February Decor throughout the House

February can be a letdown after a long season of warmth, color, good food and wonderful celebrations. It is a mixture of days – days of winter, days of hopeful spring sightings. It's also a strange mixture of holidays – the renewal of the Lunar New Year and the heady excitement of Valentine's Day.

 

I often find it difficult to develop a cohesive look for February decor throughout the house. So I decided this year not to try, but to decorate vignettes in all the facets of February!

 

On the fireplace in the family room I went with the warm color of deep red flowers that remained after the Christmas decor was put away. Amaryllis flowers are set in ceramic cache pots at either end of the mantel. Made of silk, the petals are velvety.

 

Down below is a basket of poinsettias that nicely fills the dark emptiness of the fireplace. When we build a fire we will move them out of harm's way! These flowers are faux, but have the multi-colored leaves of real poinsettias.

Some don't like to use artificial flowers, but I find that quality stems can be incredibly realistic. The white poinsettias below aren't as convincing as the red ones above, but the addition of greenery and berries is a nice touch. This arrangement brings color and texture to the area behind the kitchen sink.

 

  

I've gotten a lot of use out of the garden-inspired cache pot that I think I first featured on this table set for brunch. I like that it has texture and color, and is not a simple vase. Flanking it are two foo dogs that my mother-in-law gave me last week. They are actually lion-like creatures rather than dogs. Fierce, aren't they!

  

The foo dogs bring a hint of  the lunar new year to this corner of the kitchen. In the opposite corner on the island sits the valentine vignette.

The chest in the entry is the stage for a Lunar New Year vignette. Celebrations will begin on the 12th and may continue for a week or two. Although New Year celebrations have to be the virtual kind this year, you can create a vignette drenched with vibrant color.

I borrowed one of Greg's dragons from his office and set it on a stack of books to give it height. The red streaks on the book cover look a bit like dragon breath, lol!
 

  I added rice bowls with dragons and a pretty blue paper lantern.

 

On the other side are two gorgeous platters. I confess I haven't yet used these for food!

On to the dining room where a wintry display on the table indulges my wish for snow and ice. Even though temps reached 60 degrees here the last two days a girl can dream!

 

  

Although the table won't be hosting any dinners this month, it is home to the year's hottest quarantine entertainment – jigsaw puzzles.

 

 

All of the items I've used for these vignettes and decor are things I've had for several years, except for the foo dogs that my mother-in-law had for twenty years before giving them to me. I have to admit I'm eagerly waiting for a chance to shop somewhere in person and for my garden to send up spring flowers for bouquets.

 

Until then, I hope I've inspired you to think of February's potential for decor throughout the house!