Holiday decor is about so much more than setting a tablescape or hanging ornaments on the tree. Rather, as the following experts share, successful seasonal design is grounded in strategic planning and organizing, as well as drawing inspiration from nature and nostalgia.
Director of public exhibits and lighting master of Brookgreen Gardens’ Night of a Thousand Candles, Jon McGann, shared that his blueprint for creating the “wow” factor is to “Prioritize the best trees such as Japanese maples, smaller magnolias or crepe myrtles, in your landscape or garden, based on their structure and shape. If a tree isn’t attractive, don’t highlight it. And if you’re low on time or budget, scale your project down and wrap smaller bushes and shrubs completely, rather than skimping on bigger trees.” Another way to save time and money, according to McGann, is to use easy-to-install uplighting with white or color-changing lights to accent trees. But the bottom line is as he said, “If you can’t finish the job, don’t do it at all.”
When it comes to greenery, McGann only ever uses fresh, never fake garlands and wreaths to decorate different areas around the property such as garden gates, the front door, a stairway and/or the mantelpiece. Because of our warmer climate, he said waiting as long as possible (after Thanksgiving) to hang the greenery will help it last throughout the season. He added, “Until you’re ready to install the garland, store it in a cool, dark place like a garage and once it’s up, keep it out of direct sunlight. And make sure to take the greenery down as soon as it starts looking rough.”
While decorating the gardens each season, McGann and his team use upwards of 10,000-15,000 strands of lights varying in bulb size, color and brightness. He advised that when it comes time to take them down, to roll them into a shape the size of a softball, starting with the female plug on the inside and wrapping the strand around like a ball of yarn with the male plug on the outside. “That way when you’re unpacking, it’s easier to plug it into an outlet, extension cord or previous ball. If you do it backwards, that’s how the lights get tangled,” he said, adding that it’s best to store them in milk crates or Rubbermaid tubs. “Storage is extremely important. For us, planning next year’s Christmas starts in January right after the holiday ends. So, we pack it all away correctly and neatly for next year. And we label everything.”
Realtor and chairman of the Architectural Review Board in historic Georgetown, Kevin Jayroe, fondly remembers growing up on Benvenue Plantation in Plantersville, South Carolina, where his family lived since 1932. There, he said, his grandmother was her own personal decorator who created magical vignettes throughout the house during the holidays. It was from her that he learned to draw holiday design inspiration from nature. “I love decorating with fresh greens from magnolias and cedar trees, as well as sticks and branches to create a restrained elegance,” Jayroe said. “And after the holidays, these are easy to dispose of and don’t require storage.”
Jayroe, who now lives in a historic home built in 1739, also suggested that to make rooms glow like a jewel box, “Pull out all the good stuff — the crystal, silver, China and linens — and use them!” For extra festive flair, he recommends creating layers with surprise elements such as adding red tapers to a pair of polished bronze candlesticks; taking a friend’s old wedding dress and bunching it up around the base of his Christmas tree as the skirt; or draping garland over an antique grandfather clock to enhance an entry hall.
For Jayroe, the holidays are about more than decorating, they’re all about entertaining with a joyous mood of comfortable elegance, incorporating the sounds of Christmas with subtle music or a classic movie like “White Christmas” playing in the background, as well as the smells of the season.
This holiday season, borrow these tips and tricks to free up time, space and energy, while creating all the memories that will last a lifetime.
By Sarah Rose
More Holiday Decor
Leave a Reply