Ah, the holidays. Shiny ornaments sparkle among pine branches, garland winds gracefully across mantels, and paper snowflakes adorn refrigerators and children’s bedrooms alike.

But if you respond to all this holiday flair with unpleasant feelings—anything ranging from decor-shopping sticker shock to a general disinterest in excessive holiday paraphernalia—then you’re in luck. Options abound for crafting a simple, pared-down decorative scheme that still expresses the spirit of the season.

Dial back the color

Should you appreciate clean, modern design, you may take umbrage at the multihued decor that stuffs the shelves of holiday trinket shops (and perhaps even your loved ones’ homes). The perfect alternative to such a scheme is a monochromatic one, exchanging red, bright green, gold, and other bold hues for subtle off-white, muted forest green, or other mild shades of your choosing.

Taking this approach will naturally make textural elements like seasonal patterns and diverse materials pop in the space, giving even subdued colors a more refined impact. Designing your holiday tree in this way will offer a particularly chic, contemporary look.

Emphasize holiday hues

You might prefer going the opposite route, assembling year-round decor that spotlights a season-inspired palette in shades of red, green, or blue. Exchange your pillows, throw blankets, bookshelf adornments, and other smaller objects with ones in these tones for a more surprising take on ornamenting. Just avoid the obvious festive items emblazoned with holiday greetings, instead showcasing cohesive colors. This will express holiday cheer in an understated, perhaps more rewarding way.

Focus on a few quality items

Less is often more when it comes to decorating. For a holiday setting that feels classy rather than cluttered, opt to prioritize just a few essentials for the season, such as candleholders, a tree, or garland. Do so, and you’ll have the freedom to invest in higher-quality products that feature the latest decorating styles. For example, consider embracing the “brave, light, and solid” holiday aesthetic that trend forecasters premiered at Messe Frankfurt’s consumer goods fair in Frankfurt, Germany. This approach emphasizes statement decor in unconventional materials: think modernized nutcracker sculptures rather than old-fashioned wooden pieces, for example.

Style only your hosting spaces

One of the simplest ways to practice decorative restraint that still feels hosting-ready is to only trim the areas of your home your guests will see, like the foyer, living room, and dining table. A few festive touches in these spaces will establish the holiday theme while saving you time and money by keeping your other rooms evergreen.

Focus on all the senses

When you think of holiday embellishments, you might readily picture merry visual elements like trees and baubles, but they can go well beyond sight. What about what you feel, smell, and hear? Try eliciting all these senses in your home instead. For example, turn on a fireplace, set out warm blankets, light diffusers in a winter scent like cinnamon stick or sugar cookie, then play holiday music when guests arrive. You’ll create a complete holiday vibe while your spaces still appear elegantly neat.

Granted, your idea of the holidays may lean toward loud, colorful maximalism, and that’s OK! Trimming your home with holiday tidings is about doing what makes you happy, not just pleasing your guests or meeting social media expectations. But if you’d prefer to practice moderation with your festive decorating, you don’t need to overwhelm your ambience with excessive decor. Just use the aforementioned tips to create a vibe that’s all your own and make the holidays a season to remember.

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