Like many of you, the minute the Thanksgiving leftovers were put away, my thoughts turned toward the next holiday. And, no, I don’t mean Black Friday. Ever since I got dragged across a department store by a zealous shopper who’d caught my pierced hoop earring in a hanger, I sit Black Friday out. No bargain is worth bodily harm.
While much of America was getting “malled” after Thanksgiving, I stayed in the safety of my home decorating for the other holiday, the merry and bright one. Though mostly I trot out last year’s decor, which is a rehash of years prior, I’m always interested in adding a dash of fresh festive flair.
Turns out — though I loathe being lumped into this category — I’m typical, said Jule Eller, director of trend strategy for Lowe’s.
“We’ve done a lot of research,” said Eller, whom I called to get ideas for how to update hackneyed holiday looks. “We found our customers are comfortable with classic décor. They really stick with traditions.”
However, every year Lowe’s comes out with a handful of “trend stories,” looks that help holiday decorators build on what they have.
Now, at the risk of sounding like the Grinch of holiday decorating, I need to add here: That is not an excuse to keep piling on without pruning. Just because you’ve had the same wreath for 10 years, doesn’t mean you have to keep it. You must edit.
Eller agrees. Your holiday look should evolve, not snowball.
Decor do’s, don’ts
While I have Eller backing me up, I would like to set out a few more holiday decorating rules:
Find your look and stick with it. I don’t care if you choose simple and sleek, ornate and formal, rustic and nostalgic, or traditional and classic — pick a look and settle on it. “The biggest rule of thumb is don’t get sidetracked,” Eller said. “Yes, the new and beautiful might turn your head, but if it doesn’t resonate with your look and your home, look away.”
Dial in your red. Most holiday decorators use a shade of red in their holiday theme, said Eller. And that is the key: one shade, not three. You wouldn’t wear a fire engine red top with burgundy slacks. (I hope.) So identify your red — bright cherry, rich ruby, deep burgundy — and weed out the reds that clash. The goal is a cohesive look.
Cluster, don’t spread. When arranging your nutcrackers, angel chorus or candles on a tabletop or mantel, don’t line them up. Group them instead.
Trends for 2015
With that, I will turn you loose with four of Lowe’s story trends this season:
Jewel tide. “This year the big story is about jewel tones,” Eller said. Think royalty — deep amethyst, ruby red, sapphire blue, emerald green. The colors are rich, and the materials incorporate velvet, feathers, and figures, like deer dipped in gold. The look is elegant.
Merry and bright. As it sounds, this is a traditional red and green story. Items have a handcrafted feel and give a nod to folk art. Wood, felt and yarn fit in this look, as do woodland creatures — like the owl and fox — and gingerbread men and houses. The look is humble yet warm and plays to nostalgia.
Winter retreat. Think winter wonderland, with shimmery layers that evoke ice, glitter and frost. This look blends textured whites (birch white bark, and white faux fur) and soft metallics, including soft gold, champagne, silver and pale copper, grounded by pops of deep green. One advantage of this theme, Eller said, is that because it says “winter” and not just “Christmas,” decor can stay up through January.
New traditions. This classic but clean holiday look is popular with millennials, Eller said. It incorporates traditional colors — red, green and gold — but the style is simple, less ornate. “We see a lot of wire in this one, as well as chalkboard finishes,” she added. This trend story gravitates toward nostalgic ornaments of the 1940s and ’50s, but with a twist, say a different shape (teardrop) or an updated finish.
Ready, set, go deck your halls.
Contact Marni Jameson via www.marnijameson.com.
