There's a lot of "How To" information about holiday decorating available, but do you ever wish there was a "How NOT To?" Look no further! This blog post is going to cover just that.
1. USING TOO MANY DECORATIONS
It's easy to get carried away when all those gorgeous decorations are beckoning to you....but try to resist! Oftentimes, "less is more" when it comes to decorating. In order to truly appreciate the uniqueness of each piece, your eyes need "breathing room" or "negative space" to rest upon before it sees the next decoration.
Along those same lines, be sure to keep the "Rule of Three" in mind, which basically says three items in a design is visually appealing. This is demonstrated in the design of this wreath:
Note how the pears and pine cones are placed in the wreath in threes? Your eye naturally finds this triangle without you even being aware of it.
2. HANGING A FRESH WREATH BETWEEN A MAIN DOOR AND STORM DOOR
You may think that by hanging a fresh wreath between your main door and your storm door, that you are protecting the wreath, but that is not the case. When sandwiched between the two doors, fresh wreaths don't get an adequate airflow and moisture levels are reduced in this space which is very drying to the wreath. Also, depending on the direction the door faces, sunlight shining on the doors will actually cause the space between to heat up, essentially baking your fresh wreath. These negative factors will all contribute to the fresh wreath drying out, turning color, and possibly losing needles faster than you want it too. Be sure to put it on the outside of the storm door where the rain and moisture from Mother Nature will actually be beneficial to your fresh wreath.
3. PLACING FRESH CUT HOLLY NEAR PRODUCE, SUCH AS A FRUIT BASKET
Produce, such as apples and oranges gives off ethylene which causes fresh cut holly to lose its leaves. When decorating indoors, be conscious that your holly (or decorations containing holly) are not too close to a fruit bowl on the counter or a gift basket you received.
4. PUTTING FRESH CUT HOLLY OUTSIDE IN COLD CLIMATES
Christmas Holly is a very traditional and very beautiful decoration to use. It is, however, also very temperature sensitive. It should be used indoors only in areas where outside temperatures drop below freezing as the cold temperatures can freeze the holly, making the leaves discolor into a brown-black hue.
5. EXPECTING FRESH GREENERY NOT TO CHANGE OVER TIME
Last but not least, the above photos show one of our Green Boxwood Candle Rings from the Cultivate trade show last summer. The top photo is of the wreath fresh and green, a few days after harvesting and producing it. The bottom photo is accelerated drying and fading after being hung outdoors in the very hot and sunny months of July and August. In my opinion, the wreath is gorgeous in both photos, and the trick to appreciating that beauty is accepting that this is a REAL wreath and therefore it's appearance is going to change and evolve over time.
Sometimes we get so caught up in decorating for a particular "look" that we forget that the joy of using real, fresh evergreens during the holidays is getting to appreciate their evolving beauty. The subtle changes in hue and texture from day-to-day.....the strong fragrance that tapers to a whisper hint of a fragrance over time...when you use fresh evergreens in decorating, you have the chance to practice mindfulness as you appreciate the beauty as it changes rather than be upset that the decoration is changing. This quiet observation allows you to be connected to nature, even if just for a moment each day.
As you go about planning your holiday decorations for this year, keep in mind "what NOT to do" so you can set yourself up for success in achieving the ambiance you are striving for. Check our website often as we continue add helpful tips, such as care and handling.
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