Every year, I make it a point to have one of my friends host a holiday party. If I can’t convince someone to host that hasn’t yet, I always end up doing it myself in order to get all the buddies together for an evening of fun. Sometimes, it means coaxing that one friend who never hosts to finally do it. Even though from an outsider’s point of view it may seem “rude” of me to try to get someone to host, all my friends know that I’m the one who ends up hosting more often than not anyway, so they at least understand that I’m just trying to get people out of their comfort zones and having a little fun at their place of residence for a change of pace.

Sometimes I end up doing little crafty nights with them in preparation for the holiday party, like getting shipping supplies out and other artsy things to make little holiday paper rings. (Note that you can use cheap or expensive shipping supplies depending on your budget, and since it’s all handmade, they end up looking mostly the same either way.)

So, I’m pretty good about knowing how to help them prep their own homes just as I do my own each year, and I decided to write a little bit about sticking with a theme for the holidays in your home. Whether or not you choose to host a party, you can employ these different themes in your home’s aesthetic for the holidays (and even throughout the year so long as the holiday decor goes down). Keep in mind that these are general aesthetics and not specific to any one holiday.

This one is classic for many homeowners nowadays. Rustic is all the craze where I’m from, including old tin antiques and tattered barnwood signs. You’re sure to know what this theme looks like when pulled off well. Oftentimes, you’ll see a lot of faux sticks adorning the rusted looking pieces of metal that go in houses with rustic themes, as distressed wood accentuates the rusty metal quite well. For the holidays, this one ties in really well.

The natural aesthetic is probably my favorite because it’s what I always end up going with. Natural differs from rustic in that a house with a natural theme has more plants, earthy colors, and even bits of wood. Muted wood, autumn colors, and minimalistic metal is the key here. The wood you do use in a natural-themed house shouldn’t be finished or glossy but rather simplistic and reminiscent of wooded areas. Greys, browns, and mossy greens are perfect colors for a natural look. Of course, if you’re going for this theme, your holiday tree better be real!