Hatching a Color Scheme for the Holidays

As you begin to pull those holiday decorations out of your attic or basement, and you realize that your hodge-podge may more resemble a flea market booth rather than a page torn from House Beautiful, it may be time for a little binging and purging with your holiday décor (not necessarily in that order).

As with any decorating project, the key to success is taking the time to plan and put a little thought into your designs. We hope this newsletter will help you work through any design dilemmas which may be plaguing you this holiday season.  So, first things first, let's start with your colors...

Unique & Creative Hues for the Holidays:  Christmas Red & Holiday Green? There are so many hues in between!

As you prepare for sugar plums to dance through your head this holiday season, don't get stuck in the doldrums of the traditional holiday hues.  Taking just a few moments to plan can mean the difference between a Griswoldian home a la National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or an HGTV-worthy holiday abode.

Here are a few key things to remember when planning YOUR very own unique, creative and inspired holiday color scheme:

• Take note of your existing décor. If traditional holiday colors don't complement the color scheme in your home, then opt out! Don't worry about appearing to be a Scrooge - almost any color scheme you can think of can be made to look festive and sing out "Happy Holidays ".
  
• What colors blow up YOUR tree skirt? Once you've assessed your existing color scheme, start seeking out colors that will work within your home while complementing your existing décor.

 

For inspiration, look to:


• Magazines & Photos 
• Go window shopping at an outdoor or up-scale shopping area
• Designer Wrapping Paper & Holiday Ribbon
• Your Favorite Fabrics
• Beautifully Designed Holiday Cards & Art
• Holiday wreaths, floral arrangements and dried fruit arrangements

Congratulations! You've got your very own recipe for a holiday color scheme!

Note: If you've pulled together your color scheme and have a feeling that it's not so festive, there's no need to worry.  Any color within your new holiday palette can be transformed with a sparkly, glittery or metallic finish.  Gray's can become silvers, yellows & creams can become golds, and just about every hue imaginable can be found in a fanciful finish. If you're going for a more natural or rustic look, candles, bows, natural greenery, nuts, popcorn, buttons, berries and fruits can be used to create a jubilant sentiment for your designs while staying consistent with your style and color scheme.

Create a Holiday Design File.  Now that you've done your homework, gather up your swatches, your photos & pieces of inspiration and put them in an accordion file, a binder, a basket, a gift sack or a recyclable grocery bag.  The next step is key, so listen closely...

Take your Design File with you everywhere as you shop for your holiday décor. This is where most people mess up. It's easy to make impulse purchases or deviate from your established color palette if you don't follow your plan. As you place items in your shopping cart, hold it up to your color scheme and design file and ask yourself, "Would this item fit into this file?  Would it work in this picture? Or would it stand out like Santa in a grass skirt and coconut bra?"  Your answers to these questions will help guide you through your holiday design decisions.

Know what colors to shop for but wondering exactly WHAT items to buy?  Let us help you with our Personal Shopping Services! Click here for more information.