Celebrity event stylist Gideon Hermosa dresses up Christmas trees from top to bottom. He chooses a color palette and plays around with them extensively.
This year, for example, he worked around blue and white shades for a client who loves chinoiserie. He incorporated Chinese pottery into the tree to emphasize the theme.
“The trend for 2021 is more playful, quirky and elaborate than in previous years. Color combinations are more vibrant, bold and surprising. There are a lot of unexpected elements and decor as well,” he said.
Hermosa, an in-demand florist whose clients include Jennylyn Mercado and Sarah Geronimo, used a lot of elements in his decor. In one silver tree, he used oversized Christmas balls and silver stars. White lights were used to reflect on the silver at night.
Another element that he uses in his works are gift-wrapped boxes following the color theme. For the chinoiserie tree, it was blue boxes wrapped with white ribbons, while the silver tree had gray boxes with white ribbons.
More adventurous
Hermosa said the pandemic has made homeowners more adventurous with their choices.
“People opened up to a bolder and more elaborate style for their homes this holiday. It’s not just the tree—they want to fill the whole house with Christmas decorations. It’s their way to uplift everyone’s spirit and spread holiday cheer during this time of the pandemic,” he said.
He added that because travel plans were halted, his clients opted to spend more on decor.
“They upped their game when it came to Christmas tree styling. It’s their way of having an extra special holiday even in the comfort of their homes.”
The stylist does not follow any rules when he decorates. He loves to experiment and does not put a limit to the possibilities of decorations. However, he said homeowners should match the color of the tree to that of their home interiors, and it should also complement the personality of their household.
He applies the same principle when he meets with clients.
“Initially, we ask for their color preference and a photo of their home. From there, we check if the colors will be aligned with the interiors. We also present a styling mood board so they will have an idea of what the decor would look like,” he said.
If space is an issue, he suggested using slim or narrow trees to decorate a space. He also said to “play with lights” if an area is limited. Dark colors should be avoided for they make the space appear smaller. Brighter colors are better, he said.
If you want to apply Hermosa’s style to your own tree at home, then think outside the box.
“A #Gideonized style is something experiential and unique with the use of unpredictable elements,” he said.
