Christmas and seasonal floral decorations

Christmas is planned early

For Christmas decorations the date that matters is not 25 December, but the day everything must be ready: for shops, hotels and offices usually between late November and early December. Floral designers who work on these projects take bookings well in advance, because they need to order materials, greenery and trees and organise teams that install in several places at once. If you run a business or a hotel, it is worth asking for quotes in the autumn.

In Italy decorations usually come down after Epiphany, on 6 January. Ask straight away who collects everything, when, and what happens to the materials.

What gets decorated

• Hotels and restaurants: entrance, lobby, dining room, bedrooms, festive tables. Often part of a year-round flower subscription: see the page on flowers for hotels, restaurants and businesses.
• Shops and windows: designs coordinated with the brand and the window displays, sometimes changed mid-season.
• Offices and showrooms: trees, wreaths, centrepieces for meeting rooms and reception.
• Private homes: tree, front door, staircase, Christmas and New Year's Eve table.
• December events: company dinners, parties, winter weddings. Read the guide to the winter wedding.

The guide to Christmas decorations with flowers and greenery has examples, timing and materials.

Trees, greenery and winter flowers

The heart of a Christmas design is greenery: fir, pine, cypress, eucalyptus, magnolia, holly, ivy, birch branches, with berries, pine cones, dried citrus and cinnamon. The flowers used most are amaryllis, roses, anemones, ranunculus, hellebores, poinsettias and orchids, alongside dried and preserved flowers.

For the tree there are three options: real cut, real in a pot, or artificial. A cut tree smells lovely but dries out with the heating and has to be disposed of; a potted one is heavy and struggles in very warm rooms, but some services collect or replant it; an artificial one can be reused every year. Many companies choose to hire, which moves the disposal problem to the supplier.

Safety

Dry greenery, lights and candles are a delicate combination. In spaces open to the public, fire-retardant or treated materials may be required, and lights must meet regulations and be installed safely: check with whoever manages the building and with the safety officer. Keep real candles away from garlands and dry branches, or choose LED lights. Poinsettias and some berries are toxic to dogs and cats: tell the florist if there are animals around.

How much it costs

We do not give figures: a shop window and a hotel with many rooms cannot be compared. The items are design, trees and greenery, flowers, decorations (bought or hired), lights, set-up and breakdown, maintenance over the holidays (topping up water, replacing tired greenery) and transport. For businesses, it is worth asking for a quote that separates reusable and perishable materials, so you spend less the following year.

What to ask before you confirm

• By when do we need to confirm to get set-up on the right date?
• Are the materials bought or hired? What do we keep?
• Is maintenance included over the holidays?
• Who takes it down, when, and where does the greenery go?
• Are the materials suitable for a space open to the public?

For a party at home or a New Year's Eve dinner see also the page on flowers for private parties. Once you know what you need, ask for up to 3 quotes.