Cook Beautiful Holiday Decor Guide

The holidays, complete with early nightfall, cocooning inside with loved ones, and hopefully a barrage of sweet treats and anticipation, are nearly here. As you have probably heard if you’ve been around this site for a bit, Cook Beautiful was just released this past fall. And, as it isn’t just a cookbook but a celebration of the way we live our life in accordance with the natural world, it’s bursting with winter decor ideas.

So, here we highlight four of Athena’s many tips from the book to help you warm up your home and table for the holidays–while embracing the cozy, dark sentiment of the season. From textural gift wrapping ideas to artful cheese plate secrets to a recipe for entertaining success and even a versatile winter accessory Athena swears by, here is a small smattering of the images and tips found in Cook Beautiful. Of course, for the rest of the refined ideas, both for the holidays and throughout the year, you’ll have to go straight to the source. Now’s the time to put in a good word with Santa!

1. Wrap Star

Gauzy linen, available at most fabric stores, can serve as a beautiful and unexpected alternative to wrapping paper. Simply cut or tear a large square–leaving the edges unfinished–place a gift in the center, and form a loose knot on top, tucking in a few green sprigs for a decorative touch.

2. Say Cheese

When artfully composed, a cheese plate can double as table decor. The most inviting platters feel abundant, so fill in vacant areas with fresh or dried fruit. These cheeses themselves should look natural and gooey. Break up any pristine wedges by hacking off a few messy chunks and let soft cheese sit at room temperature until properly runny.

3. Well Seasoned

During citrus season, I love to flavor sea salt with a blend of zest and herbs. My recipe–which can be found at the bottom of the post–not only livens up roast fish or poultry, it also serves as a mouth-watering memento of the meal for guests to take home.

4. Prize Ribbons

Words to live by: Never pass up a spool of pretty ribbon. If you keep some on hand, you’ll find many lovely ways to use it, from holding together cutlery to binding bouquets–and of course, tying up presents. Velvet varieties add elegant texture and subtle sheen to winter decor.