Cottages & Bungalows

Make Mine Merry:

Christmas takes decorating to the next level, with trimming the tree as the centerpiec­e. Here are some fresh ideas for designing a festive display.

- BY CARSON DIKE PHOTOGRAPH­Y BY RAZ IMPORTS, CHRISTY HARRIS PHOTOGRAPH­Y AND CASSIE KITZMILLER

Fresh & fun ideas for your mantel, porch and tree

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most beloved traditions of the holiday.

But you may be wondering how you can kick it up a notch this year to set it apart from your previous versions.

In The Christmas Tree Book: The Step-by-Step Guide to Buying and Decorating Your Tree with Lighting, Ornaments, Ribbons, and More!, author Cassie Kitzmiller says you should think of your shining shrub as a three-dimensiona­l piece of art.

As an interior designer and holiday-season enthusiast, Kitzmiller has been using her design skills for over a decade, experiment­ing with contempora­ry styles to decorate the perfect Christmas tree. The Christmas Tree Book takes a pragmatic approach to tree decorating. It presents an easy-to-follow manual on how to adorn any fir, ensuring that if you keep a “designer’s eye” on the tree, your guests are sure to be in awe of your decorating savvy.

With chapters on defining the look, lighting techniques, focal points, a tree-decorating checklist and design themes, Kitzmiller covers all the bases for designing an ensemble that is unique to your own style. “Just as an artist must gather the correct supplies and execute special techniques to create a beautifull­y finished design, so it is with decorating a beautiful tree,” she says.

THE GOLDEN RULE

When decorating your tree, you want to remember the “holy grail” of design commandmen­ts: visualizin­g your goal. This step is essential to success, and as Kitzmiller puts it, “The best designs begin with a plan in mind.” She suggests starting the process by brainstorm­ing the style or theme you want for your Christmas tree—even if that means taking a few days to mentally explore what styles you like and don’t like.

Popular themes include Santas and snowmen. Or you may want to decorate in a tree style, such as a winter wonderland or romantic garden. Either way, your guests are sure to be filled with the Christmas spirit as they admire your outstandin­g tree-trimming skills.

“Just as an artist must gather

the correct supplies and execute special techniques to

create a beautifull­y finished design, so it is

with decorating a

beautiful tree.”

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?? ?? Rustic, chic and modern, this lovely tree combines classical elements with an authentic feel for a comfortabl­e ambience.
Rustic, chic and modern, this lovely tree combines classical elements with an authentic feel for a comfortabl­e ambience.
?? ?? A fabulous fusion of crimson and silver, this unique design blends swirling ribbons and icicle ornaments to give the illusion of a “moving tree.”
A fabulous fusion of crimson and silver, this unique design blends swirling ribbons and icicle ornaments to give the illusion of a “moving tree.”
?? ?? |RIGHT BOTTOM| This gilded grand Douglas is dazzling— complete with intricate candle lanterns scattered about.
|RIGHT BOTTOM| This gilded grand Douglas is dazzling— complete with intricate candle lanterns scattered about.
?? ?? |TOP LEFT| This balanced palette of white and pastel ornaments complement­s the surroundin­g space, giving the room a coordinate­d and elegant feel.
|TOP LEFT| This balanced palette of white and pastel ornaments complement­s the surroundin­g space, giving the room a coordinate­d and elegant feel.

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