Urban Outfitters branch curtain tie-backs and Viva Terra coat tree. Photographs courtesy of Urban Outfitters and Viva Terra.

Recently we showed you how to create a winter wonderland using white accents—but if you’re ready to branch out further, twig-inspired decor is another way to bring the great outdoors inside. Anthropologie’s winter line is brimming with pieces that would make Snow White and her woodland friends feel right at home, including a forest canopy bed and a “Who’s the Fairest” vanity mirror. For a more masculine look, head to West Elm for rustic accessories like the “Branches” floor lamp, a twig cheese spreader set, or printed Roman shades.

High-gloss paint makes art and textiles pop. Photograph by Angie Seckinger, courtesy Sally Steponkus Interiors.

Tangerine Tango and haute herringbone and classic chevron, oh my! In the world of interior design, where what was hot yesterday is out today, trying to keep your home in style can be overwhelming—which is why more and more customers are turning to interior designers to discover the hottest trends. They are the experts after all, and can help determine when to follow trends and when to stick with classic, timeless designs.

We recently talked with five local designers to find out their picks for the most popular design trends of 2011 and how you can incorporate them into your own home for 2012. Here are their decorating dos and don’ts for the new year.

Next year’s “it” color manages to fuse happy-go-lucky warmth with sultry exoticism—and it’s already popping up everywhere. Nanette Lepore, Tommy Hilfiger, and Elie Tahari incorporated the vibrant hue into their spring 2012 collections. Essie and OPI released several Tangerine-esque nail polishes. And scores of Hollywood starlets have rocked the shade on the red carpet.

Maryland-based interior designer Samantha Friedman says the color’s recent spike in popularity can be traced to its versatility. She calls the shade “fresh and fun, but not overly feminine.”

We want to see photos of your pets out and about around Washington—and beyond! Did you snap the perfect shot of your pet strolling on the National Mall, or exploring Great Falls Park? Send it to petphoto@washingtonian.com by January 4, 2012. Prizes will be awarded to the pets photographed in the coolest places. Washingtonian.com will post a slideshow of the finalists when our February 2012 issue—which includes our special pets section—hits stands.

The National Christmas Tree is illuminated on the Ellipse. Official White House Photograph by Lawrence Jackson

If the Christmas carols jingling from every store and endless twinkling lights didn’t tip you off, it’s time to begin preparing for the bustle of the holiday season. And if you’re one of the brave souls not permanently scarred by the opening scenes of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Clark Griswold’s harrowing quest for the perfect tree, choosing and cutting your own Christmas tree can be a great place to start.

Luckily, there are myriad tree farms in the Washington area for you to choose from. All you’ll need is access to a car, and you can be on your way to finding your perfect holiday tree. Many of the farms even offer cider, hot chocolate, or gift shops chock-full of holiday decorations to get you in the spirit.

Before piling in the car for a day of good, old-fashioned family fun, remember to measure the area you plan to place your tree so you know what height your home can accommodate. And don’t forget to bundle up and wear sturdy boots capable of handling the muddy terrains of most farms this time of year.

Once you’ve returned home with your prize, place it in water as soon as possible to avoid drying it out and minimize needle loss. Lowering the room temperature will also slow the drying process. For more information on holiday safety, tree care tips, or to find a post-holiday tree recycling center near you, visit christmastree.org.

IN VIRGINIA:
Basketball coach Jim Larranaga and wife Elisebeth sold a five-bedroom, five-bath Colonial in Oakton for $1.3 million. The house has a two-story stone fireplace in the family room. Jim Larranaga led the George Mason men’s basketball team to the final four in 2006. He’s now head coach at the University of Miami.

Former Redskin Clinton Portis sold a home on Georgetown Pike in McLean for $1.7 million. At the end of a private drive, the five-bedroom, six-bath house has a master suite with a balcony. Portis bought it in 2004 for $2 million. A running back, he played for the Skins from 2004 to 2010; he’s now a free agent.

Lawyer James Comey sold a five-bedroom, eight-bath Colonial on Kirby Road in McLean for $1.7 million. It has two kitchens, two family rooms, and a media room. Former deputy attorney general during the George W. Bush administration, Comey is now general counsel at the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.

Former attorney general John Ashcroft and wife Janet sold a four-bedroom, three-bath townhouse on Colonial Terrace in Arlington for $1.1 million. John Aschroft, a former senator from Missouri as well as governor of that state, was US attorney general from 2001 to 2005. He’s now an ethics adviser for Xe Services, the military contractor that used to be Blackwater Worldwide.

Lawrence Lindsey bought a five-bedroom, five-bath house on Hampton Way in Fairfax Station for $1.1 million. On more than five acres, it has a master-bedroom suite with a double-sided fireplace and a sun deck with a hot tub. Former director of the National Economic Council at the White House, Lindsey is a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank. He’s also CEO of the Lindsey Group, an economic advisory firm.