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By Sharon A. Bassett
Want to update your home’s look this holiday season? Let’s look at the new color trends and textures that add warmth and richness to our homes as we celebrate the Reason for the Season.
Color of the Season
“Very Peri,” the 2022 Pantone Color of the Year, is a great place to start if you’re looking for a “new” Christmas color. This dusky purple pairs well with today’s gray-toned decor. Purple ornaments look fantastic against a green tree but glow in trendy flocked Christmas trees. Blend with purple Christmas decorations in hues from lavender to plum or add a touch of glamor with accents of silver or gold. Try this royal color with new glass ball ornaments, a tinsel tree, or tabletop décor.
Crystal & Clear Glass
Clear glass and crystal ornaments gleam like ice to provide a subtle shine on the tree. Try this look on its own or blend it with silver or ice blue. Accent with white lights in a frosted tree for a magical winter wonderland motif. For added sparkle, hang individual crystals or a Christmas garland of crystal beads. Out of the tree, crystal adds sophistication to your holiday decor from glassware to accent pieces. Try crystal ornaments, pillar candle holders, or crystal LED star lights to update your tree.
Luxury Metals
Luxury metallics are always in style! Platinum, bronze, gold, and silver ornaments add a touch of elegance on their own or in combination with other Christmas decor trends. They’re as on-point with traditional red and green as they are when paired with crystal and glass. Mix silver or gold ornaments with glass ball ornaments in emerald green and trendy teal, or blend with lustrous mercury glass. Off the tree, luxury metals glimmer beautifully as wreath accents, mantel decorations, and tabletop decor. Antique gold ornaments pair well with golden stocking holders and silver Christmas bells.
Ode to Emerald
There’s a new green at Christmas! Emerald green ornaments stun beside silver and appear truly luxurious with lots of gold. Emerald also looks great with other greens from teal to peacock, and with blues from aqua to navy. For something different, pair it with purple! Christmas red and winter white would not be out of place with emerald ornaments, either! Adorn your door with a green ball ornament wreath to make a statement before your visitors make it inside.
Rustic & Woodsy
Inspired by nature, woodsy and rustic Christmas decorations complement modern farmhouse decor and simple country styles. Look for colors like pine green and deep berry, unfinished wood tones, and natural materials. Forest animals, including deer, birds, and mice, feel right at home with rustic Christmas decor. Try a wooden nativity set on your mantle, some fresh pinecones on the table and the bathroom counters, and a pinecone wreath with berries and garland for your door.
Peppermint Bark
Cool, minty, sweet…this is the perfect chocolate-on-chocolate peppermint bark recipe!
PREP TIME15 minutes | COOK TIME5 minutes
TOTAL TIME – 5 minutes
Ingredients
• 1 package (24 oz) chocolate almond bark
• 1 package (24 oz) white chocolate almond bark
• 2 tbl coconut oil (or a bit more, if your chocolate refuses to melt properly)
• 12 candy canes/crushed
• 1 dot (literally, that’s all) of peppermint extract
• Red coloring gel (optional)
Instructions
– Break up the squares of chocolate almond bark and put into a microwave safe bowl. Add 1 tbl of coconut oil and one dot of peppermint extract. (I’ll be honest, you can totally skip the peppermint extract if you like because the actual peppermints on top will add more than enough flavor.)
– Put the chocolate/coconut oil mix into the microwave and melt in 30-second increments. Mine took about a minute and a half to melt down. Stir until all of the lumps are gone.
– Take a large cookie sheet and line with parchment paper. Pour the chocolate onto the paper and spread it into a thin layer, then set aside. (I put mine in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up while I worked on the white chocolate).
– Repeat the process with the white chocolate, melting it completley.
– Add half of the peppermints to the melted white chocolate, mix thoroughly.
– Pour on top of the chocolate layer, spreading thin.
– Sprinkle remaining peppermints on top.
– If you like, swirl in a bit of red coloring gel to add more flavor.
– Allow to cool completely.
– Break into pieces.
(NOTE: This will be hard to break if your layers are too thick.)
Sharon A. Bassett is the Broker and Owner of Bassett Premier Realty, Inc. With an extensive background of schooling, from Pilot Aviation, 15 years of Construction and Design, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, 22 years of Real Estate, Owner/Broker. https://www.bassettpremierrealty.com.
Sharon A. Bassett
Broker/Owner | GREEN, ABR, SFR,
RENE, MRP, SRES, HSE, GRI
352-602-0520
bassettpremierrealty.com
sharonbassettsells@gmail.com
Spruce Creek Professional Plaza
10935 SE 177th Place, Suite 201
Summerfield, Fl 34491
