Decorating for the holidays or a special occasion embraces embellishment. This is the time for frills that bring those thrills which take us back to childhood, when the shiny or glittery always held a certain magic.

Beads or other surface decorations that glimmer in strands of holiday lights or candlelight can go a long way to making a space special.

From ornaments to Christmas stockings to tree skirts, pillows, throws, table linens, coasters, dinnerware, serving dishes and even drinking glasses, beading has strongly inserted itself into the holiday decorating lexicon in recent years. You'll find it even where you'd least expect it -- perhaps taking a humble homespun fabric out of the ordinary by adding some beads on it. Or working with felt, which might remind some of ornaments your grandmother used to stitch with sequins. Designer Bunny Williams nods to her love of gardening with a sort of nostalgic collection of beaded wool felt ornaments in the shapes of fruits inspired by her own orchard, which she created for Ballard Designs.

While beading lends elegance, it also can evoke whimsy. A set of fancy dog bone ornaments, also at Ballard, is fun and festive because of glittery polka dots.

Beading and dimensional applications of any bling-y ingredients with sparkle are much like jewelry that elevates attire. And fashion also inspires some holiday designs, and their adornment -- a traditional craftsmanship with wide appeal. There's a range in style, shape, type of bead -- which can be clear as crystal, gold, silver or copper metallic, or in colors, matching or contrasting with the surface ornamented. Beads may be applied all over to totally clad a surface, scattered randomly or arranged in a pattern with familiar motifs, such as poinsettias, snowflakes, trees or holly. Any way, beads rule.

Incorporating the sparkly can be dialed up or down, as with any ornamentation. It's effective in strategic placements, perhaps with a dazzling new purchase that strikes your fancy and complements the decorations you cheerfully bring out every holiday season.

Shopping will be inspiration enough, with the sights, sounds and aromatic pine smells of decked-out stores. But even if you shop online, the beauty of glittery products grabs attention, as do inviting headlines, like this one from Z Gallerie: "In celebration of the season, decorate your home with dazzle." Adjectives like "transform" and descriptions like "winter wonderland" evoke the kind of aspirational and romantic scenes we would love to create.

Where to start?

-- Tabletop trees. Especially dramatic when they're graduated in size and displayed in a grouping of, say, three. Some of the prettiest we've seen are soft white, blanketed in "pearls" of different sizes at Horchow. And Suzanne Kasler's tree forms that consist of assembled jewels and strands of beads are fabulous at Ballard Designs.

-- Stockings and tree skirts. When they're well-crafted, these become heirlooms. And many of this year's offerings are out of the ordinary, like the graphic poinsettia beaded stocking on an unexpected ocean blue ground from Horchow, or the modern charcoal-and-white plaid stocking from CB2 that's ever so subtly covered in clear sequins for haute effect.

-- Ornaments, of course. Tuck in just a few evenly spaced sparkling orbs on the tree and they will pop. But ornaments also are fabulous in bowls -- displayed on a console in the foyer, on a side table in the living room, on the buffet or even as part of a centerpiece. Or they can be hung at staggered heights from pretty ribbons in windows.

-- Wreaths and garlands. You'll find some beauties already assembled and appointed with sparkly ornaments or pine cones, but you also can embellish fresh greens or make fabulous the faux you take out of storage. Match the color with some glittery ribbon for a finishing touch.

-- Place mats, napkins and napkin rings. The table is always a spot for showing off. At Z Gallerie, bejeweled chargers are amazing set on beaded runners, and spectacular when put together in a silver and white tableau. Kim Seybert's pretty pearl and gold napkin rings would be lovely on a snowy white table accented with gold.

-- Glassware. Cocktail glasses, such as martinis and flutes, are especially good candidates for fancy metallic touches, and some designers have extended the dress-up to pitchers as well. Kim Seybert's paillette pitcher at Barneys is straight out of haute couture, with references to paillette-encrusted evening ware with its inspired placement of such lookalike "beads" at the base.

-- Pillows and throws. Seasonal pillows are irresistible when they're dressed with crystals, as in a fetching red velvet adorned with a graphic scrolled image of a Christmas tree, from Horchow. But any beaded or metallic touches will dress a sofa or chair, with pillows or even bead-bordered throws that lend a luxe accent.

-- Tree toppers. Angels or stars are like little beacons when they shine on top of a tree.

-- Wrapping packages. Ribbons and papers also have been getting a royal treatment, with all-over glitter and dimensional decorations. Richly embellished ribbons are especially best on solid-color papers, which also can have a bit of sheen. Stacked presents will never look better beneath the tree.

-- Globes. And who isn't enchanted by snow globes? Even these are treated glamorously with toppings of beads outside and in, as a trumpeting gold angel is sprinkled with shimmery dust in a snow globe from Neiman Marcus.

Even though decorating trends wane and wax with regard to ornamentation, no matter how minimal or streamlined forms and fabrics may be, this is the time of year when the brightest and most festive shine -- and set an elegant and ebullient mood going into the new year.

Sources

-- Anthropologie, 800-309-2500, www.anthropologie.com

-- Ballard Designs, 800-536-7551, www.ballarddesigns.com

-- Barneys New York, 888-222-7639, www.barneys.com

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Horchow, 877-944-9888, www.horchow.com

-- Kim Seybert, 877-564-7850, www.kimseybert.com

-- Pier 1 Imports, 800-245-4595, www.pier1.com

-- Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, www.potterybarn.com

-- Z Gallerie, 800-908-6748, www.zgallerie.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

As the holiday entertaining calendar unfolds and stepped up demands are made on the table, thoughts turn to menus, prep and presentation.

Make styling the seasonal table fun, not stressful, especially with a little tweaking of what has worked in the past. Whether you go all homespun, boho, bold and bright, glittery, or mix it up with an eclectic look that's casually elegant and chic, there's a lot of latitude for table dressing in the context of your own home's decor.

And there are plenty of style choices. Even if you opt for the tried-and-true, traditional table settings that might include heirloom china -- pieces held dear by grandmothers, moms or favorite aunts -- there's always room for a fresh ingredient, just as there is for a new recipe.

Retailers (both brick and mortar and online) have streamlined the shopping process by expanding all categories of entertaining, with thematic options for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, as well as glamorous offerings that can serve New Year's Day and other more formal events year round. As you navigate, you're likely to see recurring themes. Choosing some key pieces -- salad plates, serving bowls and serveware, place mats, napkin rings -- can add just the spark you need to freshen up the table.

Take cues from popular blogs and from retailer websites, such as Crate and Barrel, which advises creating "a curated, collected look instead of going matchy-matchy." Also, "celebrate contrasts like shiny and matte, metallic with rough hewn." These also are trends in home decor, and they span a wide range of decorating styles.

Table decorations really spring to life with an artful presentation of fruit and produce of the season. Real Simple magazine says that it just takes a trip to the farmer's market or grocery store to create the bountiful look shown in its current issue: red apples, pomegranates, green and red grapes, fancy pumpkins or squash, acorns, purple cauliflower -- "in a loosely undulating line." The beauty of such a riot of colors is its permission to "pair with any mismatched patterned dishes you have on hand for an easygoing vibe."

Celebrate the season. It's always exciting to see what's new in seasonal motifs, just as it is to check out the latest ornaments and lights for the holidays. Some of the obvious symbols of autumn, winter and the holidays -- leaves, pumpkins, turkeys, Pilgrims, Hanukkah menorahs, stars of David, reindeer, trees, angels, nutcrackers and snowflakes -- have become signature looks for some china companies. Each year, new painterly or graphic imagery lends an artisanal element, which always is appealing because of the handcrafted look.

Some images are more like sketches, often whimsical and sometimes childlike. The trend of scripted messages hasn't faded, either, with simple directives. Earthenware appetizer plates decorated with pumpkins, feathers, acorns and leaves from Pier I each display a different message: "Grateful Hearts," "Gather Together," "Count Your Blessings," "Always Be Grateful."

Add a pop of color. It's so easy to layer in your fave hue or those of the season -- autumnal orange, aubergine, gold and berry tones, red and green, or blue and silver, -- especially on neutral tables, which really can add life. Stretching the boundaries of the traditional can be exciting, too (like hot pink and a more citrus-y green, or coral and olive, or different shades of blue, such as teal and turquoise. Colors can explode in a centerpiece of fresh flowers or fruit -- or on a tablecloth, or the napkins (also the perfect spot for layering in patterns). Introduce modern patterns or unexpected colors, as in a beautiful fresh paisley print table runner in apricot and rusty red on a natural linen ground from Pottery Barn that will make the table memorable. Plaids in different scales are again gaining traction, and you'll find them in both red and autumnal blends on linens, serveware and plates, with borders or allover patterns. Consider the colors of the foods you serve and imagine how those hues, along with the tabletop pieces, will be integrated.

Adorn with a touch of beads and bling. Just like baubles you'd wear, beaded accessories are the perfect dress-up touch. They can be subtle -- like "gold dust," a simple thread woven into the fabric of place mats, tablecloths, runners or napkins. Or a little beading on place mats -- borders or allover -- that catches the candlelight. The glow from mercury glass candles, crystal or a mirrored place mat can add a dazzling element. Another idea to consider: strands of LED lights. Tiny bulbs or stars snaking down the center of the table bring their own magic and sparkle.

Turn to a classic: White. A universal favorite for dinnerware and serving pieces, white is pristine and so versatile. Just as in decor, white on white, especially defined by shape and texture, can be very elegant, particularly when teamed with metallic accents. Embossing and scalloped edges add a bit of a flourish, but simple, streamlined round or square shapes have a modern appeal. Many themed salad plates and serveware have a white ground, so they lend themselves well to mixing.

Complement with gold, copper, silver. Weaving metallics into the tabletop lends warmth and shine. It's a natural adjunct to home furnishings trends, where the metals especially stand out as accent pieces. Mottling, relief and hammering lend texture. Flatware, serving dishes, charger plates and candlesticks also are prime candidates. Don't forget glassware. There's a wide range of metallic embellishment, from swirls to polka dots, stripes to geometrics on glass. The lush add-on can be dressed up or down, with formal or casual dinnerware.

Decorate with natural elements. Riffing off the outdoor landscape or some of the imagery on plates, go for real pumpkins, gourds, evergreens, berry branches or well-crafted facsimiles in wood, resin or glass. Wood and wood grains are especially popular elements of home decor, and they're showing up in chunky charger plates (at Ballard Designs, where the mango wood pieces stand 1 3/4 inches tall and have bark edges), and faux bois patterns in fabric.

Make it your own. Create a personal connection -- salt and pepper shakers or a gravy boat that once graced your grandmother's table; pieces handcrafted by your children; a small collection of pottery gathered from travels; personalized place cards; family photos from previous holidays in decorative frames that are part of the centerpiece or on a dining room sideboard.

The inviting table, as well as the aromas of good food, will seduce all family and friends to gather around. And the visual feast will long be remembered.

Sources

-- Ballard Designs, 800-536-7551, www.ballarddesigns.com

-- Crate & Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Gump's, 800-284-8677, www.gumps.com

-- Horchow, 877-944-9888, www.horchow.com

-- Neiman Marcus, 888-888-4757, www.neimanmarcus.com

-- Pier I Imports, 800-245-4595, www.pier1.com

-- Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, www.potterybarn.com

-- West Elm, 888-922-4119, www.westelm.com

-- Williams-Sonoma, 877-812-6235, www.williamssonoma.com

-- Wisteria, 800-320-9757, www.wisteria.com

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Keeping It Clean

Napkin rings have come into their own -- jewelry for all sorts of napkins, from humble linen to fancy silks. And like jewelry, they range from earthy to woodsy to gilded to beaded looks. And they're no longer ring-shaped. From feathers to miniature pumpkins, candy canes to chunky stones and crystals, they have become much more dimensional, adding shape and texture as well as sparkle to the table.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

Just as spring blooms draw out the desire to refresh wardrobes, interiors and gardens, the crispness of fall air and brilliant foliage inspire a sprucing up at home. It's a fabulous time to take stock, indoors and out, with an eye to toward a few strategic seasonal tweaks heading into the holidays.

One way to collect design information is by checking out designer showhouses. These open houses of existing or builder homes, which often benefit charities and may be sponsored by national or city shelter magazines, are an excellent opportunity to see stylish ideas and new materials in the flesh, rather than in print or online. The cool thing about them is that dozens of designers, and even celebrities, are involved -- like Kara Mann, who fashioned a stunning dining room for the Holiday House Hamptons, sponsored by Cottages & Gardens Media Group, this summer. So you'll get a sampling of different flavors, styles and points of view.

While many showhouses take place in the spring, there are a fair number in the fall, as well as special edition house tours such as those focused on cooking or holiday decorating. (Holiday House Soho, for example, which benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, runs from Nov. 17 to Jan. 8 in New York City.)

"Bringing a magazine brand to life has never been more important in today's digital age," says Elizabeth Ralls, editor in chief of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, which sponsored the Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens' grand 20,000-square-foot home in Atlanta this past spring. "It's an authentic extension of our brand -- with trend-worthy cutting-edge content."

Designers like them because "they show off what they can do," says Marsha Raisch, executive editor of Traditional Home magazine, a major showhouse sponsor that features many from all over the country in its magazine.

The standout rooms will spotlight riveting color combinations, dazzling ceilings and floors, outrageous light fixtures and amazing hardware. Unorthodox layouts or furniture pairings are a little bit like set design, with some designers fully intending to shake it up -- because they can.

Some rooms may strike an emotional chord, or even wax nostalgic, though modern is usually well represented. Some ooze elegance or simply scream decadence or Lady Gaga theatrical. Then there are, the take-your-breath-away, drop-dead gorgeous rooms. Others, meanwhile, are masterful in the mixing of materials and elements that just stop you in your tracks, uttering "How clever, why didn't I think of that?" or "I'm not sure I could pull this off ... but wow!"

Literal translations are not necessarily the goal, although some showhouse visitors are so inspired they have been known to recreate an almost line-for-line version in their own homes -- if they can afford it.

Hacking some of the lofty ideas presented in showhouses can be done on a more modest budget. You need to be somewhat of a student of design to shop, but if you know where to go (One Kings Lane? Wayfair? Target?), you might land a reasonable facsimile of that coveted starburst mirror, sheepskin stool or mid-century chest

What ideas can you take home?

Try a feature wall. Victoria Hagan topped a fireplace with a sexy wall in lipstick red lacquer in her Great American Salon at the annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House. For similar impact, you might try a canvas painted red in matte or high gloss, or paint or fresco the wall with a high wax finish for a similar effect. Paloma Contreras chose a beautiful de Gournay hand-painted paper with a taupe ground to set off the iron four-post bed in a room she designed for Traditional Home's Southern Style Now showhouse in New Orleans. Companies like Tempaper (www.tempaper.com) have amazingly sophisticated designs that range from chinoiserie to palm prints. Best of all, it's DIY peel-and-stick.

Get artsy underfoot. The design firm Sawyer/Berson went with a bold, large-scale marble terrazzo floor in its Kips Bay room. Try Flor (www.flor.com) carpet tiles in bold geometrics for a similar effect. They can be arranged as you wish -- and removed easily if you get tired of the look.

Heads up. Suzanne Kasler took the ice blue from her dining room palette for the Southeastern Showhouse & Gardens and painted the ceiling in that shade in a high-gloss finish. Then she used a chunky square molding on the diagonal to frame the chandelier like a piece of jewelry. Try patterned wallpaper or stencils or textures like grass cloth and wovens to lend interest to ceilings.

Play up forgotten spaces. A narrow stairwell wall is prime for glam treatment, like the brass grummet-studded grass cloth paper selected by designer Brian Watford at the Southeastern Showhouse & Gardens.

Re-think. Instead of conventional moldings, Garrow Kedigian re-imagined a lavish French Empire-style salon at Kips Bay by enlisting artist Rajiv Surendra to work some trompe l'oeil magic, using chalk for the treatment on the walls and ceiling.

Mix up those patterns. Parker Kennedy Living is a design team known for eclectic combos of flea market, antique and new -- plus a marvelous mash-up of pattern and color. The group's Southeastern Showhouse bedroom teaming tangy orange and palmy prints is divine -- as is the eclectic pairing of a grass-cloth-covered, nailhead-bordered nightstand topped with a Buddha head lamp.

Target accessories. Especially in neutral, all-white or all-black spaces, color dazzles. A sophisticated bath with black vanity and gold accents is electric with cobalt blue towels hung on a leaning ladder. Ditto for the pop of black-and-white-striped pillows that Barbara Westbrook propped on white-skirted chairs in front of a beautiful, classic white mantel at the Southeastern Showhouse.

Add texture. It's the key to neutral schemes, especially with an organic pairing of tactile fabrics, ceramics and wood, with contrasts like soft-to-the-touch angora and wool with burlap.

When you visit a showhouse, zone in on details you love.

"People who come to showhouses want to see great new ideas," says Marsha Raisch. "Not just something to look at. They may not be able to replicate an entire room, but maybe how (the designer) did the wall treatment. They want to be able to say, 'I can do that.'"

Sources

-- Paloma Contreras, 832-509-3967, www.palomacontreras.com

-- Kay Douglass, 404-995-0802, www.southofmarket.biz

-- Groves & Co., 212-929-5221, www.grovesandco.com

-- Victoria Hagan, 212-888-1178, www.victoriahagan.com

-- BD Jeffries, 800-954-3004, www.bdjeffries.com

-- Suzanne Kasler, 404-355-1035, www.suzannekasler.com

-- Parker Kennedy Living, 770-272-7800, www.park erkennedyliving.com

-- Garrow Kedigian, 212-517-8451, www.garrowkedigian.com

-- Amy Morris, 404-389-0628, www.amymorrisinteriors.com

–– Christopher Nutter Designs, 202-744-1923, www.christophernutter.com

-- Eve Robinson, 212-595-0661, www.everobinson.net

-- Sawyer/Berson, 212-244-3055, www.sawyerberson.com

-- Brian Watford, 404-409-5532, www.brianwatford.com

-- Beth Webb, 404-869-6367, www.bethwebb.com

-- Barbara Westbrook, 404-355-9430, www.westbrookinteriors.com

-- Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, www.atlantahomesmag.com

-- Cottages & Gardens, www.cottages-gardens.com

-- Holiday House Soho, www.holidayhousenyc.com

-- Traditional Home, www.traditionalhome.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)