| Festive flowers, wreaths and garlands can add a | | | | spectrum, the "Lodge Look" is being reinvented. |
| touch of holiday warmth to any home or | | | | "It's outdoorsy elegance with very natural looking |
| business. They're a wonderful way to welcome | | | | trees tastefully trimmed with miniature trout, |
| friends and family. And, with the right special | | | | antlers, birds, bears, and the like," says Stoecker. |
| touches, they can transform a room into | | | | "Baroque themes combining golds, ivories, birds, |
| something really special. What's hot and what's | | | | and pheasant feathers will also be in vogue," she |
| not? You don't have to be a fashion expert. | | | | explains. Blues and creams are back, too. Look for |
| Consult your florist, check out your favorite | | | | seashells combined with blues, ivories, and aqua or |
| decorating magazines, and use your common | | | | metallics accented with pearl and warm blues. |
| sense. Here's what you should know: | | | | Glitz, Gilding, and Sparkles, Oh My! |
| Ordinary is Out | | | | Natural looks will always be appropriate at |
| Thinking about a plain pine wreath or skimpy | | | | Christmas, but there's definitely a trend toward |
| garland with some little red bows? Think again. | | | | glitz, gilding, sparkles, and frosting of all kinds. So, |
| Plain is definitely taboo. "This year, floral fashion is | | | | look for gilded blossoms, frosted branches, |
| all about rich textures, new accent colors, and lots | | | | sparkling ornaments, and much more. All that |
| of detail," says Don Phillip of Phillip's Flowers in | | | | glitters definitely belongs in this year's |
| Chicago. "It's about stretching the boundaries of | | | | fashion-forward holiday designs, and there are |
| traditional themes by layering on fresh new | | | | plenty of choices for everyone's taste and |
| perspectives and a touch of personal flair. It's | | | | budget. |
| about luxury, ornamentation, and opulence. It's | | | | Setting the Table with Style |
| about more, not less." So, let yourself go. You can | | | | When it's time to gather around the table, the |
| turn "ordinary" into "extraordinary" with the right | | | | focal point should definitely be fresh flowers. But, |
| materials, colors, and accessories. | | | | just like other holiday decorations this season, the |
| Textures are In | | | | textures, colors, and accents will be what makes |
| Look for a variety of rich textures and natural | | | | your Christmas centerpiece really shine. So, don't |
| elements in your holiday decorations, like mixed | | | | settle for ordinary. Look for something that |
| West Coast evergreens, pine cones of all shapes | | | | reflects your style. And, remember, more is |
| and sizes, berry sprays, flowers, fruit, branches | | | | more, this season. Whether velvety red roses, |
| and other botanicals. Today's choices are almost | | | | snow-white lilies, or a profusion of mixed fresh |
| endless. Don't be surprised by hydrangeas, | | | | blooms, a tasteful design of beautiful flowers with |
| peonies, and tulips in this year's cutting edge floral | | | | the right textures and accents makes everyone |
| designs, as well as poinsettias and roses. "The | | | | around it feel special and says something very |
| more varied the textures, the better," says Phillip, | | | | special about you, too. |
| "to create a natural sense of depth and visual | | | | Make It Beautiful and Make It Your Own |
| interest." So, look for more than just the "plain | | | | The trend in home decorating and home |
| old, same old." Look for textures upon textures. | | | | improvements is carrying over into Christmas |
| Color Palettes are Expanding | | | | flowers and holiday decorations. People are |
| While traditional red is still the most popular holiday | | | | spending more time with family and friends in |
| color, a variety of newer fashion colors are being | | | | their own homes. Naturally, they want to |
| welcomed as accents, and other color palettes | | | | decorate for the holidays accordingly. Gone are |
| are gaining ground, too. You'll see darker reds, | | | | the days of a single poinsettia. You'll find |
| crimsons, burgundy, and Bordeaux, as well as | | | | poinsettias of various sizes and colors in groupings |
| combinations of reds and wines. You'll also see | | | | or displayed throughout multiple rooms. There's |
| greens of almost every shade, from celadon to | | | | also a clear trend toward multiple Christmas trees |
| sage to basil. Browns and black are back as | | | | -- such as a whimsical tree in the family room or |
| accents. Cinnamon, copper, platinum, and gold are | | | | perhaps a tabletop tree with a different theme in |
| strong, too. Rich reds with fashion color accents | | | | each child's bedroom, as well as a larger, more |
| will give a fresh new look to this year's holiday | | | | formal tree in the living room. Ornaments will be |
| decorations. Watch for non-traditional | | | | everywhere -- on trees, clustered in glass bowls, |
| combinations, as well, such as vivid jewel tones, | | | | in centerpieces, and spilling over onto garlands and |
| turquoise and copper, reds and black, or gold and | | | | wreaths, making everything more personal and |
| platinum combined. "Almost anything goes, when | | | | meaningful. |
| it's tasteful, stylish, and builds on a theme," says | | | | After all, it's your home and your holiday. So, you |
| Phillip. | | | | should make it beautiful and make it your own. |
| According to FTD Design Instructor Tina | | | | Start with rich textures, add some fresh accent |
| Stoecker, AIFD, "Another trend we may start to | | | | colors, and remember lots of ornaments, accents, |
| see from Europe this year is black trees | | | | or glitz. They're the perfect combination this |
| highlighted with fashion colors like teals, vibrant | | | | holiday season for all your Christmas flowers, |
| blues, and coppers. It's definitely unusual but can | | | | garlands, wreaths, and decorations to help you |
| really be striking." On the other end of the | | | | celebrate the season with real style. |