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Festive decorating tips
Published
13 April, 2023
Edited
9 June, 2023
To transform your home into a magical wonderland over the festive season, we've asked Hayford & Rhodes to give us some tips and tricks. The London-based artisanal florist has all the decorating wisdom you’ll need.
Deck the doors
Deck the doors
Top of the list in the professional Christmas decorator’s manual, the door wreath. It’s the most festive way to greet your guests and sets the tone for the holidays. We love a combination door wreath that’s been crafted from fresh foliages and preserved ingredients.
Florist Tip: Hydrangeas are the perfect flower to dry, just suspend the stems upside down in a mid-temp dry spot, away from direct sunlight, until they are delicately dry to touch. Dried summer hydrangeas make for an enchanting winter look.
The heart of the home
The heart of the home
The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially at Christmas, and can often get overlooked when it comes to festive decorating. A natural cascade of mossy branches, holly trimmings and pine on a windowsill, bundles of mistletoe and berries strung from fixtures and fittings and nestled in cosy corners will bring texture, warmth and scent into the space.
Tip: We love incorporating foodie ingredients into our floral styling, bringing natural herby scents and pops of fruity colours into our designs. Pomegranates, plums, redcurrants, grapes, rosemary and artichokes are a few of our festive favourites.
Tablescaping
Tablescaping
The key to a successful scape is placement. Zigzagging elements down the centre of the table creates rhythm, pairing taller and shorter vases and props in small organic groups creates depth. When it comes to selecting a colour scheme, think outside the ‘go-to’ palette of reds and greens. We love using a combination of coral, peach and salmon, paired with caramel and toffee tones accented with smoky grey winter foliages. A simple trim of fragrant foliage tied with a velvet ribbon adds a luxurious finish to a tablescape.
Tip: Invest in a small set of taper candle holders in two sizes. The varying heights add drama and elegance, and candlelight instantly sets the mood.
The mantle
The mantle
It’s too easy to lay a garland over a mantle, this is the space to get creative with festive floral design. We love nothing more than pushing the garlanding boundaries when it comes to shape and style.
Tip: Defying gravity with cascading winter foliages, pooling onto the hearth, adds a contemporary twist to a traditional look. High-shine pearlescent baubles pick up a marble fireplace beautifully whereas woody, rustic elements and dried fruits are better suited to a farmhouse-style fireplace.
Bring the inside, out
Bring the inside, out
One wouldn’t instantly think to continue the festive decs to an outdoor space, however, creating a cosy Christmas nook is an instant crowd-pleaser. We love a festoon of baubles strung from height (trees and pagodas work well) paired with a plethora of floor-standing hurricane lamps and lanterns.
Tip: Add woollen mittens, winter coats and a warming mulled wine to this and you've got the perfect set up.
Staying with onefinestay over the festive season?
OUR FESTIVE SERVICE MENU IS HERE TO HELP YOU SAVOUR PRECIOUS TIME SPENT WITH LOVED ONES, FROM THE COMFORT AND PRIVACY OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL ONEFINESTAY HOME, VILLA OR CHALET.
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