The spur to create something wonderful in our homes in December sets the tone of celebrations to come. Throughout the neighborhood you often glimpse the earliest signs of this transformation. Strings of lights lining eave troughs, the occasional Santa or Snowman in the yard, and the ultimate sign of early decorating — the lit Christmas tree at dusk gracing the front windows of a home.
The "ah-ha" moment… now we decorate!
Where to begin and how can be somewhat daunting to those wishing to create an appealing look for the holidays. The garden centres of today have taken on the leadership role in showing you how to dress your home. Well beyond the warm seasons of gardening; garden centres give you the ideas, provide the materials, and deliver the expertise to help you implement your ideas based on theme, style or color palette.
Staged with ideas, garden centres skilled in holiday beautifying will provide you with styles, and trends. You will be inspired to bring your ideas to reality.
Exterior lighting frames the house, accenting angles and highlighting landscapes. Doorways dressed with bountiful containers full of greenery heightened with dramatic birch poles or classic red dogwood branching act as accents.
Traditionally, a welcoming wreath on the front door boasts a holiday red velvet bow, but non-traditional colors are now the norm for some venturing into color palettes of their own personal choice. Maybe teal, black, amber, or blue is the color choice; and the fabric, a bold burlap weave or flowing bold stripes. What would be your choice?
Now enter inside the home. Festive trimming usually begins with the tree, then not far from the tree, decorative holiday accents flow into adjoining rooms. Maybe a mantelpiece graced with a garland; an ornamental lantern adorned with glittered pine-cones and battery operated candles to staircases garlanded with greenery, bows and ribbon.
The festive style found in garden centres featuring holiday trimmings and displays provide numerous ideas and themes to spur the imagination.
Recipes of a Decorated Artificial Tree
Based on a 7 to 8' high tree, an artificial tree will host about approximately 700 lights (average is 100 lights per feet of height). Fresh cut trees, depending on the tree type may not hold as many lights. Ribbons act as an added element giving a visual effect while adding texture and color. Ribbon also gives a softening effect when applied with a winding spiral pattern, or by using it in a vertical pattern giving the illusion of increased height. Pairing ribbons by layering them, or by adding a complementary color or texture enhances the designer look. Ribbons formed into bows accent floral groupings and boost themes. Ribbons and silks also act as fillers for trees with openings amongst the branching.
Choosing to use silk flowers is a personal choice. Floral silks or picks such as poinsettia, magnolia and silk greenery leaves like magnolia leaves, give sweeps of color and flow to a trees appearance. These two forms can be layered together; similar to the look of mini bouquets which enhance your tree when placed in a random arrangement. Similarly these same florals may be selected to create a "tree topper" as an alternative to using an angel or star on the top. Save the angel for a side table or centerpiece arrangement.
Ornaments collected from years past can always be used in any theme. Often you will find the themed tree in the living room while additional trees beautify family rooms or front entrances inside the home. Older ornaments hold memories and blend lovingly into themes as they hold great stories and may also be used in alternative decorating ideas.
Recipe
1 x 7-8' tree (pre-lit or unlit; approximately 100 lights per ft.)
2 x 10 yard length of ribbon ( 1 sheer pattern, 1 solid fabric – both complimentary of each other ).
12 floral silks - i.e. red poinsettia ( or flower / color of choice )
12 floral picks/ berries or branching (for sweeping effect)
1 tree topper - i.e. angel, star or topper alternative.
3 To 5 garland forms i.e.: beads, thin ribbon banding or roping.
The above is a guideline. The number of ornaments required is a personal choice. Choose one or two decorative glass balls in multiples of 10 – 12 will help to create continuity and tie a theme together.
Extra ornaments or bits and pieces always find a place when it comes to holiday decorating. Extra decorative glass balls paired with a smaller size become a wonderful centerpiece when placed in a simple glass bowl. Try weaving a strand of glass micro-beaded, battery operated lights through the bowl to emit a cheerful glow.
Looking to decorate or accent a room for the festive season? Make Mary's Nursery & Garden Centre your growing Christmas tradition who makes your holiday decorating easy.
