Decor & Renovation
How to add Far Eastern flair to your holiday decor
Photography by Maya Visnyei | Produced by Melissa DiRenzo
Decor & Renovation
How to add Far Eastern flair to your holiday decor
This season, try decking out your dinner party with these six quick and easy Asian-inspired crafts. Red is synonymous with festivity, good fortune and joy, and paired with hits of gold and touches of greenery, it's the perfect colour for celebrating.
ONE
BAMBOO PLACEMATS
Update these basic buys by taping o equal horizontal "stripes" on the surface and spray painting the rest gold for a holiday effect.
SILK JEWELLERY ROLLS
These inexpensive, ubiquitous Chinatown finds work beautifully as cutlery holders. Simply wrap your flatware inside and tie loosely together. A small sprig of greenery slid into each calls to the holiday theme.
TWO
CERAMIC TEACUPS
Ceramic Asian teacups filled with snips of evergreens and wrapped with red silk bows make unique place holders. Write your guests' names on cards and affix each to the top of a toothpick to be placed inside. The arrangements also make lovely take-home gifts at the end of the night.
SMALL GLASS CUPS
Spray the outsides of plain drinking glasses with adhesive and roll them in gold glitter. Then, fill with bits and pieces, such as tealights and toothpicks, and scatter the glasses around the room.
THREE
DRINK COASTERS
Pick up some inexpensive coasters and spray them with a coat of gold paint to give your bar cart the Midas touch.
JAPANESE PAPER
Create your own festive frills by rolling and taping ornate Japanese paper onto the ends of plain toothpicks and cutting it into decorative strands. Whether used for stirring stiff drinks or selecting hors d'oeuvres, they're a cheery touch.
FOUR
PAPER LANTERNS
Everyday Chinese paper lanterns can be transformed into holiday "ornaments" by topping each with a cap created by cutting strips of sturdy gold paper and taping them into circles around the lanterns' string. Hang them at varying heights above your table to effect an attention-grabbing display.
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