FESTOON WITH FOLIAGE
How to adorn your house with greenery
BRING THE LIGHT
The classic wreath can often be far too beautiful to be left out in the cold, so if you decide to display one inside always consider how its foliage will work with your interiors. A design like this seed head and moss creation has a wonderfully pale and ethereal look, making it the ideal focal point for a darker corner in your home. In this setting, the curved shape of the demilune table echoes the circular wreath, while the white bowl picks up on the highlighted areas of foliage above. If you are looking for other options to add pale tones to a wreath, consider integrating white heather or snowberry as both will stand out in darker areas. →
LEAVE A TOKEN
Consider creating natural decorations that not only look beautiful but also act as party favours. Worm London wired dried leftover materials from bigger projects into a circle to create a look that will outlive the evening and become an elegant keepsake.
TABLE TALK
This centrepiece looks impressive but it is actually very easy to create. Start by pushing foliage stems into well-soaked florist’s foam in a bowl – letting them overflow for a luxurious look. Place a candle ring on top, cover with moss and finish with pine cones.
PLEASE BE SEATED
We often focus on the table and place settings when adding foliage to our dining tables, but why not consider adding subtle seasonal touches elsewhere? A simple idea is to secure a bunch of slender stems to the back of the chairs with a fine ribbon.
A BIT OF DRAMA
Play with scale and layer up your space with foliage creations big and small. While each of the various displays is stunning in its own right, by mixing and matching size, style and material, the combination of all brings festive drama that is sure to impress. The showstopping chandelier wreath creates an impactful focal point – something similar but smaller could be created by using a ball of florist’s foam and adding small bunches of several different types of foliage at varying layers to create fullness and texture. Take note from the chair-hanging wreaths and design your own in varying shapes and sizes, using similar colours in the leaves and blooms to keep things cohesive. →
SCENT OF THE SEASON
As you welcome guests into your home this winter, make sure the Christmas spirit is in full flow from the moment the door is opened. Take inspiration from the home of Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company, and dress a hallway console table with a vase filled with fresh eucalyptus, which will provide a delicious, seasonal scent. Lightly spritz the arrangement daily to keep leaves fresh and replace individual stems as the aroma fades and the colour changes. For the 25th itself, a few sprigs of mistletoe would be a lovely addition to the display – just make sure to keep an eye out so that the berries stay out of way of pets or little ones. →
LEAFY GARLAND
Create a grown-up take on the classic paper chain with foliage. Use wire or string to bind together to make looped shapes across a wall – faux foliage is easier to work with here, but tuck in a few stems of eucalyptus or some herbs to gently scent the room.
“I LOVE THE ABUNDANCE OF EVERGREEN BRANCHES AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. THEY ARE MUCH HARDIER DURING THE WINTER (AS IT IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR GROWING SEASON) AND WILL LAST FOR SEVERAL DAYS INDOORS”
PHILIPPA CRADDOCK,
founder, philippacraddock.com
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
If you have sconces, be sure to include them in your decorating. Simply drape with sprigs of foliage, adding a faux flower or two for an extra point of focus. Carefully secure the stems with florist’s wire, keeping them safely away from the candles.
PICK OF THE BUNCH
A cluster of bright-green foliage tied with a gorgeous ribbon makes a simple but impressive alternative to the usual door wreath. Asparagus fern was used here, but evergreen stems such as spruce, ivy or eucalyptus will look just as good. →
WHEN LESS IS MORE
Wreaths don’t always have to be laden with foliage – for a delicate take on the tradition, instead choose a simple brass hoop adorned with a single sprig of fir. While this option uses a candleholder hoop for added glow, you can just use foliage.
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
Festive arrangements needn’t just be kept for grand staircases. Create impact anywhere by lavishly garnishing with fresh foliage. Pick straight from the garden and make sure to spritz with a water mister daily to ensure it remains firm and fragrant.
A TOUCH OF SILVER
Staircases are one of the focal points to a typical entranceway, so make a point of dressing them as you would the door to your home. Looped garlands of foliage are the perfect choice here, but add silver baubles at each apex for added Christmas magic.
“AS WELL AS THE USUAL PINE, HOLLY AND IVY,
TRY USING GLOSSY BUNDLES OF CAMELLIA FOLIAGE AND GLAUCOUS
EUCALYPTUS TO ADD A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION TO YOUR DECORATIONS”
SIMON LYCETT, founder, simonlycett.co.uk