13 Ways to Add Holiday Flair to Your Front Porch in Ten Minutes: Setting the Scene

Since the holidays are all about entertaining friends and family, set the scene on your front porch with weather-resistant elements that invite people over to sit and stay a while. From the bean bag chairs to the rich wooden bar cart, all of these elements are easy to move around and can be easily stored out of sight in the cold winter months.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Comfortable Sitting Area With Yellow Chairs

This corner of the guest house is especially comfortable thanks to two plush yellow armchairs and a woven area rug. When they're not curled up with a book, guests can switch on the TV and catch a movie before bed.

From: Art Home Garden

Dog Is Bathed in an Outdoor Dog Washing Station

A dog sits in a backyard dog washing station that is comprised of trellis, pea gravel, river rock and a stone border. The trellis is the perfect spot for towels and a hose to hang on.

Wonderful Flow

This view shows the dining room's central location off the home's front entry, now part of an open great room with wonderful flow and a coordinated look and feel. Removing walls allowed a better connection between spaces and increased the natural light that now floods into this urban home.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Contemporary Neutral Front Porch with Brown Wooden Swing

The front porch swing was inspired by Jasmine's childhood and big enough to fit the entire Allison family.

Purple Teen Bedroom With Window Seat

This bedroom is part of a suite belonging to two teenaged sisters. Both girls love purple, so the designers chose a sophisticated lavender hue that felt more grown up for the walls. Colorful fabrics and pillows make the room fun and whimsical.

From: TerraCotta Design Build

Edited Layers

The formal living room/parlor is one of the first impressions you get to make on your guests about what your personal style is and how you like to live at home. For the entertaining spaces in this home our client wanted chic, well edited rooms with simple palettes and lots of light. Their formal living room is exactly that with transitional furnishings and original artwork created by one of their daughters. The layering in this room is subtle but impactful. Metallic wallcovering defines the niches, sheer panels, a painted ceiling and an antique mirrored platform coffee table rest on a white silk rug. All of these carefully curated details have light-reflective properties. Editing does not equate to skimping.

Boho-Chic Girls Room Complete With Swing Chair

On the other side of the room, a dresser keeps clothes neat and organized. By pushing the bed to the far wall, the designers were able to open the floor plan and make room for a super cute and comfortable swinging chair.

From: TerraCotta Design Build

Relaxing Deep Purple Bedroom

This moody bedroom is deeply relaxing, with deep purple walls, natural wood bedroom furniture and peacock wallpaper that pick up the light. A feminine feel is achieved by layering textures.

From: Allison Lind

Gray, Transitional Guest Bedroom with Water Views

This transitional guest room features a soothing palette of grays and blues, as well as sweeping views of the water from a window-filled corner. Two beds offer ample space to house company. A freestanding wardrobe, meanwhile, creates additional storage space.

From: Windermere Real Estate

Contemporary Kid's Room With Los Angeles Print

In one of the boy's rooms, the furniture is clean white to allow lots of room for the graphic wallpaper and colorful art, toys and bed linens.

From: Natalie Myers

Dressing Table in Purple Teen Room

To prep for the day and nights on the town, this teen bedroom gets a dressing table with a beautiful inlaid mirror. A velvet blue stool picks up the inviting color of the window seat's cushion.

From: TerraCotta Design Build

Blue & Orange Pillows Enliven Outdoor Living Room

With two sofas and four armchairs, this outdoor space makes entertaining oh so easy. A bright blue area rug softens the stone floor, while blue and orange pillows pack a visual punch.

From: Bea Pila

Black and White Galley Kitchen With Wood Floors

Black drawer and cabinet pulls are a sharp contrast to this kitchen's white cabinetry and add a note of sophistication to the overall look.

From: Margarita Bravo

Master Bathroom With Large Soaking Tub

Sage green walls and warm wood vanities make for a calming combination in this master bathroom. His-and-her sinks ensure that the owners have enough elbow room, while a large soaking tub invites them to relax after a long day outside.

From: Windermere Real Estate

Bright Midcentury Modern Kitchen With Woodgrain Cabinet Base, Clear Seat Barstools and Framed Stainless Steel Refrigerator

The woodgrain cabinets and countertop base add warmth to the room and ground the light and airy look of the white design. A petal light fixture balances the sharp lines and corners of the architecture. Clear barstools compliment the minimalist style approach.

From: Jackson Design and Remodeling

Modern Black And White Kitchen With Copper Pendants And Work Island With Sink And Dining

This modern black and white kitchen has marble backsplash, countertops, and work island, two prep sinks with contemporary gooseneck faucets, copper pendants, built in appliances, and a midcentury modern inspired dining table and chairs.

From: Caitlin Murray

Eclectic Pink Master Bedroom with Two Persevered-Plant Wall hangings

The downstairs master bedroom features a bright and colorful garden theme, including two preserved-plant wall hangings custom designed by Karen and Mina.

Modern Eat In Kitchen With Gray Cabinets And Stainless Steel Built In Appliances

This modern eat in kitchen features a sleek stainless steel vent hood, gas range, and built in appliances, gray cabinets, marble backsplash and countertops, and a work island with copper pendants, sink and contemporary dining set.

From: Caitlin Murray