Color-themed trees set the tone for room decor

Christmas decorating trends have evolved over the years.

Once it was as simple as a family placing a mix of colored ornaments, lights and homemade decorations on a fresh cut noble fir purchased from a corner lot.

Today elaborate displays can feature lavish, color-themed decorated artificial trees as the center piece for matching room decor. Entire homes can be filled with rooms displaying varying themes.

Decorating a home with the right holiday atmosphere can be a daunting task. Fortunately for those seeking professional assistance or wanting to go solo, Las Vegas is home to unusual stores to turn for help and, of course, decorations.

"We go to different shows where vendors show their stuff," Kate Jones, co-owner of Ralph Jones in Las Vegas, said about ensuring the best Christmas decor selection. "A lot of our ideas spur from (vendors) raising the bar on how they decorate."

One of the big trends Jones saw this year was the growth of blue and white used as primary colors.

"Blue and white are huge," Jones said. "Everyone has it right now."

The popular look uses distinct shades of blue, ranging from a pale to a rich dark hue, to contrast a winter white tree back drop.

"Blue and white (decor) is definitely a big trend this year," Melanie Velez, marketing manager and accounts specialist for Kurt S. Adler Inc. of New York, said. In business since 1946, Kurt S. Adler markets itself as the world's leading designer and resource for holiday ornaments and decor, and Ralph Jones has done business with the company since the store's opening.

Valez noted blue and white is the color palate featured in the company's Hollywood Nutcrackers collection and new Frosted Kingdom collection.

Summerlin's LG Gallery assistant manager Jessie Fogarty said she also sees frosty aqua incorporated into the blue and white.

"You would see these aqua tones in the 1960s," Fogarty said. "It's almost a vintage look. It is really popular as well."

Accenting the blue and white, many designers are using clear and crackled glass ornaments in traditional bauble and tear drop shapes along with finials, acrylic prisms, gem drops, decorated birds and icicle drops.

These decorations are sometimes embellished in crystal and diamonds, leading to what Jones describes as the "Tiffany look."

Complementing the Tiffany tree decor, Jones offers popular decorative items such as white faux furred bears wearing diamond encrusted crowns, white faux fur stockings and large Santa Claus' wearing a long coat of white.

"In Las Vegas, anything glitzy is always on trend," said Fogarty, who sells a large quantity of glittery colored candles. "If it has bling, crystals, sparkles and glitter, it's always a big holiday seller."

Fogarty notes another trend this season is the use of wintery white.

"This tree is an example," said Fogarty, pointing to a solid white tree loaded with white floral picks of poinsettia blossoms and white frosted branches. "Stems are very popular. They are getting a lot of attention this year."

Lolly Sneed, owner of Rod Works in Las Vegas and Henderson, noted she is seeing a lot of whites, creams and golds in this year's decor.

"Neutral, nature-inspired colors are also a very popular color palate for 2015," Velez said, "as shown in our Winter's Glen collection, which features retro-inspired designs in vintage beige and ivory finishes."

A popular application is garland strands of pearls, gold chain along with an assortment of pearl and gold ornaments in unique shapes such as keys, crowns and baubles.

"The pearl-themed tree has been shopped over four or five times," Jones said about a display tree in her store. "We are constantly revamping and changing the tree because it sells out so fast."

Along with those featuring gold, other trending holiday pieces incorporate metallic tones such as platinum, champagne, copper, bronze or old world brassy gold into the decor.

"Platinum is always huge," said Jones, noting the trend has been growing over the past five years. "Champagne is very popular. It is a replacement for gold in a sense. It has more of honey gold in it making it softer."

Red and white decorations with a touch of green are trending this year. In addition to bright floral stems, this theme integrates whimsical decorations with elves legs kicking out of trees and Santa hats as tree toppers.

"The most popular item we had this year was our cute elf butt," Sneed said. "We are sold out, but have more on order for next year."

Jones noted that brightly colored kid-themed trees are popular this season. The light switch tree Jones sells features LED-operated light switches, ornaments and night lights and incorporates bright hues of blue, purple, orange, yellow and green.

"It's really cute," Jones said. "You can mount the night light where ever you want."

Other themes trending include woodland creatures such as the owl, fox and squirrels; white-washed chalk board art; 1950 style decorations, including Santa's elves playfully displayed around the tree; and Nordic — Santa Clauses, mice, mushrooms and gnomes in red, white and gray.

According to both Jones and Fogarty, Vegas-themed ornaments remain popular, and both stores carry the ornaments as well as Christmas decor year-round.

"They are very popular," Fogarty said about the Christopher Radko Vegas-themed ornaments. "During the holiday season we'll sell out of them."