| Lush and lavish are the key concepts in Victorian | | | | pastel holiday theme. |
| Christmas decorations. Rich colors, luxurious | | | | Lots of greenery wherever you look |
| fabrics, and splendidly over-the-top embellishments | | | | Boughs of pine and other greenery were a basic |
| make this style the epitome of sumptuous holiday | | | | component of holiday decor during the period. |
| elegance. | | | | Carefully arranged with fruit, flowers, candles, and |
| The Victorian period (1837-1901) was known for | | | | ornaments or woven into garlands, greenery was |
| strict rules of behavior that regulated everything | | | | everywhere. |
| from ettiquette to morality, but the styles, | | | | Suggestion: hang pine garlands wherever you can |
| fashions, and tastes of the day were anything but | | | | - festooned on staircases, surrounding doorways, |
| Puritanical. In both Europe and the US a | | | | and draped over mirrors and mantlepieces. |
| burgeoning middle class were enjoying the | | | | Weave broad ribbon, silky fabric, or thick gold |
| economic effects of the industrial revolution, and | | | | decorative rope through the branches and |
| they reveled in displaying their newfound | | | | decorate with bows, flowers, figurines, ornaments, |
| affluence. | | | | and tiny wrapped packages. |
| In an era when even everyday items were often | | | | Suggestion: strictly speaking, electric Christmas |
| ornately decorated, the holiday season was an | | | | lights aren't really part of period holiday decor. But |
| annual explosion of color, shine, and exuberant | | | | they're very much in keeping with the decorating |
| rococo profusion. Here are some tips for giving an | | | | spirit of the era, and using slightly gold-tinted mini |
| Victorian air to your holiday decor. | | | | lights creates a warm glow reminiscent of |
| | | | candlelight. |
| Use color to set the mood | | | | |
| The Victorians loved color and used it | | | | When in doubt, embellish! |
| everywhere, sometimes in combinations that we | | | | The Victorians had a real "more is better" ethic |
| would find surprising today. But very bright shades | | | | about decorating, particularly when it came to |
| (including the fire engine red and apple green that | | | | decorative ornamentation. The question was |
| we associate with Christmas now) were seldom | | | | rarely "which one should I use?" but rather, "How |
| seen in the decorations of the era. Colors that are | | | | many can I fit into the space?" This is particularly |
| typical of the period include deep gem tones of | | | | true of the holiday decor of the period. |
| red, blue, green, and purple, along with shades of | | | | |
| gold and cream. | | | | Suggestion: to capture the mood of the era, go |
| Suggestion: try decorating your tree with | | | | lavish with everything and decorate everywhere. |
| ornaments in deep gem tones, and replace bright | | | | Don't stop with hanging the garlands and |
| tinsel garland with swaths of broad burgundy red | | | | decorating the tree. Make arrangements with |
| ribbon. Add accents with cream-colored bows and | | | | flowers, candles, ornaments, ribbon and greenery |
| shiny gold balls or figurines. | | | | on tables, mantles, piano tops, shelves; every flat |
| Suggestion: if you don't care for deep tones, try | | | | surface is eligible. And don't think in terms of |
| going with pastel theme. While not as historically | | | | "either or" - think "both and" instead. When you're |
| accurate, light shades of dusty pink or blue mixed | | | | creating an arrangement, use bows and |
| with cream and ecru and highlighted with plenty of | | | | ornaments and fruit. Or pearls, flowers, and lace. |
| gold can create a breathtaking period look. Strings | | | | Or bows, ornaments, fruit, pearls, flowers, and - |
| of pearly beads make a dazzling accent to a | | | | well, you get the picture. |