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As a supplier to floral designers, we try to practice the principles of design that are proven to attract attention, tell a story, and set the tone of a project. We look to compose our design by finding balance, proportion, and scale. We also search for unity, harmony, and rhythm in the elements of design and the colour palettes we choose to explore.
When it comes to the holidays, these principles are something we think should always be followed. In truth, most traditional Christmas designs that completely obey them are beautiful. But they are also something we think should be bent and pushed to their boundaries. Because when we stick to hard and fast rigid rules, we lose the artistic freedom that a particular space or client was imagining.
The canvas – scaling from a small container to a larger event space – may be calling for something different. It may require a little more freedom and personal authority.
And don’t get us wrong – we absolutely adore traditional holiday looks! We created two classic and clean styles for you to pull inspiration from below. We also feel that any four walls can and should push boundaries from time to time. So, we thought we would first inspire you with an unconventional Christmas look we love.
Bold and Lively
Our bold and lively look is an expressive one. It features bright colours to draw the eye in many different directions, creating a feeling of excitement, intrigue, and playfulness. When you think of gathering such warm hues peppered with blues and purples, it can almost seem overwhelming. But if you properly ground them in an asymmetrical design style, they will remain aesthetically pleasing. By doing this in our design, the tree becomes the room’s focal point and is balanced by smaller design elements. This gives the eye a sense of orderliness and the design a purpose.
We also see many lines through the merry and bright garland, sideboard, and windowsills. The design elements are purposely placed in this space to allow those lines to guide the eye to the focal point and provide hierarchy to the look. This allows us to play and use bold colours in a beautiful yet restrained way.
We then created balance in the design with a bold arrangement and cute holiday décor pieces. For instance, elements like the pink deer and polka dot bags fill negative space, balance larger elements, and complete the design. Had we not included these pieces, the room would have had a little too much negative space, and it would feel empty or as if it were missing a touch of holiday joy.
We really love unconventional colour palettes for Christmas and think they can create a different kind of magic this Holiday season. If you feel like the space is suitable, add a playful pop with bold, bright permanent or fresh botanicals this holly, jolly time of year.
Neutral and Natural
On the opposite side of the spectrum, we created a Neutral and Natural look for those spaces that require a more reserved approach. Characterized by lots of holiday greens and accented by whites, creams, and tans, this look finds its beauty in its simplicity and harmony.
The contrasting walls are balanced perfectly with the tree. Thinking about detail, you might notice that the tree is not the focal point of this look. The eye is immediately drawn to the warmth of the fireplace and mantle, whose lines then eventually guide us to the tree. This is a creative and logical way to create visual interest in your main subject.
The lines are also complimented by the depth provided by this space’s foreground, giving it a simplistic and ordered look.
We also see the use of more negative space in this design. This makes it feel less cluttered and gives it a clean, sharp, and organized look. Each accent item is placed with intention and serenity. For example, the gnomes on the mantle are balanced by the owl on the opposite side. Without the owl, the look feels off, almost like it is missing something. Then the stockings are perfectly placed to create visual interest, drawing the eye to that area.
In most modern spaces, it is tough to go wrong with this look which is one of the reasons we love it so much.
Classic and Timeless
When we think of the holidays, this look is truly timeless. By using many of the same design elements discussed in our bold and lively design, this look embraces the traditional colour story we all know and love. It creates feelings of nostalgia, comfort, and warmth that are typically found in most traditional designs. A mixture of rustic charm and elegance is harmonized by using red, green, white, and gold elements that give it a grand and inviting feel.
Although this look doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does transport us to a magical Christmas eve dream. It finds beauty in a familiarity that takes us back to our most magical Christmas memories.
Follow @floristsupply on Instagram or shop online for more Holiday floral design inspiration.