Elegant Holiday Decor in Living Colour

This Christmas I painted a holiday scene in my home with a brush dripped in vibrant colour!

There’s no better time of the year than the holiday season, to pull out all the stops and get bold with colour, glitz and glam! This Christmas is no exception! The inspiration for my final holiday décor in our family home might surprise you. I owe it to my husband Barry’s annual tradition. When he popped the lid off the tin of his favourite Christmas candy, Quality Street Chocolates, I was instantly committed to the happy, shiny colours of these iconic little morsels wrapped in shimmery foil and smelling divinely like every Christmas we’ve ever spent at home with our family and friends.

Taking my cue from every one of the brilliant candy wrappers in the tin, I set out to find Christmas balls, foil wrapping paper, ribbon, vases, glasses and tabletop accents I could find to create one of the most colourful and joyful holiday decors I’ve every done in my home. It was fun and easy to find everything I needed to give my cream and white décor a dramatic festive look that shimmered all season long.

Thank you Paul Chmielowiec for our gorgeous photos.

FESTIVE FIRELACE

I started with the focal point in the room, the grand, open-flame log fireplace. Nothing is more opulent or magical than dining by a roaring fire on a chilly Christmas or New Year’s eve. To maximize the ambiance and enjoyment of the fireplace, I created an intimate seating area with two small-scale upholstered chairs and a tufted ottoman centred in front of the fire. A mirrored gold tray on the ottoman begins to tell the bold colour story with a bowl filled with the foil-wrapped candy, chartreuse, fucshia, bright blue, silver and gold balls and shimmery be-ribboned gifts.

HOLIDAY MANTELSCAPE

On the mantel and the shelves flanking the fireplace, my new brilliant holiday colours start to emerge. Gold pots with fresh greenery, cobalt blue tea lights sparkle.

CHRISTMAS CENTREPIECE

Central to the room, the eight-foot dining table with comfortable high-back upholstered chairs, is illuminated by a candlelight chandelier dripping with crystals. The centerpiece, a low, mirrored vase arranged with clouds of white hydrangea and green hypericum berries is the perfect complement to the brightly coloured decorations.

BEAUTIFUL BEVERAGE BAR

Tis the season to cheer! I have a pretty mini bar set up for my holiday guests on the long sideboard next to the dining table. Brilliant Christmas balls in a glass accent piece, a silver vase with pink carnations, more foil-wrapped chocolates in a crystal bowl all sparkle with soft decorative light.

COLOURFUL WRAPPED GIFTS

Mimicking the sweet treats that inspired my holiday colour palette, the gifts wrapped in bold, glitzy foil papers add dramatic contrast and festive holiday colour to our all-white flocked Christmas tree.

SEASONAL STYLE

Every surface gets a festive touch of colour and shimmer. A small mirror-topped chest shimmers with colour, glass, candlelight and bright pink carnations in a petite silver vase.