Holiday Decorating
With a Personal Touch
By Olga Adler
There are as many ways to decorate a house for the holidays as there are
houses.
Is your style colorful and abundant, or monochromatic and minimalist? Do
you like decorating the entire house, or just a few rooms? Some people focus
on their more formal areas. Or, if you’re like me, perhaps you enjoy placing
Christmas accents in every room, including guest rooms and bathrooms.
There’s no right or wrong. Holiday decorations are intensely personal and
represent a wonderful opportunity to express your creativity.
The first thing to decide is the feel you would like to evoke. Are you looking for
traditional and formal, or maybe playful with unexpected colors and
materials?
- Colors: Traditionally, the most popular hues for holiday decorating are
red, green and white. Accent colors include gold and silver, but why not
try something different this year? Single-color decorations are beautiful
and stylish. Decorate your tree with all gold ornaments or shimmering
white lights – you’ll be surprised at the effect. Non-traditional colors are
a great idea too. Over the years, many of my clients have come to me
at holiday time and asked for help getting beyond the obvious. Some
would like their decorations to match the general color scheme of their
house. There is nothing more beautiful than lush, surprising colors. Why
not start with your favorites? Blue and beige is your thing? This year,
consider sewing the family’s holiday stockings out of the same fabric as
your favorite throw or pillow – and then look for ornaments to
complement that sophisticated color scheme. Brown and burnt orange
are your favorites? Go for the same colors on your tree and wreath using
real and faux fruits and flowers.
- For all the senses: Decorations that stimulate holiday sights, sounds
and scents evoke powerful memories of family gatherings from years
past. Put out wooden or metal bowls filled with pine cones, greenery
and seasonal fruits. Try scented candles and potpourri. Play holiday
music softly in the background. Float candles and flowers in silver or
crystal bowls to create a magical effect, and place scented candles
with fresh blossoms in the powder room.
- A tree with a theme: This is a favorite of mine. Your themed tree may
use vintage ornaments – perhaps wooden hand-painted ornaments – or
be a boys’ tree with cars, trucks and planes, or a white or gold-themed
monochromatic tree, or a “family tree” decorated with miniature
picture frames filled with images of family and friends.
- The foyer: This part of the house always sets the stage, but never more
so than during the holidays. Decorate your entry table with oversized
hurricanes and garland. Let the garland neatly surround the main door.
I recently saw a decorating catalogue with a fan-shaped plaque made
of faux greenery and fruit – bright red apples, dense green boxwood,
magnolia leaves and pineapple come into life in a magnificent focal
point perfect for a doorway.
- The Mantel: Grace your mantel with fresh flowers and use a variety of
candles to accent the glow of the fireplace. Where better to display
topiaries, candlesticks and wreaths? Make sure your display is nicely
balanced and not too crowded. The most beautiful results can be
achieved if the decorations are reflected in a mirror. With flickering
candles and lush greenery, this can be a real holiday luxury. The wreaths
can be placed on stands or hung from the wall or mirror frames.
Topiaries and wreaths can be made of greenery or a mixture of seasonal
fruit, real or faux. My favorite is a combination of both where magnolia
leaves complement oranges and cloves mixed with cinnamon sticks,
dried lemon slices and natural pine cones. This can be truly spectacular
in colors that work right through the holidays. Use special forms to build
the season’s favorite fruit cones and other centerpieces. The metal or
plastic forms come in different shapes and sizes and really help execute
your decorating ideas.
- The windows: What is more cheery than to drive through town on a
frosty evening and be greeted by home after home with beautiful
candle-lit windows? As a matter of fact that was my first experience
with Ridgefield, Connecticut, two winters ago, which led to our decision
to move to this lovely town. Window candles come in different metal
finishes, the most popular being polished brass and brushed nickel. They
are either electrical or battery powered. They can come with one, two
or three candles on one stand, and they fit most of the standard
window sills. The effect is even more beautiful if you add a mini window
wreath or beautiful garland.
- The table: A rich, colorful table cloth, family silver and special
dinnerware all find a welcome place on a holiday table. Keep an eye
out for distinctive coasters and napkins, as well as unusual centerpieces
and candlesticks with candle rings. Top it all off with card holders with
pine cone or berry themes.
- Jewish traditions: Creative holiday decorating is also exemplified in
households celebrating Chanukkah, where festive arrangements
feature flowers in traditional blue and white. This color scheme is ideal for
a foyer greeting or a dining table centerpiece. Fresh evergreens are
appropriate for decorating around the menorah. Traditions include
placing dreidels and “gelt,” chocolate coins, around the table for
children to enjoy.
Get inspired
Those of you who visited Ridgefield Holiday House Tour on December 2 were
greeted by life-size manger scenes, nutcrackers standing by entryways and
hallways decked with the season’s finest greenery. The tour featured
beautiful Christmas trees, elegant table settings, fireplace mantles decorated
with seasonal greenery and stockings just waiting to be filled with gifts.
You can look for inspiration at our finer inns and restaurants, like Bernard’s and
The Elms in Ridgefield, or The Inn at Newtown, owned by the Ryder family of
New Canaan. Darlene Ryder personally decorates all five of their restaurants
(the latest is The Cookhouse in Darien), each with a unique take on Christmas
that never fails to earn oohs and ahhs from patrons.
Need some help?
Overwhelmed with choices, or simply too busy to do it all yourself? You can
get hands-on help from decorating services that can turn your home into a
holiday spectacular. They can help you buy decorations or creatively use
what you already have, as well as handling installations. The best part: when
the time is right they will take your decorations down and put them away for
you.
Wishing you a creative, fun and happy holiday season.
P.S. Don’t forget the mistletoe!
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Olga Adler is an interior designer with a design studio in Ridgefield. Her company Olga
Adler Interiors is dedicated to lifestyle driven design. You can email your questions or
comments to: olga@olgaadlerinteriors.com.
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