The mantel is one of the most significant yet underused corners for winter decor in the home, so when we see a beautifully-decorated one, we take note.

Such is the case with Christina Aguilera's mantel, which strikes the perfect balance between Christmas-appropriate and all-around fall/winter-ready. The white fireplace is accessorized with flameless pillar candles, while a festive wreath hangs above.

What I love about this look is how simple and customizable it is. Christina has opted for only a couple of candles, but you can add extra for a layered look, while the wreath can easily be swapped out for a less Christmas-forward one.

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According to design experts, there are plenty of ways to dress a mantel up or down for the holiday season and beyond.

'Personalize the mantelpiece by hanging the traditional stockings filled with gifts,' Interior designer and decorator Ryan McDonough suggests. 'You can use framed family photos on top of the fireplace, along with Christmas cards. To enhance the cozy ambience, you can place a few candles between the cards. Just be careful not to overcrowd the mantelpiece, as sometimes less is more.'

Ryan continues, 'However, be careful with paper decorations and stockings. Keep flammable materials away from heat sources and avoid using real candles unattended.'

This is yet another reason to invest in flameless candles, like the ones Christina has. For a classic, cream pillar candle, Pottery Barn has a range of sizes at reasonable prices, while these traditional, green sticks from Terrain are an excellent pop of color. As far as wreaths go, if you're looking to keep yours up beyond the holiday season, this winter cedar wreath from Lulu and Georgia is a great pick for the early months of the new year.

Green may be the traditional color for a Christmas tree, but we are always intrigued by more experimental takes on the home holiday fixture. We have seen plenty of white, ice blue, and even hot pink trees this year, proving that colorful trees are here to stay.

One in particular has stood out thanks to its showstopping color. Christina Aguilera recently shared a snap of her bright red tree (complete with matching red lights), and needless to say, it is a bold statement for any living space. It's the perfect way to round off a year where the unexpected red theory has dominated design conversations – foreshadowing this bold hue will continue to feel fashionable in 2025. One element keeping this color trend alive is its surprising versatility.

Seeing as red is a staple in the traditional Christmas color palette, it is easy to accessorize a red tree in a monochromatic way, as Aguilera has done, with red lights, bows, and ornaments. Alternatively, a red Christmas tree serves as a fantastic base for green, gold, and silver accessories, which create more of a color-blocked effect.

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If you decide to take the monochrome approach, make sure that there is plenty of textural interest in your decorations. Choose voluminous baubles or a glittery star topper so that all the adorning items still stand out.

We've handpicked some red holiday essentials that will help you get the look – becasue it's not too late, even as the big day approaches.

Want to experiment with red but not brave enough to introduce it to your whole tree? Charlotte Ford, the senior marketing director at Ruggable explains that you can achieve a maximalist tree with boldy toned ribbons and ornaments (like the ones above), to bring color, not chaos.

'Incorporating lots of colours doesn’t have to sacrifice style. It’s about curating a mix of vibrant baubles and ornaments that express your family’s personality while maintaining a cohesive look. A colourful tree can be both playful for the kids and fun for adults, making the home feel like an extension of your family and home,' she explains.

'When mixing colours, aim for matching tones and vibrancy for a stylish result. You can mix any colour, but ensure their vibrancy aligns such as choosing a cherry red instead of dark burgundy, or a lemon yellow instead of mustard, for a vibrant, cohesive look.'

Pink's place in interior design may take on different names and forms, but its presence remains undisputed. From last year's Barbiecore wave to the Bridgerton-inspired Recencycore, the feminine shade has seen many iterations in the home. Now, there is a new trend on the rise called Balletcore, and none other than Christina Aguilera is capitalizing on it – albeit, in an unexpected area.

In a photo recently shared on the Beautiful singer's Instagram page, we can see her chic and charming home office, featuring an unmissable, pink accent wall. The singer has paired this pop of color with a simple, wood desk, a white boucle seat, and a pink and white, floral rug to tie it all together, making for a beautiful pink room idea.

The dusty rose paint shade is vibrant, but not overwhelming, tapping into the increasingly popular Balletcore trend. While offices typically appear in neutral colors, we appreciate the burst of femininity that Aguilera has opted for – and we got insight from an expert on how to implement the trend into our own homes.

First and foremost, consider the ambiance that Balletcore evokes; namely, a soft yet strong appearance.

'The balletcore trend encompasses the theatrical art, capturing the elegance and artistry of dance through careful layering of colors, textures, silhouettes, and fabrics,' says Cassandra Leisz, Creative Director at interiors brand Ruggable. 'For a traditional Balletcore interior style, opt for whites and creams as your main color palette, paired with sweet, pastel pink tones as accent shades. Minimalist pink styling like this can be perfect for an airy, romantic space with pared back, soft, pastel shades helping to expand the room.'

Next, think about which materials can be introduced to further the trend.

'Accessorising with silk fabrics and organza materials will help capture the very essence of ballet clothing, with bows and pearls also being elegant decor styles to incorporate for a subtle nod to the dance,' Leisz says.

In a home office specifically, placing ballet-inspired artwork, or a rug with a bow pattern is a great way to accent the space.

Alternatively, Leisz says that those who prefer darker hues can still participate in this trend.

'For a bolder balletcore interior style, use darker tones like deep purples, crimsons, or shades of black to capture a more dramatic vibe,' she suggests. 'Partner this color palette with white accenting and metallic shades for dramatic highlights to add depth to your room and finish with lightweight, reflective fabrics, such as silk, to help illuminate the moody undertone.'

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We recommend balancing out any soft, feminine materials, such as silk or organza, with sturdy, contemporary ones such as marble or wood, both to maintain visual interest and ensure that the space looks mature.

As our thoughts turn to fall and how best to prepare our yards for the cooler months ahead, a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic may have felt like the last thing on our agenda. However, Christina Aguilera has reminded us that some aesthetics are truly evergreen, and this includes her beautiful Tuscan-style courtyard.

The singer's Mediterranean garden, located in Beverly Hills, is a celebration of southern European sophistication – from its soft neutral-painted façade to the Zellige tiled-covered water feature, climbing ivy, Juliet's balcony, and, most strikingly, hibiscus.

This vibrant flora offers the perfect Tuscan-style aesthetic, but its recorded history dates back to ancient Egypt. It has since evolved to be highly regarded in different cultures and countries across the world, including Italy, where it is widespread for mainly ornamental purposes. In Italy and beyond, hibiscus is known for its vibrancy, meaning it is often synonymous with summer. However, as Aguilera reminds us, this flower can survive long into the cooler months.

It's worth noting that it is better to plant hibiscus in the spring (so the plants can enjoy an entire growing season in warmer conditions). However, planting in the fall can be successful (especially in hotter states), so we can still tap into Aguilera's space without waiting until the new year.

Plus, getting the look doesn't involve hibiscus exclusively. Craig Wilson, the co-founder, director, and in-house gardening expert at Gardeners Dream, explains that the Mediterranean aesthetic is one of 2024's most prominent garden trends, not least because it's refreshingly simple to experiment with the look at any point of the calendar.

'There is nothing quite like your very own at-home retreat. Since the beginning of December 2023, ‘rustic garden ideas’ have seen a 163% increase in searches on Pinterest. Marrying this with our internal sales data, we expect to see many homeowners looking to the Mediterranean for garden inspiration,' he says. Alongside hibiscus, he suggests we can achieve the pefect space with the next inevitable choice: citrus trees.

'Internal sales data shows a 400% increase in Lemon tree sales, alongside a 120% increase for Orange trees, both of which work beautifully to create a rustic Mediterranean feel. Various grape plants have also seen an increase of 200%,' he explains.

'Pairing any of these citrus trees or grape vines with terracotta hues and concrete textures will help make your garden feel like a European getaway, and it doesn’t have to be expensive, either. Use terracotta pots and planters set at varying levels and old broken concrete slabs to create charming walkways.'

We can also get the look with our favorite Mediterranean-style picks below. We particularly love the terracotta planter, designed as the perfect container for a lemon tree.

If designed correctly, a beautiful yard or garden can be an extension of your home, acting as the perfect space for entertaining or relaxation. And Christina Aguilera's outdoor space is the perfect example. The songstress's backyard is a Beverly Hills-based Mediterranean oasis, complete with a pool, stylish stone, and bougainvillea-covered trellises. 

Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the style of Christina's beautiful garden decor has important lifestyle benefits. Gardening and design experts love the look.

To start, the experts applaud the beauty of Christina Aguilera's garden. 'Christina's garden is a luxuriously abundant oasis, teeming with vibrant Mediterranean blooms, creeping vines, and lush foliage,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. 

She continues, 'The bright red hibiscus flowers give a wildly tropical vibe, whilst the bombastic hydrangeas and beautifully manicured lawn add an English garden style contrast.' Rather than a pure Mediterranean garden, Christina's landscaper has incorporated a mix of styles for a beautiful, unique look. 

However, as the tomato design trend taught us, the Mediterranean style is about more than the look, it is also about living a sun-drenched lifestyle. Christina Aguilera's garden perfectly embodies this facet of design based on the way it is created to be lived in.

The stylish swimming pool and comfortable, white cushioned furniture create the perfect atmosphere for spending time outdoors. 'This space is all about taking the comfort and conversational traits of an indoor room and extending it outdoors, creating a more engaging and entertaining area that users will want to spend time in. The playful balance of indoors and outdoors literally pulls people outdoors,' says interior designer Ross Robinson.

He continues, 'The white upholstery and cushioned seating amplifies the relaxed nature of the garden. It’s all about comfort and easy interaction. This is a space where you can talk for hours.'

Even the plants are set up for a pleasant experience as much as they are for beauty. 'The bold and lavish violet bougainvillea flowers on dancing vines are a quintessential sight in any Mediterranean planting scheme. In this garden it frames the poolside seating area, providing a natural canopy and softening the hard landscaping, ' says H&G's Rachel Bull. 'It's a wonderful example of the biophilic garden trend, which aims to create a sense of harmony between the home and the natural world,' 

Christina Aguilera's yard is a lesson is how an outdoor space can so effortlessly become an extension of the home. With Mediterranean-style plants and a biophilic design, her space is extra beautiful and functional. To take this type of design a step further, explore our list of outdoor living room ideas.