Article:

Simple and elegant holiday decorating

By Shelley Anderson
The Journal Newspapers - November 2006

Not into all-out holiday decorating? Simply add a few restrained vignettes to add holiday style to your home. Here are some simple and elegant ideas to bring in some holiday spirit.

Gather wispy branches from your yard and spray them with white glitter paint for a festive centerpiece or mantelpiece. Place them in clear crystal containers weighted with clear or colored glass marbles to match your home’s décor.
Turn your collections into a holiday display with the addition of ornaments and greenery. Simply add a few touches to your already existing display will add seasonal sparkle to your shelves.
Assemble any collection of candleholders and fit each with a candle in a single color. White, gold, silver or any color that works with your interior will look festive. The continuity of the candle color gives this look its pizzazz.
Purchase white gift boxes at your local variety store. Select a gift wrap and ribbon that sets the theme for your decorating and wrap the boxes. Add a handful of coordinated ornaments and you have a perfect centerpiece for your coffee table.
A narrow tree can be placed in most any location around your home and decorated to fit the room’s style. An added bonus: these trees don’t need lots of decorations to look festive. Add a sheer ribbon garland for depth.
Make a big decorating statement with greenery, ribbons, and decorations on a stair railing. Invest in a fabulous ribbon, and at the end of each season iron and rewind onto the bolt for use again next year.
When decorating your tree, think overscale. Using overscaled ornaments can have a huge impact. Though these larger pieces may cost more, you won’t need many and the effect will be stunning.
Vary the texture of the ornaments for your tree. Shiny ornaments mix well with taffeta ribbon, and dried floral blooms.
Repeat at least one type of ornament so it creates a color, shape or theme on your tree. I recommend buying 24 of a main theme element. This can be the most simple (and least expensive) ornament on your tree.
I like to create trees using colors and themes that relate to the room where the tree is displayed. Repeat your room’s hues and motifs using ribbons, wrapping paper, garlands, and ornaments to harmonize with or complement what you already have.

Shelley Anderson has been creating interiors in the greater Seattle area since 1990.You may contact her at (206) 719-6814 or email her at
shelley.anderson@shelleyandersoninteriors.com.