Get creative to set the seasonal stage
Holiday decor diversifies with ‘anything goes’
Holiday trim and accessories for the home this year include an eclectic mix of traditional and non-traditional colours and styles.
Once, blue or pastel pink ornaments were the height of kitsch. Now they’re mainstream, elegant options.
Red and green are popular, but they’re not married to each other. Red might be paired with ivory or amethyst; green with copper, caramel or bright white.
As for what goes on the tree or the mantel, well, that’s the thing — anything goes.
Style watchers say we’re approaching the holidays with a more open mind. Households are more diverse, relaxed and less tied to old-school ways of celebrating. So ideas of what works in decor have never been more expansive.
There are some general trends in hues, however. While jewel tones and creamy palettes hold strong, red is red-hot.
“When it comes to an ‘it’ colour for Christmas this year, it’s red — a bright, cheery red like you find on traditional Scandinavian ornaments,” says Sara Peterson, editor in chief of HGTV Magazine. “... There have been years when greens, blues and purples were more popular. This season, we’re seeing a ton of decorations in candy red.”
Ikea has a merry collection of traditional Scandinavian ornaments including folk people, stars and goats (ikea. com). Land of Nod’s Rising Star tree topper features curly white embroidery on crimson felt (landofnod.com).
Cranberry red candlesticks from Pier 1 take mercury glass down a different road, while beaded reindeer and snowflakes bring glamour to red velvet and satin throw pillows (pier1.com).
Winter white continues to appeal to holiday decorators. With or without touches of sparkle, it’s calming, elegant and chic.
And don’t disregard earthier colours — think of bare birch branches hung with gold and silver stars, luxe bowls brimming with copper ornaments, and even chocolate brown mohair throws.
Catie Parrish, associate editor at Wayfair, the online home furnishings outlet, notes even the traditional tree is being reimagined.
“We’re starting to see lots of paper and cardboard tabletop trees,” she says. “And people are getting inventive, creating flat Christmas trees on walls, doors and even fridges. They’re even decorating them with real ornaments and garlands.”
To channel the charm of a real tree, try an evergreen branch in a Mason jar. Ikea has a pop-up cardboard tree with ornaments. At Ellesstudio.blogspot.com, are ways to create pretty little trees from wine corks, coloured paper and wood sticks.