Colourful, contemporary flowers from Ellermann make picture-perfect Christmas wreaths

Creative director and owner of Ellermann Flower Boutique, Diane Nittke, has some words of wisdom for the festive season – less fir, more floral. “Florals allow for a more delicate and elegant setting,” she explains. “In Hong Kong where temperatures often hover around 20 degrees at Christmas time, I find it a bit awkward to see classic European-style decorations consisting solely of noble fir and pine trees. Why not freshen things up and introduce cut blooms and a more colourful palette in addition to more traditional Christmas greens?”

However, Diane is not one to forgo wintry wisdom entirely. “I love wreaths and garlands for Christmas,” she adds, describing how they offer the opportunity to add beautiful twists and freshen up conventional festive decor. The key is to create a solid foundation of sturdy evergreens and build upon it, adding and interchanging elements as the season progresses. Anything from flowers to ribbons and even feathers make an aesthetic impact, allowing you to combine your normal floral centrepiece with more festive festoons.

Whether large or small, traditional or modern, Diane provides her top tops on how best to spruce up your space for the festive period and beyond:

Pick one hero colour for all decorative pieces – this will have much more impact than a number of colourful objects thrown together.

Little things can make a large difference, like a lovingly decorated dinner table with a beautiful centrepiece and decorative touches on the napkins.

Be creative and never use anything artificial – a small, genuine Christmas tree creates a much nicer atmosphere than a large artificial one.

Engage the senses with real greenery and flowers to add to the experience.

If space is an issue, hang wreaths or garlands on walls and doors.

Photography: Alice Ngan
Art direction: May Lau
Production and styling: Emily Leung