What a holiday weekend! By now, the guests have gone, along with the
leftovers, and you’re wilting into an easy chair like Steve Martin at the end
of “Father of the Bride,” surveying the post-Thanksgiving scenery. Now if you have my family tradition, Friday
was not about shopping; it was about decorating for Christmas. I love making that fast turnaround from one
major holiday to the next, like bidding fall a farewell and welcoming in
winter. But if you need a little
inspiration before venturing into the attic for your décor, here are some
popular themes that will be gracing Christmas trees and tables this year that
may prompt you to do a little revamping with your current inventory.
Bright colors are again a hot
pick, grouping any combination of hot pink, turquoise, purple, lime green, and
a shiny metallic like silver or a matte gun metal gray. Straying from the traditional, bright shades
add whimsy to your winter wonderland and a youthful spirit without being
kids-only.
Monochromatic is another
popular way to go, choosing one color and carrying it throughout in ornaments
and ribbon and maybe even gift wrapping.
This is also great when you choose a shade of decorations you currently
own, add to it with new pieces, and simply store your other colors for another
year.
Two-tone adds one more layer
to a monochromatic look for a double whammy.
Red and green, red and gold, red and lime, red and robin’s egg blue, purple
and peacock, peacock and lime, and two contrasting shades of one color all make
for contemporary, eye-catching tree and table displays. This can also play into what you already have
by selecting two shades, beefing up your inventory, and keeping the rest in
storage.
Metallics, either all golds
or all silvers or a mix of both, plus tones of bronze, champagne, gun metal,
and ivory all come together for dressy, upscale Christmas trees perfect for a fancy
New Year’s Eve party right along with an all-pajama Christmas morning. For metallic table décor, you can play up
your nice cake stands for height and feature fancier chargers, dishes, and
napkin rings to carry out the theme.
White can be a standout all
on its own when featured as a solo shade.
Clean and crisp, it adds wintery life to a tree framed in warm
lights. This can be carried easily onto
your dining table with simple candlesticks, white dishes, and modern ceramic
serveware.
However you choose to dress
your tree, make it something you “flock” to when the day winds down and you can
sit back and enjoy your beautiful focal point in all its splendor.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star November 30th.
