When decorating homes, Stephanie Wightman, owner of Blooms & Wishes, believes the house should tell the story. She tries not to move any items and looks to enhance what the home is already saying.
Recently, Wightman and her team helped decorate the home of Ben Lee and Ann Jolly, Columbia residents who create holiday cheer throughout many rooms with their decor. Upon entering, an open-floor plan greets guests. The living room moves seamlessly into the kitchen that makes way for the dining room. Wightman used this space to bring the beauty of nature inside, minus the winter cold.
Two areas Wightman immediately took note of were the shelving on either side of the fireplace and the red-and-white theme of their Christmas tree. A doorway leading from the living room to other areas of the home was one area she wanted to work with.
“I looked at where can we add and highlight what she has, then I thought through and was like, ‘Okay, what is trending right now in design, particularly floral design?’” Wightman says. “I wanted to highlight the curtain rod swags over the doorway. Something like greens are so simple for people to do in their space, and they’re inexpensive. People don’t think about how you can just go out in your yard, pull greens, put it together in a swag and make it work.”
Wightman found metal, gold hoops for wreaths to hang in windows behind the Christmas tree. Using Oasis Bind Wire, she worked eucalyptus, cedar, and Scotch pine into half of the hoop, leaving the rest exposed. This allowed the tree to make a statement of its own.
She reached out to Starr Pines Christmas Tree Farm for the greenery, as farms occasionally have scrap piles from trees that are too small or grow crooked. These can be perfect for home arrangements. If you have an empty lantern or a similar item, you can use greens to liven up a countertop or fireplace mantel too.
In the Jollys’ home, Wightman used ribbon in certain designs to create a little flair. This is where Wightman suggests spending a bit more money, especially since ribbons are currently trending.
For traditional arrangements, such as the centerpiece of the dining room table or a coffee table, it’s important to create a look with layers. A good rule of thumb is to double the height and width of a vase with your arrangement. If you have a vase where the top is 6 inches in diameter, then you want the florals to expand outward by a foot. The same goes for the height of the vase to make it proportional.
If you are looking at a center arrangement as if you were seated at the table, an S or C curve at the horizon of the arrangement are trending shapes. An asymmetrical design where one side of the alignment is higher than the other can be accomplished by including gerbera daisies or red ranunculuses. In terms of structure and texture, this can be achieved by involving three different types of greenery, creating dimension and a more dynamic look.
Wightman likes to have fun with her florals. When discussing the greenery she used in the Jollys’ home, she states, “The bells of Ireland are funky, and I like to have a sense of humor with my arrangements, so that was me playing.”
Red flowers and greenery create a classic holiday look; however for those homeowners looking for a less traditional color, yet still timeless, other options are available.
“I love whites and greens — to me, that’s just elegant,” Wightman says. You can also add in LED string lights for more of a statement. To bring in the slight blue hue that winter is often associated with, she recommends blue thistle to go with your greens.
If you’re hosting a holiday party, you can leave your guests a nice gift by finding a small item, such as a mini champagne bottle, and creating a small arrangement. A mix of eucalyptus, hypericum berries, and wax flowers to fill the design out can easily fit with your decor and leave your guests smiling for days.
“To me, it’s more important to think about, what do you want to be reminded of every day in your space? How do you want your space to feel?” Wightman says. “Flowers are pretty, and if you buy a flower because you like it, and you put it in a vase because you like it, it’s beautiful.”
"... what do you want to be reminded of every day in your space?"
"... greens are so simple for people to do in their space, and they’re inexpensive."