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35 TIPS AND TRICKS FOR HOLIDAY FLORAL DESIGN AND DÉCOR Regina Gust Designs is the home of luxury holiday interior and exterior décor for homes and businesses in Houston, Texas. For the last 30 years, Gust—known as "The Queen of Christmas"—and her design team have navigated the ins and outs of keeping their approach elegant while balancing what's trending in the creative space. Inspiration can be pulled from any corner you turn, and it is what's keeps her company on the cusp of every new trend. We sat down with Gust to get her take on holiday floral designs and what keeps her two steps ahead of the curve in all of her design work. Gust has a great love of adventure. Her natural sense of curiosity has led her across the globe where she has been inspired by and fallen in love with all kinds of design—from architecture to couture fashion to the natural lifestyles of cultures abroad. Travel has enabled her to curate and home in on the direction she has taken her business and influenced how she tackles her design projects. Here, she shares her top tips and tricks for the upcoming holiday decorating season. • TWINKLING LIGHTS: A design tip straight from Paris. Just like the Eiffel Tower sparkles every evening for five minutes at the beginning of each hour, small twinkling lights can be added to any garland, wreath or tree, to enhance a look and create enchantment. • COLOR PALETTE: When working with color, it's important to have a base to build off of. Neutral spaces provide the most options. A traditional color palette in a neutral space makes décor look crisp and vibrant. Neutral spaces also allow you to add modern pops of color, such as teal, pink and even neon brights. • NO MANTEL, NO PROBLEM: Most people love the look of a decorated mantel, but not everyone has one. Solution? A beautifully decorated linear vertical garland. There are so many options on how to create these, based on the style you're going for, from traditional to contemporary. • TREE VARIATION: Want to change the look of an existing tree? Add neutral, frosted, or fun and festive picks, such as foliage, berries, grasses and more, to add more depth and fullness to a tree and to upgrade the look without the expense of a new tree. • REAL TREE SMELL WITHOUT THE PINES: You know when Christmas is near when the aroma of evergreens presents itself. But the upkeep of a real tree can be a full-time job. One trick for adding the nostalgic holiday scent to faux trees, garlands and wreaths is to incorporate sprigs or branches of fresh cedar, fir or pine into them. These can be added or even replaced close to the big day, for maximum enjoyment at the height of the season. Regina Gust Designs Regina Gust Designs Regina Gust Designs

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