The Home Front: Styling your home this holiday season

Credit to Author: rebeccakeillor| Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2019 13:18:31 +0000

Decorating your home for the holidays can be a lot of fun and need not conform to any home decor trends, given that the way holiday styling is approached tends to vary greatly, says Kendall Ansell of Kendall Ansell Interiors.

“I think this year people seem to be going a little more minimalistic in their decor, they’re not embellishing as much. So they’re doing more subtle touches of Christmas with maybe just a little bit of greenery on the table and some sparkle. And then there seems to be the opposite end of the scale where people are going crazy,” she says.

People are no longer looking a for a “matchy matchy” holiday decor scheme, Ansell says.

“We used to see perfectly symmetrical mantel decor, and this year we’re seeing a lot of asymmetrical decor. So people are hanging the garland off to the one side and decorating that way.”

When it comes to trending colours, we have moved away from the pink Christmas that dominated the last few years, to a more “gold-y salmon” colour, says Ansell. And for those who shy away from colour, classic whites and greens are still proving popular, she says.

One positive change Ansell has noticed, especially at the Christmas craft fairs, is that the home-decor accessories available this holiday season seem to be more eco friendly.

“I just bought some pegs for gifts that are made of wood, birch pieces cut up. So things that can be reused and you’re not left with mounds of Christmas wrapping after the gifts are open. We’re seeing a lot less in the way of bows and glitter and I haven’t even seen any tinsel this year,” she says.

“I think people just aren’t wiling to go out and buy stuff for the sake of stuff.”

Whatever your personal style, layering is the key to success when it comes to decorating for the holidays, says interior designer Trish Knight of Knight Varga Interiors. This applies to your fireplace mantel.

“We always layer the light. Layer the greenery, and add things like swagging and ribbons,” she says.

Heavily layered mantel by Trish Knight and Nicole Varga of Knight Varga Interiors. Photo credit: Janis Nicolay for The Home Front: Styling your home this holiday season by Rebecca Keillor [PNG Merlin Archive] JANIS NICOLAY / PNG

The same layering approach should be applied to the dining table, Knight says.

“Whether you’re going to use placemats, a runner or tablecloth, layer your table with something. If you have a beautiful table, don’t cover it all up, but add something in the world of fabrics as it kind of quiets the room,” she says.

Knight recommends fully setting your table, with all of your cutlery and glassware, well before guests arrive.

“That’s how you catch the candle light and create sparkle,” she says.

Layering is key when it comes to Christmas table settings, such as this one by Trish Knight and Nicole Varga of Knight Varga Interiors. Deep red centrepiece by Hilary Miles Flowers. Photo credit: Janis Nicolay for The Home Front: Styling your home this holiday season by Rebecca Keillor [PNG Merlin Archive] JANIS NICOLAY / PNG

Centrepieces on the table make a huge impact, Knight says, recently opting for a “long and low” approach.

“You can talk over it without moving it,” she says.

Another tip, says Knight, for those who are not doing the formal sit-down Christmas dinner, but opting perhaps for a more casual, kitchen buffet experience, is to set up your buffet table or island with items at different heights and in mixed materials — so some wood, some glass, some white elements. She says don’t be afraid to use fun colours, and prints, like plaid napkins.

“I always suggest having different heights of footed trays. You definitely want flowers. You want some greenery, you want to mix different layers of lights, whether it’s light from above, from a chandelier, and then lower candles,” she says.

Kitchen entertaining, she says, is great for that warm, cosy, family-friendly feel at Christmas.

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