LEADING stylist Rachy Cuna, who?s become known for his innovative floral arrangements, shows us how to give Christmas that old-world charm, and how to use local materials and oriental accents.

In his beautifully restored ancestral home in Manila, Rachy veered away from traditional holiday décor such as gigantic green trees and ornaments. Instead, he created a festive ambiance by arranging local materials such as anahaw leaves, tassels, garden twigs and his collectibles. He mixed them with traditional Christmas accessories such as pinecones and poinsettias.

To make everything bright and merry, he used red and gold.

Take your cue from Rachy and decorate your home to suit your taste and bare your personality. A few tips:

There are no hard and fast rules. Use your imagination and think out of the box.

Don?t follow trends or what you see in other homes, although it?s always good to be inspired by the creativity of others.

Use materials you love and want to be surrounded with. If you?re partial to native accents, consider the ordinary tingting or bunot as décor (visit Hotel InterContinental Manila to see Rachy?s ?Coco Pasko? decorations).

Remember that decorating need not be expensive. You can save money by using items you?ve collected through the years. Just mix and match them to create a new look.

Consider alternative sources for Christmas accessories like your garden (for twigs and leaves), national trade fairs (for local materials) or even the palengke.