Mistletoe makes life awkward, tinsel’s bad for your cat and nobody likes poinsettias anyway — so how’s a grown woman supposed to decorate her home for the holidays? Enter Becky De Oliveira, owner of Toronto flower shop Blush & Bloom and the person who’s here to save your space from looking like Home Alone 4 threw up on it.

1. SKIP THE TRADITIONAL TREE. “I’m not a fan of Christmas trees, generally speaking. A good alternative is three indoor wreaths of assorted sizes mounted on a wall to create a focal point in a room.”

2. THINK OUTSIDE THE EVERGREEN-BOUGH-BOX. “I really love using stems of cotton (yes, as in the plant). It is so wintery, beautiful and tall, and it just needs to be in a simple vase on its own. Rosehips are a fresh way to add a splash of red to your decor without being too literal.”

3. DON’T FORGET THE KITCHEN COUNTER. “For parties, I love one large floral arrangement surrounded by candles to demand attention in a room — either on the mantel, in the foyer or even on the kitchen counter.”

This article originally appeared in the December 2016 issue of ELLE Canada.