TO most homes, traditional Christmas décor is a no-brainer since it?s just a matter of bringing out the old stuff and finding the appropriate place for them. On the other hand, floral designer and Southern gentleman Juan Antonio ?Tony? Rodriguez has a basic rule in Christmas décor: Make sure the embellishments complement?not overpower?the interior spaces.

Decorating directions become easy with a color scheme based on the home environs. Choose complementary colors that highlight the happy holiday feeling.

One of his projects is an Asian-inspired home that combines the serene, uncluttered Japanese look with Chinoiserie details and Western furniture. The most obvious elements are the Ming-style vibrant blue-and-white jars and vases and glazed pottery and plate, Oriental carpets, rose-colored furniture, golden silk pillowcases on comfortable couches, porcelain dishes holding potpourri and décor.

Warm colors

In keeping with the warm color scheme of the home, Rodriguez favored champagne, burnished gold, off-white and accents of rust and mango yellow for the décor to augment the shiny burgundy and warm colors of the murals.

Rodriguez?s second rule is to determine a unified theme, which helps the look to flow from space to space. In this house, he chose the owner?s collection of antique Oriental jars and vases, which are normally not highlighted the rest of the year. The holiday season is the right time to give these objects a place of honor.

His third rule is that the lines and flow of Christmas decorations should be soft and flowing, like nature, not stiff. The Christmas tree, normally the focal point of the house, is placed diagonally opposite the focal wall with the bright mural.

To balance the space, the second focal point is the table centerpiece of an antique lacquered plate brimming with a variety of Christmas elements denoting abundance.

The look is formal, characterized by silk flowers such as poinsettias, amaryllises and orchids with berries and eucalyptus, plus varied-sized balls sprinkled with metallic dust.

Rodriguez makes sturdy bases of twigs and leaves, adds silk flowers and fills them with berries and ornaments finished with decorative cords. Sprigs of silk flowers sparkle with glittery twigs and metallic or red berries.

Snowy touch

White flowers add a snowy touch to the interiors, while red blooms at the entrance welcome the guests. Gather an odd number of these balls into groupings. Surround with some artificial leaves, sparkling twigs, or a sprig of shiny berries. Wire all together and add a ribbon for more color and to hide the wires.

Unlike other homes with a dramatic railing, Oriental jars with Christmas floral arrangements were placed strategically to enliven corners. Flowers and berries were tied together with pine and little bows.

In adorning the Christmas tree, the décor started from inside out. The Tivoli lights were woven first along the inside branches, moving outward. This was followed by the garlands, then the balls and bigger objects.

To add dimension to the tree, the trimmings were placed alternatively close to the skeleton of the tree and the other edge. Fillers, either small balls, berries and leaves, were evenly distributed throughout the tree.

?I moved jars, vases and furniture and grouped them according to style and color,? said Rodriguez. ?If you have clean interiors, the décor will just follow.?