Holiday staging trends from an HGTV designer

As a child, Francesca Albertazzi loved the sense of anticipation that came with the holiday season — few things felt more exciting than waking up on Christmas morning to see what Santa had tucked into her stocking. Today, Albertazzi is an interior designer with her own studio, Studio Albertazzi, and the lead designer on Pamela Anderson’s HGTV series Pamela’s Garden of Eden.

She continues to draw on that sense of wonder in her work, including her recent collaboration with Hycroft for the Holidays, a long-standing Vancouver tradition. This year’s theme, Winter Garden, draws inspiration from the historic Hycroft estate and its McRae family roots, including the distinctive McRae tartan featured throughout the mansion’s holiday decor.

“The theme was born of my seeing all these beautiful hydrangea blooms get clipped and tossed in the compost,” she said. “I love decorating with natural elements and incorporating the hydrangeas from the garden, and the colour blue ties in with the McRae family tartan so well.”

With a sense of enchantment and a touch of magic, Albertazzi shares some holiday staging trends that you can bring into your own home this year:

Embrace the warmth with layers

The holiday season brings cold, crisp days and warm evenings spent by the fireplace. Much like the layers of clothing one would wear during the winter months, Albertazzi enjoys experimenting with layering in design.

 “You should delight the eye, and dazzle the guests with layers of wonder and light,” she suggests. 

You can find delight in peeling back the layers of her fireplace display at Hycroft Manor: decadent curtains; a contemporary wreath wrapped around a classic statue; a bold pillow nestled alongside an elegant chair; and, of course, the distinctive McRae family tartan gently holding a bouquet of hydrangeas plucked from the garden.

Courtesy: Hycroft for the Holidays

Have fun with patterns 

While there’s something to be said about the mystery of a gift wrapped in plain brown paper, nothing quite beats receiving a present wrapped in some wondrous, colourful, patterned gift wrap.

The holidays, in Albertazzi’s opinion, are a time to try out new staging designs in your home that you might not typically do otherwise.

“You may feel that neutral is best for the rest of the year, but lean into the patterns that the season aligns with,” she encourages. 

Some festive patterns you can use in your own home include:

Plaid – A classic and timeless option, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth

Gingham – Often used in cottage or farmhouse aesthetics, perfect for warmth and layering

Stripes – Versatile and clean, which can make any space feel sleek and stylish

Think outside the box with colour

If you were to close your eyes and visualise “the holidays”, what colours would you see? Candy Cane Red? Forest Green? Silver Bells? White Snow?

While these classic colour palettes are timeless, Albertazzi invites others this year to think outside the traditional box when staging your home this year.

“Do something that isn’t traditional,” she says. “Red and green and gold are nice but how about working in tangerine? Navy blue? Soft pinks?” 

Other colours you could consider this holiday season include cranberry, mocha, olive, or mint — all as delicious looking as they sound.

Natural materials over plastic

Favouring natural materials over plastic decorations this year doesn’t have to break the bank, in Albertazzi’s experience:

“Cheap and cheerful can often come in the form of foraging for greenery,” she suggests. “Also, this experience is a lasting memory for kids and adults alike!” 

Other favourite items from nature that she enjoys using in her design work include: pinecones, chestnuts, berries and rose hips, tangerines, pomegranates, nuts, and chocolate. Then, if you add in some string lights? Pure holiday magic.

Find ways to honour traditions

While trends are fun to play with, above all else, Albertazzi believes in timeless, thoughtful design. And what’s more thoughtful than honouring your own family’s holiday traditions? 

“I am Italian and grew up doing things differently from my Canadian friends, and loved it,” she shares. “We had our big dinner on the 24th and, after opening the one gift Santa brought, we spent the day walking in the woods, visiting friends and exchanging gifts.”

Making homemade ornaments is one way you could create new festive memories while also decorating your tree in a way that’s both meaningful and beautiful.

Hycroft Manor itself, a heritage building, Edwardian-era mansion, appears to be straight out of a holiday film. Reminiscent of a certain iconic home, Albertazzi shares what she would do if she were ever left “home alone” at Hycroft Manor: “I would decorate: paint, reupholster furniture, get new area rugs and cushions, draperies, paintings… and flowers, bouquets of flowers everywhere,” she laughs. “Then I’d sit and have a cup of tea, in every room of the house!”

Want to experience the wonder at Hycroft? Hycroft for the Holidays runs from Nov. 27 to 30. Tickets are $25 or free for kids under 12.