How to create a cozy winter wonderland

Sometimes a faux arrangement can be just as beautiful—if not more so—than a real one. Faux florals are sturdier, making them versatile and giving them a much longer shelf life, says Christina Whittle of Dolce Designs in Los Angeles. She recommends mixing and matching different blooms and shades for a more natural-looking bouquet.

Tired of traditional red and green? Neutrals like winter white still feel seasonal and bring some sophistication, says Lynn Easton Andrews of Easton Events in Charleston, S.C. In this home, Easton created a festive display using only soft, neutral tones. The mirror accented by a metallic wreath, candlesticks and glass cake stand all add sparkle, she says.

Add texture to create an elegant and unique winter arrangement, says Easton Andrews. For this design, we used a birch log as our vase; its distressed white texture worked perfectly with our palette and patina. Placing the floral centerpiece on an antiqued mirror elongates the farm table and adds a nice reflective quality. The candlelight bounces off of the mirror in a magically festive fashion, she says.

I like to add holiday decor that enhances interiors rather than competes with them, says Jan Showers an interior, furniture and lighting designer in Dallas. At home and in my showroom, I add festive white feather wreaths to my windows and doors to to evoke a feeling of 1930s glamour. Last year I hung one tied with a soft blue silk ribbon in the center of a 1940s French mirror. As shown here, the white lampshade and wintry hues in the vases blend seamlessly with the wreath.

To turn an ordinary TV console into a beautiful holiday display, Carissa Jones of JL Designs in Orange County, Calif., used birch planters and silver ceramic vases filled with metallic ornaments, faux red ilex berries and living mini cedar trees. Jones also added birch-wrapped votives from Crate and Barrel to the table for a hint of natural light. Her goal? To create a look that was festive, yet rustic.

Use your environment to find decoration inspiration: We live in California and have succulents all over our home and yard, says Jones. So, as a cool twist on a traditional cedar tree, I made two eight- to 12-inch trees out of succulents, which tied in really nicely with our surroundings. I simply spritzed them with water a few times and they lasted for two months. She set them in the center of the beverage bar, which was accented with white birch tree stumps, cranberry cocktails and icicles made out of sugar.

Santa Barbara event planner Merryl Brown takes a sweet approach to holiday decor. To create this look, we ordered white branches from a floral wholesaler and had a local baker create iced cookies which we hung from the branches with thin white ribbon, she says. It draws the eye up, giving a beautiful vertical element to the table. The best part? This arrangement will last throughout the winter season, says Brown.