How To Holiday Like Jojotastic

To tip us toward the holidays, we turned to lifestyle and design influencer, Joanna Hawley for her honest-to-goodness (emphasis on the goodness) advice on entertaining, decorating, and gifting this season. Learn how her traditionally modern holiday aesthetic comes to life, and how she makes her tiny bungalow a winter wonderland with vintage items creatively repurposed into unique gifts, ornaments, and décor.

Shop Holiday Décor

1. When it comes to styling a small space, I always make sure to stick to my color palette.

In my case, my home has a lot of white with touches of blue and black. I base most of my design decisions on that, but then add a few pops for the holidays (like a bit of green!).

2. I really try to think outside of the box when it comes to entertaining in a smaller space.

For example, my dining table only seats 4, but we have a lot more room in the living room. So, instead of a sit down meal, I prefer to lay out a fun spread on the table so people can grab what they need, then join the rest of the festivities. Also, on Christmas especially, family and friends drop in and out all day long. I try to set the table in a modified “buffet” style so there are always yummy options and drinks available.

3. For me, a space doesn’t feel like home until there is an element of vintage mixed in.

I shop for vintage pieces that match the style and color palette of my home, but typically,I pick up a vintage piece that I just love, and then figure out how to make it work later.

4. Personalized floral vintage glassware makes for a unique DIY gift that feels both modern and antique-inspired.

All you need is a thrifted or repurposed sculptural decanter or glass, flowers, and découpage paste for an elegant piece that will look absolutely stunning on a bar cart. Press the flowers using a flower press or a heavy book for up to two weeks, depending on how thick they are. When they are dry, brush a light layer of paste onto the glass and on the front of the flower. Press the flower to the glass, gently smoothing out air bubbles. Once dry, finish with two coats of paste (let dry in between) and when your glass is fully cured! It will be safe to use and hand wash! View the project here.

5. I would describe my Christmas style as traditional… but with a twist.

I absolutely adore vintage ornaments from the ’50s and ’60s, but always mix them with more modern materials. I scored these amazing vintage Shiny Bright ornaments on EBTH and love how they mix in with my more modern holiday décor. The layered texture on each ball provides a really great complement to the mouth blown glass of my new, from-the-store ornaments.

6. As far as a ritual goes, we always put on holiday records when we decorate — always!

My favorite is the Elvis Christmas album. There are some décor pieces that come out every year, but at this point I have so much that I’ve started cycling through them. My brass wreath from EBTH is going to be a yearly staple though, I’m so obsessed with it.

7. All of my closest friends live in different cities, so every year we curate gift boxes for each other and mail them.

It’s so fun to receive mail, especially when it reminds me so much of my favorite people. I always mix up the contents. Typically there is a candle, a crystal, and a delicious edible treat like artisanal chocolate. My studio is next to an incredible local jewelry maker, so I might include some of her pieces this year, too!

8. My ornaments are usually a mix of vintage and new, plus some that I designed for companies like Anthropologie.

At this point, the plain ornaments are all getting phased out and it’s becoming a really eclectic mix of all styles. Also, I am a real Christmas tree person ALL the way (as opposed to artificial)! In terms of lights, I love traditional, yellowy lights. No color (sorry, boyfriend) and no LED.

Shop Holiday Décor