Christmas Tree Decorating Trends for 2013

Story and photos by Lindsey Chester.

Cary, NC – Last year, our story Designing the Perfect Christmas Tree proved very popular. This year, we’re back with Christmas Tree Trends for 2013.

Planning for Christmas 2013

Planning for Christmas starts early at Garden Supply, an emporium of holiday goodness.

Brittany Leggett, Garden Supply’s merchandise manager,  goes to market with owner Deborah Ramsey every January for six days to purchase what the store will begin to put together in September. She said they spend the first day scanning for the trends and the balance purchasing what they will re-assemble for their customers here in the Triangle.

In September, Garden Supply hires Trevor Bey from Holiday Creation, Inc. to help work his magic on putting many of their dreams to life. He spends about a week at the store on ladders opening up boxes and putting the themes the gals have crated to life.

Later in the season Trevor will come back for Holiday decorating classes that are open to the public.

Nostalgic Christmas Tree

Nostalgia is big with the Cary crowd and the team came up with more than one tree playing on memories of traditional Christmases past.

“Letters to Santa ” is a quaint look at toys and actual letters, hanging from a Christmas tree with lots of plaid, burlap birds, berries, postcards, and even contains three actual sleighs and Santa flying off the top of the tree.

“Gilded Golden Red” is a more glamorous look at traditional reds and golds. Lots of sparkle, crystal ornaments and garland, chandeliers, and mirrors. They mixed two different reds in the tree, a traditional bright red, and a wine.

“Santa’s Workshop” contains all the toys you expect Santa’s elves to come up with: sock monkeys, slinky dogs, cars and trains.

There is a suspended train running on a track near this Christmas tree and these vintage trains are also for sale. Near this tree is where the store sets up a cozy seat for Mrs Claus to read stories to children and for parents to take photos.

New this year was Snow in a can. Add water and you have what looks like real snow that you can make into a snowball, or decorate a quaint little village on the mantel.

The “Vintage” tree makes use of lit houses as secondary lighting elements. The whole Christmas tree looks like it was stuck in a snowstorm of frosty coldness.

Owls are still very popular and this tree has several very large feathered friends in snowy white. Brittany called last year the “year of the owl” and the store knew they would continue in popularity. Bits of bright red give this snowy white Christmas tree a pop of color.

Whimsical Christmas Tree

Black and White has been big in fashion, and the gang came up with a tree to reflect that using penguins and snowmen in a whimsical way. Accents of red and green are seen as elf tights. Think Willy Wonka at the North Pole.

Enchanted Christmas Tree

The popularity of the store’s fairy gardens inspired their “Enchanted” Christmas tree. Mixing the fairies with bright peacock blues and fuchsia as well as unusual kiwi lime gives the trend its magic. Add satin fabrics and finishes with a touch of glitter and you’ve got a seriously un-traditional way to treat the holiday!

The last tree that will be constructed will debut right before Garden Supply’s Holiday Open House. The “Garden and Gun” tree will resemble a hunt club. Already hanging in this space is a mounted deer, and a club chair. This “Men’s Club” will have the feeling of a hunt club, and have traditional reds, greens and browns.

Holiday Open House

Garden Supply Company celebrates its 15th anniversary during their invitation-only holiday open house in early November. The store offers holiday decorating classes beginning in mid -October through the month on November. Folks can sign up for an hour, an evening or a full day and will come away with something great to update their holiday decor. You can even bring in an item from home and during a class have it transformed into a one-of -a kind piece to spice up your home for the holiday season.

Let us know some of your favorite holiday decorating tips and we’ll be sure to share your comments with our readers.

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Holiday decorating on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Garden Supply Company on Old Apex Road in Cary.