Today's post is from guest blogger Cindy Cragg, home stylist for WILLIAMSBURG®, williamsburgmarketplace.com, the lifestyle brand of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
So, here we are... the middle of November! Just around the corner from, once again, seeing what beautiful creations adorn the homes of Colonial Williamsburg’s historic area for this year’s holiday season. Each year thousands come to admire our decorations and leave thinking they could never recreate that look in their own home. With a little planning and creativity you can have simple, natural-looking decorations that will WOW your family and friends. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Creating a strong theme around seasonal colors will put you on the right path towards decorating success. The WILLIAMSBURG Salt-glaze Pitcher arrangement is a great place to start! I love how this arrangement perfectly combines all the natural colors of the season - gold, orange, red, and green. Using this arrangement as inspiration, you can then choose two colors that you like to incorporate throughout your home. Whether it’s an eye-popping color combination like burnt orange and deep green (think cloved oranges and magnolia) or a mellow yellow and rich brown (think yarrow and pinecones), you can’t go wrong.
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Now that you have your color theme picked out, try adding an element of “WOW”! Bringing in a third color or an item with a unique shape will add some pizzazz and give your decorations a focal point. Metallic gold adds elegance and sparkle to the orange/green theme or add drama to the yellow/brown theme with a cranberry color. In Colonial Williamsburg we use fruit, fresh and dried, to add both color, texture, and shape. Pomegranates, pineapples, and dried seed pods are all very popular choices.
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Don’t forget that sprucing up for the holidays consists of more than just what meets the eye! Like the sweet smell of roses in the summertime, scents are a big part of the holiday season. In a wreath, centerpiece, or as a simple individual place setting arrangement, using the scents of the season can be an extra-special touch. Herbs like rosemary are great for Thanksgiving decorations and cloves or cinnamon work well for Christmas.
Use your imagination and have fun!
For more information, visit: www.history.org/christmas. View more wreaths.
