Household Tips

The queen of all things domestic has gone on record with her favorite tips for wrapping your holiday cheer!

Wrapping Paper
— To make gift wrapping less hectic, buy a variety of papers in a beautiful palette that works with any ribbon you choose.

— To distinguish identically wrapped presents, vary the color, width, and texture of the ribbons.

— Gift tags aren’t necessary if each family member is assigned a different color wrapping. Choose papers in solid hues that will
complement one another and enhance the colors on your tree.

Ribbons
— Ribbons and tags can get crushed, so don’t add them until you’re ready to unveil your gifts.

— Using the same type of ribbon is an attractive way to unify packages wrapped in different papers.

— Save bits of ribbons, seam binding, and twine along with decorative fruit, silk leaves, and miniature Christmas ornaments for adorning packages.

— With a little scissor work, basic self-adhesive bows are transformed into sumptuous blooms. For each “flower,” cut the loops of one small bow and one large bow at an angle. Then affix the small bow to the empty center of the large bow. Coil a short length of matching ribbon; place coil in center of the small bow, and secure with double-sided tape. Showcase a single bloom, or pair with more matching ribbon.

Tasteful Tags
— Gift tags are all the sweeter when they happen to be crisp cookies. To make them, cut gingerbread dough into shapes or letters, punch with a small hole for threading with cord, and bake. The cookies can be eaten while the unwrapping takes place, or hung on a tree as ornaments.

Photo Gift Toppers
— Decorate with a familiar face (or many of them). Print or copy a photo onto heavyweight paper. Then wrap the package with a wide band of ribbon. Using double-sided tape, secure the photo to ribbon. You can use the photos to identify the giver or the getter, or attach one favorite photo to all your presents.

I have to admit. I am NOT a trend-setter. I am not even a trend-follower. I may pick up a cute pair of shoes or a jacket to throw on with my jeans and t-shirt, but it’s hard for me to imaging re-decorating my house to the current fashion. That said, our friends in High Point have published their take on the latest home decor trends. So what’s in? Studs. No, not those. Those never went out of fashion! Nail studs on furniture! And the 20’s and 30’s Hollywood look. (I know, goes well with the studs, right?)

Color: Eco-colors continued to saturate new product introductions with earthy tones in various shades. Freshest now are combinations of brown and green. Grays and oysters serve as modern neutrals and are juxtaposed with bold metallics, orange-y reds, pink-y reds and saturated teals.

Print Patterns: Retro styling moves to the fore with geometric repeat patterns and oversized florals remaining strong. Animal-skin inspired patterns continue to serve as neutral counterpoints while stripes and linear polka dot variations abound.

Texture Trends: Patent, metallic, suede, leather, knits, inlay and paillettes along with “Gaudi-esque”-ornate detail were the key textures “on hand” in High Point. Along with faux bois styling and tactile designs, the trend is toward textures that beg to be touched.

Silhouette Status: When it comes to silhouette, today’s key shape is the long, lithe rectangle and structured styling with an origami edge is on the horizon. Even so, organic design still dominates in many manufacturers’ showrooms. The hottest home furnishings looks appear to have “sprouted” from Mother Earth.

Designer Details: “Stud-ly” style is coming to a store near you. Keep an eye out for furnishings embellished with nail-head trims used in interesting new ways. Reflective design is another crystal clear fashion trend shining through, with chandelier-like details popping up in unusual places. “Boho” is seen in small doses and amped up in attitude with a luxurious bent and more structure (think minimal shift dress versus flowing caftan as an apparel fashion correlation). Chunky furniture “jewelry” will be seen in the form of ornate legs and pieces “dressed” in oversized beads and crystals.

Era Inspiration: Global design, spanning a wide array of historic periods, is being brought forth in fabulous 21st Century style. From
Britannia and Celtic to Craftsman and Americana, and Old World Euro to Pan-Asian-there is a look to satisfy all tastes and pocketbooks. If new product introductions here are an indication of what’s to come in homes across the country, urbanites in particular will soon be “glamming it up” with furnishings reminiscent of Old Hollywood, 1920’s and 1930’s Parisian styling and very modern takes on Deco.

For more tips on decorating a small space, check out this post on dorm decor.