In the South, the holidays are as much about preparation as they are celebration. Little Rock-based designer Tobi Fairley and her mother, Beverly Wells, are no exception. “I have always loved Christmas and the traditions that go along with it,” says Beverly, who hosts the season’s family gatherings in the Sheridan home she shares with her husband, David. “We spend days decorating the house, setting out china and ironing linens, but we have fun doing it,” says Fairley.

However, just because this mother-daughter team relishes the preparation rituals doesn’t mean they always stick to tradition when it comes to color and décor. “We really try to mix it up each year,” says Beverly. “We’ve even had pink and orange trees in the past.” For years, the two have been dreaming up cheerful decorations that are as inventive as they are inviting. “I approach holiday décor the same way I approach any design project,” says Fairley, who begins with a color palette or key piece of inspiration.

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