I like it just the way it is, Houseful. Being monochromatic, I think the addition of other colors would distract from it's simple elegance. I like your use of the "straw", which carries on that monochromatic look, but still gives it a base to float on. The darker gold wall behind it works with it, too, I think. It's lovely!
Lynn

Lovely!!

Another vote for leaving it just the way it sits now .... very charming and elegant! :)

A nativity set does not need to be jazzed up with greenery or poinsettias!
Yours looks lovely.

I agree with everyone else - it looks pretty exactly as it is.

I'm in the minority here, I do think it needs something. I don't like it in front of the wall - sorry Lynn :-) . It fades into the back ground too much for me, it needs a darker background so it will show up more.

Try putting some small boughs of evergreens behind it. You don't need them to be the full height of the nativity pieces, but they will help differentiate between the pieces and the wall and give you a greater sense of depth. I think I would also bring the greens curving forward a little to "hug" the rear 1/3 of the grouping (curve around the edge of the straw).

If you try it, please post pics!

Nicole

It's lovely. One thing I would suggest though is to remove the wiseman from behind your manger so that you have a smaller vignette with just the Holy Family and then the wisemen, shepherds and animals surrounding them. Personally, I find the wreath distracting as it's so large in comparision to the nativity set so when you look from across the room your eye is drawn to the wreath. Try moving the wreath and wall hanging elsewhere, but keep the star above the nativity set so the eye is first drawn to the star and then drops down to the nativity scene. Another item you may want to consider is adding a stable. It will add dimension and contrast so that your lovely pieces don't fade into the wall behind it. Not sure what wattage you have on the lamp, but also consider replacing it with a 25 Watt bulb then turn it on at night and it will envelope your nativity scene in a soft glow. If that's still too bright, consider removing the lamp also and adding candles to either side and lighting those.

You have a lovely nativity set altho I think it gets lost in the overall scheme. You might replace the excelsior with "natural green moss" which would repeat the green of the wreath and contrast with the neutral nativity figures. I think the wreath with star is a perfect backdrop to the nativity.

IMO you could use a darker shade on the lamp but that's getting beyond what one needs to do for a Christmas display.

I like it. I might be tempted to lay a small string of white-corded lights in the straw.

Nativities are extremely hard to decorate with so they will be eye catching and not blend into the background. I still don't know what to do with mine! lol

What about using silver and gold glittery sprays and sticking them in the wreath (which needs more oomph to it, IMO) and around the Nativity?

I also agree with Val, put the Wisemen on the outside of the scene.

Oh boy, so many options. Here are a couple pics. I can fluff the greenery more or add even more. What do you think about the options for the lamp? I will probably add a string of white lights behind. You can see with the flash that the wreath already has some gold.

Thanks!

I might try & find an appropriate stable, &/or a guardian angel to provide a base. My parents had the best display when I was growing up - a very humble/rustic stable (just scraps of wood hung together) with a light bulb in the back. It was just beautiful.

I love the porcelain which provides simplicity. I think with a stable the greenery would look appropriate/grounded.

It's looking good, though I think you have too much hay. Some of your figurines are half covered; esp. the manger. Like hostapasta, I go for a more traditional look with a stable and guardian angel above. I put my nativity set on my buffet, there is a mirror above and I use a suction cup hook to hang my guardian angel. As for the stable, when I visited my DH's relatives many years ago, the children made a stable out of a cardboard box and other craft materials. When my children were younger this became an annual craft project to make the stable; now I must confess I store the homemade one from year to year. If you want your hay to lay flatter you could glue it to a piece of cardboard and press it down slightly, then put the figurines on top of that. It may also have the benefit of containing the hay and protecting your credenza. As for the greenery behind I'd run that all the way across the credenza, perhaps remove the lamp and run a strand of white lights in the greenery.

A stable should be relatively easy thing to find, but you might be wise to take a couple of the figurines with you to be sure of the proportion. Hobby Lobby always seems to have them.

I think the excelsior is way too deep and too much for the figurines that will be standing on the cabinet. A bit of it, scattered to look like straw, would be very effective, with more tucked in the stable.

You might also consider stacking a book or two, coffeetable type books perhaps, covered with a drape of medium beige or tan burlap for texture, so that you can raise the stable up a bit in the background. Put some scattered excelsior on top of it to give the feel of hay, and also hide some of the edges of the fabric in the front.

I would move the wall hanging to the other side - you want the eye to be directed into the cabinet area, and right now it draws your eye away because of the direction the figure is facing.

I think the lamp is cute, but a pair of dark iron or other metal lanterns or candlesticks would go well. I would move the lamp to the other side if you move the wall hanging, and consider wrapping the shade with a temporary slipcover of burlap or even brown kraft paper, for a more natural feel.

Beautiful set! I like Les' idea to build up a platform of books or whatever and then drape it with fabric -- velvet would be gorgeous. Deep red or a dark blue would be lovely.

Thanks Folk, I painted and fired the pieces myself before I had kids. I do want a stable, but don't have time to build one this season. I'll do that after the holidays for next year.

Les, I like your suggestions too. I finally get a day of no errands, so I am staying home to finish decorating today. But tomorrow I will get some fabric and do as you suggested. I need a new lampshade anyway and my ultimate goal is to get a set of buffet lamps. I probably should paint the gold lamp too.

I'll post back in a few days. Thanks again!