Deck the halls with your personality

September may be a little too early for the rest of the world to bring out the Christmas decorations but that’s one of the things that make the Philippines unique. No one loves Christmas more than Filipinos that the moment—’ber months roll in, everyone starts decorating or at least playing Jose Mari Chan songs.

As we get ready to get our homes dressed for holiday cheer (if you haven’t yet), renowned event stylist Robert Blancaflor and director of marketing communications for Shangri-La The Fort, Manila Soichiro Rosario have shared some of their favorite tips from their professional experiences.
Blancaflor’s first rule? Your Christmas tree and the rest of your holiday decor should be an extension of your identity. “Look at the interiors of your house and your personality. You don’t want to do something that’s really totally out of who you are,” he says.

Consider creating personalized ornaments that tell your unique story. Craft sentimental decorations that showcase your hobbies, interests, and cherished memories. These ornaments can range from handpainted baubles to DIY photo frames displaying your fondest moments.

Blancaflor also champions going back to our roots. “Go Filipino,” he says, adding the suggestion to use solihiya, a traditional Filipino weaving technique. Solihiya, characterized by intricate and rhythmic patterns, has long been used in crafting furniture. Now, it’s finding its way into bags, footwear, and other personal items. So why not holiday decor? By incorporating solihiya into your Christmas decorations, you not only infuse a touch of Filipino heritage into your home but also support local artisans who keep this craft alive.

“I’m looking for solihiya balls in different colors,” he beams. “Filipino ingenuity, the Filipino designs—they’re all coming back. And I think that is something that people should celebrate. Not just in fashion, but also in ornaments.”

Pair raw, Filipino decor which usually come in shades of brown and tan with bright colors. Orange and green are some that stand out to Blancaflor for the upcoming season.

Furthermore, Blancaflor encourages a mindful approach to holiday decor, especially in the wake of growing environmental concerns. “You also need to look at your budget—are you willing to spend? Are you going to do recycling or upcycling?” he asks. In an era marked by climate change awareness, upcycling is an idea that resonates deeply with the times. It’s about breathing new life into old items, adding a dash of creativity to your decor, and contributing to sustainability.

Blancaflor points out that the pandemic has awakened the creativity within us, leading to a surge in DIY projects. With abundant resources and inspiration available online, more people are exploring their creative side. “And I think it’s something you should explore,” he says. “It’s great to go all out after the pandemic but we also need to think about climate change.”
For Shangri-La Fort’s Soichiro Rosario, this holiday season will be rooted in nostalgia and sustainability.

“In decorating, you always need to start with a theme in mind,” he says. “It dictates your direction and makes the decorating process easier. In the case of a hotel, it also helps us plan and get creative with our offers from F&B, the rooms, and the whole experience, which starts the moment you arrive in our driveway.” Translating it for the home, having a theme allows you to have a better system in planning which pieces of decor you can reuse from the years before and which pieces you’ll need to buy. So many people end up buying things they don’t need when they don’t plan ahead.

The hotel group’s global theme, “Enchanted Wonders,” draws inspiration from characters of the Nutcracker and an airship that carries Christmas memories, proving that the narrative behind your decor can transform your home into a haven of cherished memories and excitement.

While their theme may have global origins, adapting it to the local context is key. He emphasizes that the process should be collaborative when working with a decorator. In doing so, your decor not only becomes visually captivating but also emotionally resonant.

“When we invest on things, we think about how they can be reused. Our theme has been around for a few years and it allows us to get creative and reuse some of our signature elements,” he adds. It’s not the first Christmas of their nutcrackers and the secret is a bit of refurbishing through fresh paint and rearranging. “Last year, we focused on having a prince and princess with the nutcrackers. This time, it’s our airship.”

Sustainability is at the core of Shangri-La’s values, extending from their decor to their overall practices. Rosario shares their commitment isn’t just for decor. Shangri-la puts a lot of value on sustainability, from reducing plastic waste to responsible sourcing of seafood and other ingredients.
 

As we embark on our holiday decorating journey this year, let’s combine the creativity and personality-driven approach of Blancaflor with Rosario’s focus on storytelling and sustainability. In doing so, we can create holiday decor that not only dazzles but also warms the heart and nurtures our planet. After all, Christmas is a time for meaningful connections, cherished traditions, and a celebration of the beauty that lies within each of us and the world we call home.