Kristen Forgione starts thinking about Christmas in January. “It provides an ample amount of time to create cohesive trends and color stories,” says the interior designer. To create a holiday home that is cozy and tasteful, she draws on her “organic desert living” aesthetic—a blend of calming neutrals and natural elements—and then adds luxurious touches to create a cohesive, sophisticated holiday design. “Neutrals provide a balanced foundation to add accent colors as desired, and mixed metals are typically layered throughout our designs,” Forgione notes. “Natural and textural elements in fabrics and upholstery, such as bouclé, furs and chunky wovens in various weights and color tones add warmth.”

Forgione shares more of her tips and inspirations for styling a desert home for Christmas.

Q&A With Interior Designer Kristen Forgione

How would you describe your Christmas style?

We’re always classic, timeless and thoughtful. Neutrals provide a balanced foundation to add accent colors as desired and mixed metals are typically layered throughout our designs.

How soon do you start planning your holiday decor and when do you start decorating?

As the owner of a lifestyle brand and retail stores, I start planning the coming year almost immediately after the holiday season wraps. While thinking about next December in January isn’t my favorite thing, as you can imagine, it provides an ample amount of time to create cohesive trends and color stories.

What are ways that you recommend integrating that holiday decor into the entire home and keeping that look cohesive?

Keeping your color palette consistent is key. While every space can and should tell a story, keeping the tones of your pine within the same family and your accent colors consistent will naturally signal the eye.

What is a space that people may overlook when decorating that can use a little Christmas cheer?

The kitchen. Because it’s such a utility space, the kitchen often gets overlooked. Playing into holiday baking with countertop canisters adorned with ribbon or working a wreath or two into the kitchen space will bring holiday cheer all season.

What’s one affordable item that you recommend to people when decorating their home for the season?

Velvet ribbon. Put it on everything. Your light fixtures, book stacks, candlesticks, everything.

What elements are most important to you for a festive holiday table?

An inviting display that’s both a moment and functional. Keeping in mind the type of service for dinner (family style, plated, etc.) should help dictate how the table is styled. I also love a natural element such as fresh rosemary or real pine to give off subtle scent clues of the season.

The tree is the centerpiece of the holiday—what tips do you have for people to make their tree look like it was styled by a designer?

Start with the big stuff and work your way to the smaller ornaments and tree trimmings. Also, start at the inside of the tree toward the base and work your way to the tips. (The LIFESTYLEDCO has a video just on tree decorating on its YouTube channel.)

Here in the Valley, we don’t have snow, so what kinds of items do you recommend to make things feel cozy and wintry inside without feeling out of place in a desert home?

Natural and textural elements you’ll find in fabrics and upholstery such as bouclé and furs, chunky wovens in various weights and color tones.

Anything else you’d like to share about decorating for the holidays?

Work with what you have and concentrate your items. I’d rather see one room perfected in holiday adornments than several rooms barely touched.

Check out more of Forgione’s signature “organic desert livingt” aesthetic at THELIFESTYLEDCO (thelifestyledco.com)