Hosting holiday gatherings can be frightening. Summer drags on forever, and then poof, it’s fall y’all. Time to decorate your home and host everyone for feasts and parties through the end of the year!

Don’t fret, your Kisabeth friends will help you move from Nightmare on Elm Street to Miracle on 34th Street with ease.

Step One: Let the Exorcism Begin

Clutter is lurking around dark corners in every home. Even Marie Kondo, the queen of tidy, who wrote The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, has confessed that her own house isn’t quite as tidy anymore.

Debbie Bush, owner of Houston-based home organizing service Basket & Bin, acknowledges that de-cluttering an entire house can feel terrifying. Instead, she suggests starting with a smaller area like a spice cabinet or a pajama drawer.

“The instant gratification you’ll feel after organizing a more manageable space will inspire you to tackle a bigger project, like maybe the skeletons that are hiding in the guest room closet,” says Bush.

When you do encounter clutter, Bush suggests setting aside any sentimental belongings and looking back through those later. “Things that are inherited, children’s items, or even special clothing can paralyze the organization process,” says Bush. “It’s better to save those pieces until the very end.”

Bush also suggests waiting to buy clutter-corralling supplies until you know exactly how much stuff you have and where you plan to relocate it. She mostly shops at The Container Store because of its consistent product lines and quality. It’s also easy to make returns.

If you decide to collect things in a donation pile, Bush says to make sure you bag it up and drop it off at the collection point that same day. Otherwise, you’re only relocating clutter from one place to another in your home, garage and/or car. (This is my kryptonite!)

Step Two: Costume Up

If you look around your newly organized space and realize the décor still isn’t what you’d like it to be, one option is to disguise problem areas.

“Early October is the exact right time to start thinking about fun, new holiday decorations,” says Jan Revels, Interior Designer, Allied ASID, with Dallas-based Chateau Concepts LLC. “Lots of designers do professional decorations in their clients’ homes for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.” And Jan says she still has some availability for this holiday season.

If you are more of a DIY person, Revels says it’s important to first identify where you want to display your décor – maybe it’s on your bar, mantle, front door, tables, etc. “I love to make custom wreaths and garland for my clients,” says Revels. “A wreath is an inexpensive way to make a big statement.” Revels suggests looking at Frontgate for inspiration.

Step Three: Trick or Treat

If you crave a little more than a few new holiday bells and whistles, try shopping at trendy Dallas Design District hot spots that offer consumers opportunities to purchase quality home furnishings right off the floor.

Revels says she often brings clients to Kisabeth’s Slocum Street showroom to shop our floor samples. “I like that Kisabeth hand-makes everything in their Fort Worth facility,” says Revels. “The pieces are all made with quality materials, so they really stand up to whatever family living might throw their way.”

Visitors are always welcome in our showroom. We are only able to sell our made-to-order collection to trade partners. But anyone may purchase pieces off our showroom floor. Here are a few examples of what’s currently available: a 108-inch Salona Sofa, in a beautiful neutral fabric (with two more identical sofas at our Ft Worth facility), six matching Georgie barstools, and three one-of-a-kind wooden screens. 

Another favorite option for unique finds in the Design District is our Slocum Street suitemate, Vinya, a high-end furniture consignment store that is owned and operated by interior designer Debra Owens and her daughter Tristan Owens. D Home awarded Vinya “Best High-End Furniture Consignment” in its most recent Best of Big D issue.

Here’s hoping this holiday season is all treats and no tricks! Tune in for our November Blog Post on Wednesday, Nov. 1. We hope to see you in our Slocum Street showroom, at 1313 Slocum Street, Suite 101, Dallas, TX 75207 or book an appointment for us to visit your office!

Until Next Month,

    Kristin Schroer         

   PR & Marketing