Over the last couple of years, I've been expanding the way I use Christmas greens. Traditionally, we think of noble fir, Douglas fir, cedar, and pine when we think about Christmas arrangements. But why limit ourselves to just Christmas greens?

Last year, I started incorporating more eucalyptus into my holiday designs. It adds a different texture and gives me more opportunities to play with the overall look of an arrangement. I've learned that there are rules to working with Christmas greens, but once you learn them, you can break them.

This year, I want to experiment even more with moss sticks, interesting branches, large pinecones, and different natural textures. My goal is to bring more of the Pacific Northwest outdoors into my Christmas floral designs. If you're using fresh greenery in your own holiday decorating, I also shared some tips in my blog about how to care for Christmas greens and keep them fresh longer.

If you're thinking about ordering a Christmas centerpiece or flowers for your home this holiday season, here are a few things I'd like you to consider.

I will always design traditional Christmas centerpieces with candles, pinecones, ribbon, and beautiful Christmas greens. There is a reason these designs are popular. They are classic and look wonderful on a holiday dining table.

But when a client calls and says, "Do your magic," that's when I get especially excited.

That's my opportunity to bring in moss sticks, different textures, interesting greenery, and those larger pinecones that add a little something unexpected. I love finding materials that make someone stop and take a closer look.

I want my Christmas arrangements to have personality. They don't all need to look alike, and they certainly don't need to be cookie-cutter designs.

A traditional centerpiece with candles, pinecones, ribbon, and seasonal greenery can look beautiful on the dinner table or buffet.

But don't stop there!

Vase arrangements are wonderful for kitchen counters, bedrooms, and even bathrooms. I always think bathrooms are an overlooked place for flowers. A small arrangement can make a guest bathroom feel a little more welcoming during the holidays.

Compote-style arrangements can work beautifully on an entry table or at the bottom of a staircase. Larger arrangements can bring color and interest to a living room, while smaller designs can be placed throughout the home.

Think about the areas where you spend the most time or where family and friends will gather. You don't have to decorate every room. Sometimes a few thoughtfully placed arrangements make all the difference.

I love the different textures we have available to work with. Christmas greens are a natural starting point, but I want to keep exploring beyond the traditional materials.

Eucalyptus, moss sticks, interesting branches, large pinecones, and different varieties of greenery all give me opportunities to create something with more depth and personality.

Being a small studio florist gives me the freedom to experiment and design differently. I don't have to make every arrangement look like the one before it.

I want Specialty Floral Design to be known for bringing the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest into floral designs, along with the creative freedom to make each arrangement its own.