Looking for some fresh ideas to decorate your home for the holidays? We sat down with our in-house interior designer to learn about her best holiday decorating tips. Read about Laurie's favorite techniques (and places to shop) below to see how simple accents can make a big impact!

An inexpensive way to add color is to add large bows amongst the greenery on mantles, on furniture pieces, or at the base of stairs. Hobby Lobby and Michaels always have beautiful ribbon to choose from. Always use wired ribbon as it primps well after being stored, and makes the nicest bows! Take simple garland and jack it up using picks purchased from local craft stores. I do the same thing to my wreaths and it not only makes them fuller, but also ties them in to the garland. I've used elsewhere to bring a cohesive design to my holiday decorating! Bows can also be added to the backs of dining chairs and to lanterns for a festive touch!

Switch out your spring/summer pillows and throws for some faux fur. This is a great way to add that cozy feel and the neutral colors work great with almost any décor! Chunky yarn throws or plaids add a pop of color. At Home and Home Goods are a good source for these.

Don't forget the outside! Many people decorate their front doors with a wreath, but adding lights to bushes and pine trees adds a festive touch! Don't forget to tie wreaths to the backs of benches or put greens in your pots or urns that held flowers during the summer . I get free greens from my local Christmas tree farm and add artificial berries to my urns to add a pop of color. They last all winter and in the spring I take them out and they are ready for spring flowers again! Add a swag to your mailbox tied with a large bow to welcome guests to your home.

The holidays are a great time to incorporate your family's heirloom silver . This is all the rage this year! Hang trays on the wall from ribbon, or even use blackboard paint in the center and it becomes a creative blackboard! Make vignettes of antique pieces incorporating greens and candy canes in sugar bowls and creamers. 

Bring some childhood joy into your home ! My son loves colored lights and, although they don't work on my main floor, I decorate our lower level tree and fireplace with colored lights and red plaid accents. This brings a warm and cozy effect and works so well with childhood ornaments! 

Add a wreath to interior French doors with a ribbon push-pinned or stapled to the top of the door. You can also hang wreaths from mirrors or breakfast room windows! 

Don't forget the bathrooms! It doesn't take much; just add a sprig of greenery to a basket or add a reindeer or Santa and a wrapped present to the counter .

Speaking of presents, you can wrap empty boxes of all sizes using the prettiest of wrapping paper and wired ribbon . I wrap them and put them all around the house: on trays, under furniture legs, in baskets, and on bathroom counters. After the holidays, put them in a large plastic bin and reuse them next year!

We hope this has inspired some creative and fun ideas! Enjoy decorating your home this year!