Purple and Silver Christmas Collection

Purple and silver make a cool palette, rarer under a tree and easier to carry off than it looks. The collection brings together glitter, matte or quilted baubles, frosted foliage, a twig wreath and butterfly clips.

A cool palette needs reflections

Deep purple absorbs the light and silver throws it back: that contrast is what holds the scheme together. So plan for more reflections than in a red scheme, and a low light source nearby. On a dark tree, the silver pieces go on the surface and the purple ones deeper in.

Read the finishes from a distance

Three steps back, a glitter bauble becomes a point of light, a matte one a block of colour, and a quilted or kaleidoscope model a texture. Alternate all three rather than repeating one finish, or the tree flattens out.

From the tree to the front door

The frosted foliage, the metallic fern and the water-illusion rose leave the tree behind: they make a centrepiece or fill a tall vase. The twig wreath dresses the door or a living-room wall in the same tones. The butterfly clips go on last, at the edge of the branches.

Frequently asked questions

Does purple go with gold?

Better to choose: silver and purple form a coherent cool palette that gold warms up and blurs. If you want gold, keep it to a single object.

How do I attach the butterfly clips?

The clip pinches onto a thin branch, near the tip, so the butterfly stays clearly visible. Spread them irregularly, without lining them up.

How should I store artificial foliage?

Store it upright in a tall box rather than lying under the other decorations, so the stems don't crease. A quick dust when you unpack it restores its volume.