Decorating with elements of nature during the festive season

Adding touches of nature throughout one's home while decorating for the festive season is a must. Aside from the obvious Christmas tree or two there are numerous ways to decorate with foliage in a big way or with little touches. This not only balances the various colors of the season and the abundance of sparkle and glitter that is to be expected at this time of year,

but nature also does have a calming effect during what usually is a hectic season for most.

 

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For the outside of our homes, the presence of nature in different forms creates a great first impression and can be a reflection of the indoors. It certainly adds wonderful curb appeal!

Traditional Exterior by Boston Photographers Mary Prince

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Planters are an obvious choice to complement whatever you choose to use and they work throughout the year .

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They certainly make a bold statement for the outdoors.

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From Christmas trees in any room...

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...and mini potted plants..

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..and wreaths of all sizes...

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...with or without a mantle.

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Combining some element of nature in your decor this season welcomes all to your home and creates a warm environment within for friends and family, no matter what climate one might live in.

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Traditional Porch by Brooklyn Photographers Rikki Snyder

Garlands for a fabulous curved banister is visually stunning in any foyer..

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...or over a mantle...

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Eclectic Living Room by Webb City Media & Bloggers Michelle Edwards

...or framing a perfect view through a picturesque window in the dining room. I love that there is a swag to this garland!

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Something I have tried myself in the past. A garland wrapped around the dining room chandelier.

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The little touches...place settings with a touch of green helps balance the sparkle all around and makes for an inviting table....

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..and white is the perfect winter color. It can enhance and add a delicate touch to all that glass and silverware.

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A touch of foliage here-and-there.

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It can be simple. Just a hint..how perfect.

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And one can be so creative. How pretty is this!

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Traditional Dining Room by Mooresville Building Supplies Lowe's Home Improvement

No matter what your style...

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or color preference...

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..elements of nature come in different forms and colors and decorating with some during the festive season - indoors and out - provides an essential, happy balance.

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Don't you agree?

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Spring is in the air....

...even though it might be snowing. There is a hint of spring in the air in my house, at least. While I took down the holiday decorations in January I contemplated the post-Christmas/still-winter decor, particularly on the mantle.

I used a couple of branches of these silver berries and just placed them on across the mantel in no specific manner. And then I interspersed 2 votives randomly.

 

Honestly, I had no flowers on here for a while but taller votives. Last weekend I was entertaining and I went in search of some color to herald the coming of spring - soon, I hope. I needed some florals for my dining table, too.

I found gorgeous African roses at the local Trader Joe's in shades of orange and fuchsia which I decided to use together.

I cut them down to fit in my spray-painted Salvation Army glasses now used as vases. This is what the 7" glasses looked like when I first bought them.

 

After some gold spray paint.
 

 

This works in my love for the silver-gold color combination.

 

The day after my party I moved the flowers from the dining room to the coffee table. They were perfect in my recycled salsa and preserves jars with some clear gems for sparkle.

 

A simple arrangement, beautiful pop of color.
I removed all leaves below the rims of the containers and left a few above for some green.
 

 

 

 

This is what I am enjoying in my home today even we have yet another snow day and schools are closed yet again.

 

Tomorrow promises to be in the 50s!

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Patterns In Nature

When I was little, my parents had a subscription to National Geographic magazine. I would spend hours enjoying the articles and pictures in every issue. We have many copies of the magazine in the house now and my kids enjoy them just like I did.

Every so often I visit the National Geographic website. One could spend hours. Here are a few examples of pictures taken across the globe depicting patterns in nature which I find truly inspirating for their quality of photography, color combinations and patterns, subject matter and sometimes just because they are visually spectacular or dramatic.

Flowers:

Calla Lily

Hibiscus Petal

The leaves of a Lobelia Plant spiral around the center.

Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

The flower of a Claret Cup Cactus Flower.

The Hairpin Banksia.

Eastern Australia.

Sharp spines on a Prickly Pear Cactus.

The Galapagos Islands.

Coleus Plants.

South America.

Water Lily.

St. Louis.

Palm Fronds; the leaf is symbolic in many religions.

Deep relief of a leaf's veins.

Water:

Sandbars.

Australia.

Whirpool.

France.

Black sand.

Mexico.

Like an impressionist painting, water ripples.

Costa Rica.

Mysterious Earth:

Biplane flying over Monomoy Shoals, Massachusetts.

Light paints patterns on a rock wall.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah.

Sunlight through a freshwater sinkhole (cenote). 

Yucatan peninsula.

Antelope Canyon.

Arizona.

Sand dunes.

Namib Desert, Namibia.

Trees:

White birch trees.

Manitoba, Canada

Butterflies:

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly.

Zebra-winged Butterfly set off by the white petals of a flower. 

Nebraska.

Male Blue Morpho Butterfly with irridescent wings.

Auroras:

Aurora Borealis.

Manitoba, Canada

Yellowknife, Canada

Troy, New York

I could fill up an entire gallery wall with these. There is so much more stunning photography to indulge in on the website. Do you visit the National Geographic website? Do you look to nature for inspiration?

All images via National Geographic.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa