Decking the halls just got more sophisticated. To freshen your seasonal look, consider blending white candles with natural elements like eucalyptus leaves and pine cones.
Who doesn’t love the feeling of the holiday season? The time of year when Mother Nature surrounds us with deep reds, olive greens and golden hues followed by a fresh blanket of white and a crisp bite of cold air. It’s a time to gather in thanks with the people who mean so much in our lives, to feast and celebrate together. But this can also be a time of stress and anxiety about hosting those holiday gatherings and how to decorate.
If you are looking for a fresh and modern approach to your seasonal decorating this year here are three design trends coming on strong for the holidays—all of which can easily transition from Thanksgiving into the winter holiday season.
Have A Hygge Holiday
Hygge (sounds like hu-guh) is a Danish concept of well-being, and a sense of coziness and companionship that lends itself perfectly to colder, darker months of the year. For me, hygge brings to mind images of vintage ski chalets, with thick blankets draped on overstuffed sofas, surrounded by candles, weathered wood tables and a fire burning in the fireplace. It is a sensation of calmness and serenity that makes you want to curl up in your pajamas and slippers and sip on hot chocolate while the snow falls outside.
Translating this into holiday décor: To achieve this look, think natural and textural, and candles—lots of candles! For the holiday table or the mantle, try mixing various sizes of birch or white candles in with natural elements like deer antlers and pinecones. If you like to use table runners, try using runners made of linen or burlap. I suggest candleholders that are clear glass, muted color tones or weathered metallics. You can carry this look onto the tree with white lights and ornaments that are also a mix of clear glass, muted tones and weathered metallics. Also consider natural garland like small pinecones. To really achieve the look, you will want to go beyond the traditional decorations and layer in faux fur or chunky woven blankets and pillows throughout the living space.
It’s Only Natural
Eucalyptus is the greenery of the year, and this trend isn’t going away anytime soon. Designing special events with a natural look and an emphasis on greenery has been all the rage during the summer wedding season. Eucalyptus plays beautifully when partnered with warm wood tones and hints of white. The look has an elegant and casual air about it that makes it timeless.
Translating this into holiday décor: To achieve this look, plan a color palette of white, greens, and an accent metal (silver, gold, or copper for example). For the holiday table, build a foundation with a white tablecloth. Next layer in a eucalyptus garland (Design hint: eucalyptus garlands can lay a little flat. To give it more volume, blend it with other greens like fern branches or a traditional pine garland). Next sprinkle in white candles with metallic candleholders. Try varying the height of your candle holders from votives to medium and tall pillars for visual interest. As an added touch for this natural look, try replacing traditional chargers with natural slices of trees and simple white dishware. This is also a beautiful design for the mantle (without the plates and tablecloth). Carry this look onto the tree by using white lights and inserting sprigs of eucalyptus leaves into the branches of the tree (Design hint: if you used other greens like fern branches on the table or mantle, you will want to also add them to the tree for consistency). Layer in ornaments in the same metal that you used on the table and mantle, as well as clear glass ornaments.
Did Someone Say Rosé?
From wine to jewelry to interior design, the blush tones are making their presence known this year. Let’s face it, it is hard to resist the soft glowing hues that these colors offer. At first, some might say that rose gold and blush are summer colors that have no business making an appearance in winter décor. However, I must respectfully disagree. This color against a white and green backdrop is enchanting!
Translating this into holiday décor: With this look, it’s really up to you. You can use rose gold for your candle holders with a garland of any greenery that you would like, or if you prefer, fill your table or mantle with only candles in a mix of candleholders that are rose gold, silver, and clear glass (Design hint: use various heights and sizes to maintain visual interest). You can also have fun with your plates on this holiday table with rose gold chargers and white plates, or clear glass plates with rose gold edging and flat wear…the combinations are endless, so have fun with it. Carry this look onto the tree with a mix of rose gold, silver, and clear glass ornaments. Then have some fun with your holiday parties by serving drinks in copper mugs and chilling your rosé wine in copper ice buckets while candles glow in your rose gold lanterns by the door.
Where To Shop
We are fortunate to have a wealth of local sources in Northern Colorado. A few of my favorites for holiday decorating and design in the area are Curate Consignments, The Elegant Pear, The Perennial Gardener, The Cupboard, Palmer Flowers, Hobby Lobby, Home Goods and Cozy Cottage.
Whatever your holiday decorating style happens to be, from traditional to trying something new, what makes your home magical is the time spent in celebration with the people you cherish most.
Happy Holidays!
