It seems as though the holiday season comes earlier and gets longer every year. Ornaments and lights are have been decking the halls of shopping centers since October, and gift options line the shelves starting in August. Those yearly holiday parties are booked and planners are challenged to craft yet another seasonable event, but how do you make it fresh?
Luckily event decor is tracking trends we’ve seen throughout the year, such as shine and lots of metallic finishes, an emphasis on curated nostalgic pieces mixed with more current décor and greenery, plus an array of colors that reach beyond traditional holiday hues, adding surprise and elegance to any venue.
1. Silver and Gold: Metallic finishes are the rage in home design right now and they add festive glamour to holiday event decor. Don’t be afraid to bring on the shine with side tables using marble with silver or glass with rose gold or maybe a gold branch-shaped side table? Go bold and use black furniture this year. Black coordinates perfectly with those gold designs for a luxe current holiday feel that’s right on trend. Don’t forget to use faux animal skins and fur to warm up the room, such as white fur stool with a gold base.
Making a statement with gold, especially in the bar area, can add elegance and tradition to holiday events. The CORT Rose Gold Maxim Bar is sure to grab the attention of party-goers.
2. Nostalgia: Nostalgic holiday items like gingerbread houses, candy canes, vintage ornaments and homemade stockings evoke holidays past. They can be used with classic brown vinyl Chesterfield seating to create lounges that feel homey and traditional. Make it current with LED colored lighting and gobos with snowflake or reindeer patterns.
3. Green it up: Traditionally associated with Christmas decor, green is a hot color trend for 2017. Make it festive this season by creating organic environments inside using faux greenery such as hedges and topiaries or real pine trees, decorated to match the event theme using vintage ornaments and shiny gold ribbon. Simple pine wreaths and garland, decorated with bay leaves and berries, add genuine naturally-scented atmosphere. Compliment with succulents or holly that can be draped dramatically throughout an event and dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Use copious amounts of mistletoe…it’s a great networking trick!
4. White, Blue and Beyond: Weaving in white and blue elements traditionally helps to celebrate Hanukkah, but you can also use those colors to design a crisp winter wonderland. CORT’s Victoria Ottoman with blue crushed velvet adds elegance to any space or use modern white vinyl seating as a base for creating a winter theme. Accents such as white birch trees coupled with bright pillows can add a more vibrant touch. Continue the bold theme with colorful CORT’s Marche Ottomans. Non-traditional colors such as purple, yellow or even orange are less expected and can help make the decor unique. If it’s a corporate event, make a statement with a branded LED bar or pedestal from CORT’s Posh Collection that can be easily customized using a holiday graphic or a traditional company logo.
Tapping into this year’s design trends for holiday parties can take a party beyond the Ugly Christmas Sweater and transform your event into a seasonal gala to remember.
Kevin Dana is executive director of marketing and product development at CORT Trade Show & Event Furnishings. To learn more about CORT’s exhibit and event rental collections or its Social Tables integration, visit www.cortevents.com.
