Christmas Party Decorating Ideas from The Biltmore - Go Mom!

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One of my favorite home state historical treasures has to be?The Biltmore House. Majestic and full of incredible detail, The Biltmore at Christmas surely has to be its finest season. ?Our Organized Holiday Decor Pinterest Board has some beautiful images that will take your breath away. ?As history tells us, George Vanderbilt first opened?The Biltmore House to friends and family?on Christmas Eve 1895. Through the years, Vanderbilt and wife Edith welcomed?family, friends and estate employees into the home?s?Banquet Hall for the annual Christmas Party. ? Each?child who lived on the estate then received a gift from the Vanderbilts.

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As?a former sorority social chairman and meeting planner myself, I was?intrigued to learn how important Edith Vanderbilt took the duties of?hostess. ?She took copious notes to record every seating arrangement ever?designed as well as keeping a?menu book to insure no guest was ever?served the same meal twice, no matter how many times they visited!

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As you prepare your home to entertain this holiday season, here are a?handful of my favorite tips from Cathy Barnhardt, Floral Displays Manager at?The Biltmore House.

Choose a theme. A theme repeated throughout your holiday decorating scheme?will bring continuity of style, color and overall look. Themes can be as?simple as a particular color or color palette, or objects that represent?memories of family events. Family photos and travel souvenirs are perfect?for creating ornaments.

Avoid the ?This and That? Syndrome. Random placement of glittery things?around the room lacks the impact you can achieve if you concentrate on three?to five elements (embrace the design ?rule of three?). The Christmas tree is?one, a mantle might be the second, and the third might be an arrangement on?top of an armoire. Within those elements you can go over the top.

Pack away the everyday. Don?t be timid about sending some of your everyday?decorative objects on a short vacation. Replace the mirror over the mantle?with a fresh evergreen wreath. Cover your neutral sofa pillows with vivid?and bright shams (or replace entirely for the season). Bring out some of?your china or silver.

Bring the outside in. Spend an afternoon outside gathering woodsy elements?to create a rustic and natural look. Collect pine boughs, holly berries,?pine cones, dried flowers and grasses. Add favorite ornaments for a pop of?color, or purchase an inexpensive bouquet of fresh flowers, pull it apart?and add your own natural materials to create a beautiful seasonal display.

I hope these Christmas decorating ideas help you create the perfect backdrop for your holidays this year. ?Tell me?

Do you host an annual holiday party?

To help you stay on track with holiday decor and so much more, check out our GO MOM! DIY Holiday Bundle

With 12 worksheets to get you started, you can?t help but enjoy all the holidays have in store. Thanks so much for stopping by ~ we?ll see you next time!

Happy Holidays!

?2012 GO MOM! Inc. All rights reserved. To repost or publish, please email Molly.

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• Holiday Schedule and To Do List

• Thanksgiving with The Rockettes

• Last Minute Thanksgiving Crafts

• How to Manage Holiday Decorations

Source: http://www.gomominc.com/christmas-decorating-ideas-from-the-biltmore

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