Emily Henderson Spills Time-and-Money-Saving Secrets for Last-minute Holiday Decorating

Decking your halls for the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful—even if you wait ‘til the last minute. We got designer extraordinaire and Target Home Style Expert Emily Henderson to spill her secrets for pulling off luxe holiday looks, fast—without breaking the bank. Her number one tip, of course? Turn to Target for all your decorating and entertaining needs. So grab a mug of cocoa, kick up your feet and let Emily (and Target!) help you make those finishing touches look flawless.

Here's the scoop, straight from Emily herself…Transform your living room into a winter wonderland, fast
Let’s start with the living room. It’s where we spend the most time gathering this season—and an easy room to transform in a pinch! The quickest way to make this space feel warm and welcoming is to add festive pillows and throws—go ahead and layer, layer, layer. Here I first grounded the look in neutrals with cozy textures to make it feel like a winter wonderland, and then finished with a few pops of color to give it that holiday vibe. (These neutral pieces will keep you cozy long after the holidays have wrapped.) With a huge array of pillows and throws for $25 or less, Target has plenty of totally affordable options.

One more pro tip: Save a little time by ordering a bunch of options in the Target app and use Drive Up. I pull into the Target parking lot to have all my pillows delivered right to car in less than two minutes (and no need to even take the kids out of the car).
Add some dramatic details
I also like to add some height to give the space extra drama. Don’t be afraid to think beyond the tree—place an oversized wreath above your mantel or center over your window for a festive statement piece. Or drape garland over existing wall décor to draw the eye up. Target’s faux greenery starts at just $4.99, making it super affordable to layer throughout your space.

Create a luxe, versatile tablescape
Now for the dining room. Sticking to a consistent color palate is an easy way to pull off a luxe, elevated look for holiday entertaining. ‘Tis the season for warm, glow-y details and metallic accents, so here I chose elegantly simple flatware, centerpieces and dinnerware. Stylish appetizer plates are an easy go-to—they add a festive touch and dress up your everyday dinnerware without spending a fortune. The best part is that this style works well beyond the holidays. A close-up of the tablescape, including small white ceramic houses and dinnerware Another big impact, low cost idea is to use ornaments in nontraditional ways, like as a creative place card for guests to take with them as a gift at the end of the night. I adore these tiny house ornaments from Target’s Wondershop collection—they’re high-quality, on trend and a steal at just $5. Or, try hanging a few shiny ornaments from your chandelier to add a touch of holiday sparkle, drawing the eye up in the space.

One more time-saving tip: I’m typically more focused on the décor than the food when I’m hosting, so I’m bound to forget a few things. That’s when Target’s same-day delivery with Shipt saves the day. A few clicks on Target.com, and everything is delivered to my door in as little as an hour. Even on Christmas Eve, you can use Order Pickup to have your items ready and waiting for you at the store—usually within an hour.

With these quick, simple tips, your home is sure to shine this holiday. But the most important thing to keep in mind? Do what makes you happy. Change the pillows, or don’t. Go all out, or focus on a few favorite details. After all, your holiday decorations are meant to bring you and your family joy this holiday season.

Craving even more inspiration? Here’s a peek at additional ways Target can help you deck your home for the holidays.