[Illustrated Interiors] All The Trimmings
Our assistant editor Greg McIndoe talks us through four different ways to celebrate Christmas 2017 in style.
In our series of festive posts this year, we aim to help you have to most artful Christmas ever! We have already covered gift shopping and now it is time to turn our attention to the all important extras. Today’s post is all about cards, gift wrap, crackers and decorations – all the festive trimmings!
Just like with the meal on the big day, these trimming can be the best bit. Unlike when gift buying, you don’t need to worry about if someone else will like it and instead can completey indulge your own taste!
Everyone has their own way of doing Christmas. Depending on your budget and personal taste, you might want colour everywhere or to keep things classy and minimal. Whatever your taste, we believe there is always room for a healthy dose of creativity when you are decking the halls for the festive season. Here are 4 different creative ways to do Christmas…
The Graphic Christmas
Let’s kick things off with a Graphic Designer’s dream christmas! There is often a “more is more” approach to Christmas when it comes to design. More red, more green, more gold, more glitter – you get the idea. However, simplifying things and using only sleek, graphic elements can make just as much of an impact.
To any graphic designer, the typography and composition of a greetings card is far more important than the cheery message inside.
We have been particularly impressed by Ola Studio’s greetings card range this year. Abstracting all the classic Christmas motifs and turning the in to simple, gold foil icons, they have created a minimal and sophisticated collection. After browsing Ola Studio’s collection as well as a few of our other favourite brands, we rounded-up a selection of our favourite graphic-inspired designs…
Above: 1. Santa’s Reindeer Card by Katie Leamon (£3.50) 2. Nutcracker Card by Ohh Deer (£3.50) 3. “Bah Humbug” Card by Ola Studio (£2.95) 4. Snowman Card by Poketo ($5) 5. Christmas Icons Card by Howkapow (£3.50) 6. Bauble Icon Card by Ola Studio (£2.95)
A selection of Christmas cards from Ola Studio
Another brand celebrating Christmas in stunning and simplistic style this year is Katie Leamon. Instead of going down the tradition green, red or gold route, the team at Katie Leamon have designed a range of monochrome patterns for their festive collections. Applying their busy, geometric designs to crackers and giftwrap, they have created an beautifully understated and contemporary feeling collection.
Confetti Wrapping Paper by Katie Leamon (£5.50)
Confetti Wrapping Paper by Katie Leamon (£5.50)
Our final find which – perfect for graphic designers – are the inspired “Bah Humbug” balloons from Howkapow below. The unorthodox deceptions are particularly perfect for anyone who loves typography but hates Christmas. Secretly filling a room of any scrooge’s house with these sounds like a good plan to us. They might hate the prank but they will love the simplicity of the design.
Bah Humbug Balloons by Howkapow (£5)
Ohh Deer and Nina Cosford’s Christmas card range
The Illustrated Christmas
If you prefer your trimmings textured and colourful then perhaps an illustrated Christmas is better suited to you. Christmas time inspires some incredible illustration work and if you know where to shop you can cover your home in beautiful, festive artwork.
Greetings cards have been what Ohh Deer have been best known for ever since they launched, and their Christmas range is as strong ever this year.
Our favourite collections come from Nina Cosford and Kong-Yew Wong. Both feature characters having fun in the snow. The main difference is Nina’s character’s are people and Kong-Yew’s are bears, deer and penguins.
Ohh Deer and Kong-Yew Wong’s Christmas card range
Ohh Deer have also released Nina and Kong-Yew’s designs as wrapping paper. Unsurprisingly, Wrap Magazine have some brilliant wrap in stock this year too. Between the 2 brands, they have conjured up our top 4 illustrated gift wrap designs of 2017….
Above: 1. Alpine Giftwrap by Ohh Deer (£1.75) 2. Tree Decorating Giftwrap by Wrap Magazine (3 sheet for £4.75) 3. Snow Angel Giftwrap by Ohh Deer (£1.75) On The Slopes Giftwrap by Wrap Magazine (3 sheets for £4.75)
Bob Cushion by Ohh Deer (£29.95)
If you want to add another touch of illustrated festivity to your home then why not invest in a Wintery cushion? This Bob Cushion by Ohh Deer will make a charming addition to your sofa over the festive period. He can keep you company as you slob out over the holidays. And he isn’t so Christmassy that you couldnt have him out all year round – just in case you can’t bring yourself to part with him come January.
Santa & Rudolph Crackers by Meri Meri (£22.50)
An illustrated finishing touch to your Christmas dinner table comes in the form of these adorable crackers by Meri Meri. Add these into the mix and you are done! Between the presents under the tree, cushion on the couch, and crackers on the table, your house is finally shouting loudly and proudly about your love of both illustration and Christmas.
Marble Crackers by Katie Leamon (£40)
The Monochrome Christmas
Perhaps colourful, illustrated scenes aren’t for you. If so, hopefully option 3 will be – The Monochrome Christmas. If done right, stripping away all the colour from Christmas can leave sophisticated and effective results. The key is this; if you aren’t doing colour then you need to go all out with texture. Include luxurious marble and furry textures within your scheme and your Christmas can still be as warm and festive as it’s rainbow-coloured counterparts.
Min Hee Kim’s Christmas card collection with Ohh Deer
Christmas Animals Giftwrap by Ohh Deer (£1.75)
Ohh Deer also have a range which feels totally festive whilst being completely monochrome. Their collection of giftwrap and greetings cards by illustrator Min Hee Kim features furry bears, wonky reindeer and silky seals. Each of the greetings cards is finished off with some shiny foil detailing too.
Moon Giftwrap by Paperchase (£3.75)
Whilst we would love to exclusively shop independently at Christmas, for most people it just isn’t practical. Stationery giant Paperchase come into their own at Christmas and their new collection fits in so well with our textural, black and gold theme we could resist featuring a few designs.
It is okay to pop into Paperchase and treat yourself to the odd winged-bear ornament as long as you don’t forget to shop with the small businesses too.
Above: 1. Pop-out Reindeer Decoration Card by Katie Leamon (£4.95) 2. Antler Christmas Wreath by Paperchase (£12.50) 3. Night Sky Bear Ornament by Ohh Deer (£12.95) 4. Winged Bear Decorations by Paperchase (£7.50)
Brass Moon Garland by Poketo ($58)
If you are going for a monochrome scheme, it is also a good idea to add in a few statement gold accessories too. Shiny metallic deceptions like this brass moon garland from Poketo will add some classic Christmas glitz and glamour to proceedings. Understated elegance is all well and good but Christmas isn’t Christmas without a bit of bling.
Giftwrap by Wrap Magazine (3 sheets for £4.75)
The Natural Christmas
Stripping things back in a different way, our last festive look takes inspiration from nature. Some of our favourite brands including Wrap Magazine, Ola Studio and Katie Leamon have taken inspiration from nature to create some gorgeous greetings cards this year…
Above: Festive Dove Card by Wrap Magazine (£2.50) 2. Foil Dove Card by Ola Studio (£2.95) 3. Foil Holly Card by Ola Studio (£2.95) 4. “Christmas Kisses” Card by Wrap Magazine (£2.50)
Pop-out decorations by Katie Leamon (£4.95)
Of all the greetings card designs we have seen, Katie Leamon’s are the most innovative.
Katie Leamon sells a selection of pop-out Christmas cards which once read transform into Christmas tree decorations. The cards are also more eco-friendly as instead of being thrown away in January they can be reused year after year.
Linda Fahey Mini Shelf Ornaments from Poketo ($25)
Linda Fahey Mini Shelf Ornaments from Poketo ($25)
Another brand with a stunning range of organic-inspired designed Christmas decorations is Poketo. The range they stock designed by Linda Fahey is particularly special. Meticulously handcrafted and fired in Linda’s studio, each ornament is a miniature shelf perfect for displaying other miniatures while suspended from a branch. With one of these little shelves and an air plant, you can incorporate nature into your Christmas decor in a completely unique and contemporary way.
Pigeon Toe Ornaments by Poketo ($12)
Between the 4 festive design schemes we have listed, we hope you find something to inspire you this holiday season! Whether you buy the products we have recommended or decide to get crafty and make your own, we hope that this Christmas is your best and most creative yet!