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Perri Crutcher, owner of OSHi floral design studio, shares his tips for creating tasteful and memorable holiday decor.
1. Learn the space. Crutcher says familiarizing himself with the homenot to mention those who inhabit itis the first order of business when he starts designing for the holidays. 'I really get to know the homeowners, the feeling of the house, what their lifestyle is, if they have kids or not,” he says. 'We're in a changing world, and everybody wants to see something fresh. I use the existing bones of the home and the holiday spirit to make each design unique and for that individual.”
2. Out with the old; in with the new. The holidays are the ideal time to clean out the garageor at least weed out the clutter in the form of excess decor. 'Get rid of all the fake garland,” Crutcher says. 'People tend to want to put everything out for Christmas. It's easier to come up with a theme and start anew.”
3. Keep it simple. Crutcher recommends creating holiday visuals that are aesthetically appealing but not confusing. 'Everyone has an arsenal of beautiful holiday items,” the designer shares. 'I like classic decor with a clean modern edge that's pleasing to the eye but doesn't have a lot of confusion or contrasting styles.”
4. Don't overdo it with color. The designer says homeowners often tend to throw in every holiday hue possible, but he advises to stick with one or two colors as a base. 'Take away 80 percent of the red, then thoughtfully put it back into the visual design,” he says.
5. Accessorize. Once he has a theme in mind and has settled on a color palette, Crutcher sets his sights on the fine details that complete the look. 'Add in quality florals, robust ribbon, heartfelt ornaments, and fresh seasonal greens and botanicals,” he says.