Your Interim Winter Holiday Schemes

13 years ago

I have taken down my decorations and I still want to decorate my door and topiaries. So I'm looking for inspiration as to what others have done regarding colors, decorating etc. in this time that is still winter but not Xmas and not Spring.

I know I see a lot of blue and white but it sounds cold (and doesn't sound appealing with my salmon colored house). If there aren't any other color schemes, I suppose I could go in that direction. Do you keep up the greenery or is that a Xmas thing?

So what is your interim holiday color scheme, decoration, inspiration? Bonus points for pics:)

Thank you!

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Comments (25)

jeannespines
13 years ago
htnspz...purplemoon started a thread the end of Dec asking for some ideas & such, too...don't know if you've seen it...maybe it will spark an idea! Jeanne S.

Here is a link that might be useful: Question about HolidaZs decorating
htnspz
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you for your response. I saw it but I suppose I was hoping for more responses as it seemed more specific to that poster's decor. I don't really want Xmasy, cardinals or snowmen so I was wondering if there were any other general ideas.
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valleymagpie
13 years ago
Htnspz,

I am working on the same issue right now. I have a woodsy decor so I definitely keep a lot of greenery around. One thing I am thinking about is taking my winter mantel paintings and trying to get a color scheme from them. One is a red canoe by a snowy creek, and the other is a snowy landscape in mostly pastel colors (turquoise sky, light amber rocks, white snow, and dark green trees).

Have you thought of using paintings, or maybe a wintry-looking fabric you like, to inform your color scheme?

Another idea I am going to copy from my dear MIL: She has a huge bare branch with a spread of several feet. She has anchored it against her hall wall and covered it with white lights. It sure does make taking the Christmas tree down!\

- Magpie
htnspz
Original Author
13 years ago
For full disclosure I happen to be an Interior Designer but I often look at blogs and magazines for inspiration but I haven't seen much out there right now.
Valleymagpie,
I love the idea of your woodsy decor. I also like your snowy landscape painting inspiration. I don't have any winter paintings but I could look them up, thanks for the idea. Do you happen to know the name of your snowy landscape painting so I can look it up? I'm always keeping the color of my house in mind for decorating and it's not easy making a wintery palette with a salmon-peachy color.
I also don't like to be too literal in the spirit of my decorating so I'm still trying to strike a balance between winter and the upcoming Spring.
valleymagpie
13 years ago
Htnspz,

I don't have my painting name. It says on the back tag, "Oil Painting, framed, $29.95." LOL! I bought it from the Salvation Army store here in town. However, I took this picture of it:

Also, the last sentence of my post doesn't make sense. I MEANT to say, "It sure does make taking the Christmas tree down EASIER!"

- Magpie
jeannespines
13 years ago
magpie...lovely painting & wonderful colors to pull out of it for your decor...I know you are "woodsy" as you know I am. I leave my baskets of pine cones displayed usually until March ...when Spring arrives (is supposed to, anyway!) I also leave out some greenery & some decorated pine trees....& snowmen. And I like changing out pottery & dinnerware in the DR/kitchen.

htnspz...I don't know what zone you are in...whether you have Winter snow or not, but lots of "natural" items would go very well with your salmon/peachy decor....some ivory, tan, brown & deep greens of nature in pearls, pine cones, branches, greenery, vine wreaths, etc. ...Do you have pics to share of your "topiaries" that you want to decorate....that would help to generate ideas from Holiday-ers here on the forum. Do you like figurines ... bronze deer would be lovely with salmon... or bunnies that you could later tie into Spring? Hope you get some cool ideas that will work for you. Jeanne S.
plainjane425
13 years ago
Magpie...I love that painting..and envy your finding it a SA. The price was right too. The frame on it is beautiful as well. SA used to be my Favorite place to shop when I lived in NY..I havn't found one here in CT.
I agree with Jeanne, it has lots of great colors to pull out of it, and the subject is lovely.
Funny you should mention about your MIL using a large Branch w/white lights...I was just thinking the other day of putting one in the corner of my FR where my Tree is now. It will help bring a little life into that area once the Christmas Tree is down. I also like to keep pinecones and some greens in wooden bowls and baskets and large white candles, for a woodsy winter look.
htnsp...sounds like your home with a salmon color is either in the South or Southwest. I think your home color mixes very nicely with different shades of green - cream and browns - magnolia leaf wreaths..with cream colored berries and pinecones. Using large white pillar candles with pinecones and twig branches in bowls or baskets is always a nice look.
Twigs with white lights go anywhere w/any color scheme..Topiaries w/white lights..go anywhere w/any color scheme any time of yr. I use grape vine wreaths yr round..and add a different seasonal touch to them.
I keep candle lights in my upstairs windows yr round, to keep a cheerful welcoming look going.
Hope we could be of help.

jane
valleymagpie
13 years ago
Leave it to Jane and Jeanne to come up with these great ideas! I love the pillar candles and pine cones and twig branches. And Jane has sparked my memory of a large grapevine wreath I have SOMEWHERE in the storage room. It is covered with (only) small faux white berries. I have always loved it, and it would look perfect where my green wreath is now.

By the way, you will love the branch and white lights. I'm on the search for a good branch now. If I can pull out a picture of this I'll post it.

I agree with both of you on a color scheme: some greens and browns and creams would be just perfect with a salmon-color decor.

- Magpie
plainjane425
13 years ago
Oh Magpie.. I hope you find your Vine Wreath to put up where your Green Wreath is now... Sounds like a lovely one.
Mine goes up over the fireplace. I just add some 'wisps' of branches here and there, to soften the look.
I also hope you post that picture of the branches with the lights...I'd love to see it. You have me excited to do this now. It's usually so sad in that corner when that big tree comes down.

Yoo Hoo Jeanne...I still have those vines on my side porch > and they're Still calling my name to make that vine tree. Before Christmas DH bought some furring strip wood to make the frame for it. I'm still determined to do it. I know it won't look ANYTHING like yours, but it's a project I'd like to work on.

jane
htnspz
Original Author
13 years ago
Valleymagpie, what a lovely painting, I can see why you were drawn to it. I saw some branches at Ikea so maybe I'll consider something like what your Mil has.

Jeannespines, Thank you for the visual. My color palette in my house is similar and just didn't think of doing a variation of the same thing, but I think it could work.

Slinkey, I am in San Diego county so it's a bit of a stretch on wintery decoration here. i will look up magnolia wreaths and cream colored berries (who knew?!). I want to keep a year around wreath so now I just need to consider the embellishments.

I'm still a new homeowner and I had been living in an urban area so long I didn't know what people were using in their homes. Thank you for some inspiration!!!
lynnencfan
13 years ago
like others on here I look to nature for my inspiration. I will do the twigs, pinecones, grapevine wreaths. I have cut pussy willow, some curly willow branches, Harry Lauder Walking Stick (another very curly stemmed shrub) in the past to bring inside. Forced spring bulbs in whites and creams will add a softness and pearls, cream ribbons and soft lights also add to the look. All the battery operated lights that are available now make decorating with lights so much easier.

I might add that living here in the Southeast the snowmen, iceskating and other winter sports themes don't really work although I really like the look. We have trees budding and some even blooming by the end of January so my seasonal decorating is definitely driven by what is going on outdoors in my yard .....

Lynne
plainjane425
13 years ago
htnspz...Glad we could be of help to you.
I can understand now, from your location, that you're definetely not in a 'snow/wintery' zone.
But I do think a Magnolia Wreath is the way to go.
I looked up a web site for you to check out.
There's lots of Magnolia Wreaths to 'inspire' you.
HOpe you find one...and then post a picture. We'd love to see it.

Lynne...I can understand what you're working with too.
Sounds like you've worked out a nice combination of things to keep the look going for a while. Gosh - buds on trees going and even some blooming in January...how nice. I could live with that..lol Doesn't happen here till end of March and when it does, what a 'mental' relief to know Spring is right around the corner.

jane

Here is a link that might be useful: Magnolia Wreaths
lynnencfan
13 years ago
Jane - I am an avid gardener also and have plants blooming every month of the year so I really have trouble relating to snow and wintery scenes although Christmas is definitely an exception :) Right now I have Camellias blooming and the daphne is budded full and will break open the first warm spell we will have. This has been an unusually cold winter so things are a little late. The trees that will be blooming the end of January are the flowering almonds.

Didn't mean to hyjack the 'indoor' decorating thread but as I said I look to nature for my cue for non-holiday decorating :) .....

Lynne
plainjane425
13 years ago
Lynn...no hyjacking on your part. I think htnspz..
was interested in what we did after Christmas both inside and out.
I envy the fact that you can enjoy things blooming at this time of yr. I've been thru NC in January traveling to FL and back. I remember hitting some awful ice storms. I was told by locals, that they don't clear the ice off the roads and just tell everyone to stay home. That must be tough to live with.
jane
lynnencfan
13 years ago
lol - we definitely do have some strange weather - ice storms being the worse (could have one this week) and yes we here in the eastern part of the state do depend on the sun for snow/ice removal - fortunately it is very short lived compared to other parts of the country .....

Lynne
htnspz
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes, I was talking about indoor and outdoor but I am working on my porch right now. I went to Michaels and got some silk flowers etc to enhance my wreath I have right now. I will be posting pics soon of my progress and hope to make you guys proud!

btw, I did look up magnolia wreaths and realized I loved them without knowing their name. I didn't want to order one online and didn't see any at Michaels. Does anyone know where to get them at a brick and mortar?
lynnencfan
13 years ago
maybe a local florist???? - you might have to special order it tho - the leaves do seem to last forever and dry good ......

Lynne
htnspz
Original Author
13 years ago
Lol! You were suggesting real! Now I know why I haven't seen them out there. I guess I won't mind as long as they last a long time. Do I need to do anything to them to dry them?
plainjane425
13 years ago
htnspz..I just had to share a web site I found of a landscape designer who discusses the many uses of magnolias.
Allso beautiful and so inspiring.
As far as purchasing one locally...I too would have to say a local florist. A few yrs ago, I purchased one at a Flea Market from a floral designer. As far as doing anything to 'dry' them...they dry naturally
jane

Here is a link that might be useful: decorating with magnolias
Purplemoon
13 years ago
ht..I'm glad you started this thread. Lots of good ideas and I love hearing input from all the others. I am looking forward to seeing pictures from you. And a belated Welcome to our Forum family.

hugs, Karen
htnspz
Original Author
13 years ago
Slinkey, that website has some gorgeous design that's right up my alley! I'm going to bookmark it.

Purplemoon, thank you for the welcome. All of you are so friendly and welcoming! I usually hang out in home decorating but it's been nice hanging out here!
lynnencfan
13 years ago
Jane - that site is perfect!!!! I was doing some searching but didn't come up with anything nearly as good as that - I have bookmarked the site also .....

Lynne
jeannespines
13 years ago
Wow, jane, that is a wonderful site...those Magnolia ideas are beautiful!

Since we're sharing about Winter holiday decor yet & I do alot of woodsy...here's an example that I leave up for Jan anyway at the end of the hallway:

An oak shelf DH made a long time back, faux greenery & glass beaded garland intermingled in...a couple of new acorn ornies I just got after Christmas sales:

Here's a view from the side: glass ball ornie, pinecones in garland, etc.:

Here's ornies that hang on the pegs...this is probably as glitzie as I get ...I've collected the ornies at several places after Christmas bargains the past few yrs...I like the look of it...

Full view...ceiling light is on...so lots of reflections in the glass of framed print...but it's a pair of Chickadees on a pine branch, pinescones lower part... in Winter...

And here's pines/cones filled basket I shared the other day on a diff post...it's now the centerpc of the DR table...very woodsy:

Hope to see some other pics from others, too! Jeanne S.
jaybird
13 years ago
I do the pine/pinecone/snowflake stuff. I found a bunch of pine with "fake" ice crystals etc. at Michaels for 60% off. I filled my gate basket with it and I'm using quite a bit in the house. I have bunches o' birdies and I put them around in the pine as well. (Jeanne, we must have been separated at birth...I have a dough bowl full of pine that is amazingly like your arrangement!)
The door wreaths and table decorations get the flat silver glitter snowflakes in various sizes, and the table gets a load of crystal in all sorts of items.
It may not work for everyone, but we are enjoying it for the moment. I don't do much decorating for Valentine's day, so the "woodsies" will stay up until the middle of March. Everything comes down then and the summer stuff is hauled out...that stays until September:^(
plainjane425
13 years ago
Lynne..glad you liked that web site...I loved looking at it too. Now you being a gardner, I'm sure there's lots of ideas to inspire you.
Jeanne..your winter 'woodsy' decor is so nice.
I remember that shelf your DH made. I enjoy seeing how you change it each time. I used to have a shelf that Dh made like yours, in my laundry room. When we moved, he convinced me >> :( Anyway, your winter decos are really nice..Love the mix of greens and pinecones and the nice selection of decos you have hanging below. It certainly makes the transition from Christmas to Winter, so much easier.

jane

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