The tradition of Christmas decorating is always something to look forward to, at the shop and in my own home. And it’s so much more than putting up a tree. There’s something special about the way the year draws to a close. You deck your halls with festive accents and let the spirit of the season fill your home. I love a design that tells a story about your home, how you celebrate the holidays, and the people that live there. This next Christmas vignette is as beautiful as freshly fallen snow.
Frosted Forest was the second look to come together, in the first few days after Old World Rustic took over the Flint Hills room. It’s elevated and elegant, while still feeling earthy and organic. We felt that this look was a perfect fit for the Mullberry Drive room, where the walls wear bold rich color and the look carries an air of formality. The added holiday organic elements and the monochromatic color story look great in this formal space, and because there is no overwhelming color, you don’t have to worry about it clashing with your decor at home!
Decorating the Tree
So many details come together to make this design truly special. The birch logs and painted wooden snowflakes burst out of the tree at varying angles, bringing dimension to the look, creating focal points on all sides of the tree. Green is a Christmas classic, and this vignette features many varying shades, from lemongrass to deep sage. Elegant winter whites and glistening gold round out this color palette.
This Christmas look is a perfect opportunity to play up your frosted picks! Flocked trees are making a comeback (although we believe they never truly left in the first place), and this style is one where it really adds a little something extra. The flocking allows the greens in this design to pop, whereas they might have gotten “lost” nestled amongst the greenery of the tree itself. The ornaments bring with them varying textures and shades, all so different, but when paired together create a cohesive and stunning display.
Decorating a Wintery Table
If you’re planning on hosting the holiday feast this season, the table should be as memorable as the menu. When decorating a holiday table, the first piece of the design puzzle I try to figure out (after I consider the flow of people and food) is the centerpiece, then it’s down to the plates, linens, and other holiday table decor like napkin rings and place cards. I search for items of varying heights to create visual interest. In this tablescape, I’ve featured elements of varying height to create movement, including hurricanes and votive holders, golden deer, and stately stag busts. No matter where you look, seasonal beauty abounds! Of course, this is for a retail shop display – you can achieve a similar look at home by scaling down the size and number of items.
Pull out all the stops for holiday and special occasion place settings! Here seen in an intricately beaded placemat and accompanying charger, gold is the foundation on which this place setting is built, and is a perfect complement to the metallic design elements found in the centerpiece. The theme of green and white carry through the plates and linens, and the wooden-handled silverware mimics the natural elements found throughout the theme. Placing decorative drinkware, like this ridge coupe glass, on top of your plates can give you additional height, and the opportunity to include a design element, like the perfectly placed pinecone. Not to mention, it gives you the room to go big with your centerpiece – just ensure there is space to place it once the meal has begun.
Decorating the Christmas Mantel
The mantel is the perfect place to play up greenery. Here flocked picks and branches are added to a long-needle garland peppered with ornaments and ribbon and perched atop this beautiful mantel. Incorporating additional picks allows for fuller volume of your garland and the greenery to spill over the front of the fireplace, giving the design a more organic feel. It also allows you to mix up your designs from year to year without feeling stale or stagnant while still maintaining the same base garland.
There are many elements that came together to give this room a look that is elevated and elegant while earthy and organic. The overriding principle here is to play around with texture, material and shape to deliver precisely the look and ambiance you want. What do you think of this look? I can’t wait to show you the next one! Until then – happy decorating!