6 Unique Christmas Decorating Ideas

It's more arresting to organize islands of color than to disperse it throughout the decorations. The large balls on the chandelier, plus the surreal blue deer and gifts, create a column of blue in an otherwise silvery landscape.

Bring the snowman inside. "We kept the details of ours very simple," says Stark of these three Styrofoam balls adorned with silver ornaments. "He doesn't have eyes, a nose, or a scarf."

Stark spray-painted a hunting decoy deer from Wing Supply, stuck on rhinestones for eyes, and glued a mirror to its back to make an occasional table for displaying gifts. A Tibetan wool rug from BDDW anchors the arrangement.

Letting this shiny, metallic garland reach all the way to the floor conjures the illusion of a longer and more sweeping staircase. "In my mind," Stark says, "it's the kind of garland Marilyn Monroe would have had in her house."