Entertaining holiday style

October 26, 2012

By Erica Gelman

It’s that time of the year – friends are gathering, family is arriving, the food is cooking, the presents are stacking and you are hosting a highly anticipated holiday event. In our house, the holiday party is a not-to-miss affair, I take this season very seriously and expect nothing less from my guests. It’s the one time of the year where everyone clears their schedules and unites together.
Much like interior decorating, we suggest planning your holiday décor in advance. Decorating for the holidays goes beyond just dressing your tree and hanging the lights. It also means setting your holiday table, decorating your entrance and creating a festive atmosphere around your house, especially if you are expecting guests.  Prepare yourself for the amount of guests, the length of their stay and how many events you’ll be hosting. If you’re not hosting but rather attending,  you still may want to make your home look and feel festive. The same principles apply to decorating your home day-to-day as they do to decorating your home for the holidays. The most important rule of design is consistency. Allow your holiday décor to reflect, in this case, a new season and embrace the spirit of the holidays.

Start with a theme. Usually, I would say to stay away from any themed décor however, when it comes to the holidays I say, “Go wild!” Generally there is an excitement when it comes to the holidays and when entertaining I like to bring that excitement out in the details. For luxurious touches, what screams luxe more than glitzy gold or shimmering silver? You can add silver-rimmed wine or champagne glasses accompanied with gold leaf charge plates at the dinner table. This year – we would suggest mixing your metals similar to what we are seeing in fashion, you don’t just have to choose one. Want to try a new spin on traditional hues? You can incorporate royal jewel tones like emerald green and deep amethyst with silver accents and create your own classic design. However, if it’s fresh and modern décor you’re ready to implement,
try black and white punctuated with crystal accessories or gold finishes. Incorporate things that are simple with something somewhat special. It could be your grandmother’s antique china mixed in with modern flatware, or historic family ornaments decorated in new apothecary glass vases.

When it comes to tabletop décor, a real statement comes from adding volume and height with various vignettes. If you want to leave your dining table strictly for tableware then decorate around the room or on the buffet table. You can add one large centrepiece in the middle and several smaller ones around the room or across the table. While flowers are typically thought of as common centrepieces, we like to add contemporary details like birch trees cut down to size, faux antlers, lots of candles and even fur throws on dining seats.
Whether it’s Christmas, Chanukah or New Year’s Eve – be sure to deck your halls, dress your mantle, accessorize your tree, and set your tabletop.

Toronto-based designer Erica Gelman, Principal of Erica Gelman House Of Design. Specializes in both large and small scale residential design projects throughout Toronto and the GTA. Known for enhancing and creating new possibilities in every space of your home.
House Of Design www.ericagelman.com

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Tags: Chanukah, Christmas, entertaining, Erica Gelman, holiday decor, New Year's