove them. Just place them in a seasonal tray, and weave in some greenery. Add seasonal spice to what you already have.

Since this is only a one-bedroom home, Lada put her organizing skills to the test, incorporating “multifunctional pieces.” To solve space issues, Lada typically looks to low footstools as additional seating. She also says that “scale is everything,” adding, “With a smaller home, don’t choose overstuffed pieces of furniture.” That’s why the rusty-red couch in the living room works so well.

**A MERRY TABLESCAPE.** Here an organic-looking, yet ornately-decorated, table is festooned in florals, small decorative items and ornaments. The patterned runner was a find from Target. Lada says, “Runners are a great way to add to holiday tables. You can add color, pattern or texture.”

A tribal textile brings in the bohemian edge while red dyed eucalyptus and red cosmos add an artsy element.

Lush Look

There’s certainly a tactile, lush look to the home, which Lada attributes to “adding layers and loads of texture,” seen in the faux furs, plush carpeting and draped blankets.

The décor pieces are highly-curated and well-chosen, so important in a small home. “Keep your small-scale knickknacks to a minimum,” says Lada. “Instead, choose large statement pieces.”

**MAKE AN ENTRANCE.** An entryway featuring an ottoman and throw pillows is transformed into a place to welcome Christmas guests. The scene is set with a red blanket and oh-so-fuzzy stockings.

Lada admits that it can be a difficult task to choose the items that make the cut when space is limited. “Editing décor can be one of the trickiest parts of finishing a home. After you carefully choose what furnishings to place in a home, the accessories can end up cluttering the space. My way of editing is this: After placing the pieces that I feel fit in the overall look, I step back, scan the room, and if I feel pieces are competing with one another, I’ll remove one. If you think it’s too much, it probably is too much, and that’s the last thing you want in a small space.”

**FESTIVE BASKETS.** With a dash of creativity, a small black ladder is used as a place to spotlight baskets, a throw, decorations and a garland. Lada says, “It’s a special piece that can stay up year round, and just by popping in different items, such as a seasonal garland for winter or lightweight Turkish throws for summer, it becomes the ultimate multifunctional storage unit.”

Scandi for the Season

Lada, who “offers seasonal décor to clients” has picked up plenty of decorating tricks through her 10 years of experience. Many of her décor secrets can be seen in this home, filled with Scandinavian-inspired boho holiday pieces that match the vibe of the interior.

First, she loves to create warmth through heirloom objects. She says, “Mix in pieces that have meaning to you, like family decorations that have been passed down.” Ornaments and tabletop items provide the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.

Simple home workspace decorated with holiday cheer. — **DECORATED DESK.** Even workspaces can use a little holiday cheer. Lada says that her favorite way to add seasonal décor to an office space is with “scented candles, greens and flowers.” “I prefer to keep my workspace fairly neat and minimal, but just the addition of these items keeps me in the holiday mood.”

Her next tip is both cost-effective and easy: “Use greenery from your yard to create wreaths. Cut shrubs and wire [the cuttings] onto a wreath form; then tie on a bow for a little extra pop, or no bow for a more organic look. You’ll instantly dress up your front door, and it coheres with what’s growing in your yard.”

For another way to represent natural details in your yuletide décor, look no further than the produce section at your grocery store. Lada says, “Use produce to add a seasonal element, like a bowl full of pomegranates or green apples.”

I see cottage design as lived-in and loved-in. There’s nothing pretentious about it. It’s natural, comfortable, and it all falls into place. The seasonal décor adds to the look and doesn’t disrupt a thing.

She also recommends making decorating a family affair, saying, “Get your kids involved. There’s nothing better than seeing decorations your kids have made in years past.” So be sure to hang on to all those Popsicle-stick ornaments and glitter-glue masterpieces. But Lada warns against floor-to-ceiling holiday décor: “Not all décor needs to be seasonal. Use existing accessories. If you have a grouping of vases on your dining room table, don’t remove them. Just place them in a seasonal tray, and weave in some greenery. Add seasonal spice to what you already have.”