TOP
Christmas home decorations

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: DECORATIONS AND FINAL TOUCHES

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: DECORATIONS AND FINAL TOUCHES

Let the festivities begin with these gorgeous decorations! Here’s all your home needs for the final touches…

TOP IMAGE: JOHN LEWIS
Festive Feasts

Whether you’re hosting the main event, a Christmas Eve gathering or a New Year dinner, a beautifully-dressed table will really up the festive factor. An all-white table with silver highlights always looks spectacular. Or pick up on the scheme you’ve used for your decorations, writing on baubles to act as name cards, and adding a trail of greenery along the middle or to decorate napkins.

Tap into the nostalgia look with vintage linen, glasses, crockery and cutlery. You could reject the usual trend for matching everything, and simply borrow if you need to, for a greener way to do things. Make the most of any beams and hang lights, paper snowflakes and stars, or opt for a temporary version, hanging long silver twigs adorned with baubles over the table. Notonthehighstreet has a clever rod that attaches to the table, with a frame over which you can attach your decs.

And you’ll need crackers, too. Go reusable for the eco option that also double as napkins. Or add something quirky – we like these fab ones from Mineheart.

We’re all for some top tech that will make the host’s job easier. A good corkscrew is a must. Try Cuisinart’s electric version, which looks cool and opens bottles in a breeze. We’re after a Kenwood Titanium Chef Patissier, which can prove dough, melt chocolate easily and weigh out all your ingredients straight into a bowl. We like the OXO fat separator jug for hassle-free gravy making and a Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro food processor to make food prep tasts a doddle.

Tree Time 

There is much debate over artificial vs real – artificial wins hands down for ease of use, especially those that are also pre-lit, but fakeys can’t provide that beautiful scent. Then there’s the question of sustainability. While you will hopefully use an artificial tree many times, it is made of plastic, usually shipped some distance, and can’t be recycled. So, which is better? It might feel like cutting down a tree is always a bad thing for the environment, but Christmas trees have been farmed and will be replaced, like any other crop. Just don’t drive far to get it and make sure it is recycled afterwards – or buy it in a pot and plant it outside after Christmas.

Tree skirts are growing in popularity for hiding away messy wires and the trunk of the tree.

IMAGES
Cuisinart, Fritz Fryer, Garden Trading
John Lewis
Deck The Halls 

We’re going all out with the Christmas home decorations this year – don’t save them for one room – we’re getting festive in the kitchen and decking the bedrooms, too!

There are some gorgeous trends to try… with many of us reconnecting with nature for wellbeing this year, it’s no surprise that more natural decorations are taking centre stage. Create garlands with the greenery you find outdoors. The Woodland Trust has some nice ideas on its website and guidelines on responsible foraging.

Sprigs of eucalyptus (real or fake) make pretty additions to the Christmas table. Another take on the natural trend is a pared-back Scandi style or head up into the mountains with crisp snowy whites and Alpine details.

We’re also feeling nostalgic, with decorations reflecting our yearning for past Christmases. Go for reds, golds, candy canes and wooden accessories.

And for all-out escapism, try the technicolour trend. John Lewis has a fabulous take on the look with neon lights, multi-coloured decs and quirky baubles.

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas 

Hang up the stockings by the beautifully decorated fireplace. Sit back with a mulled wine and enjoy the moment. There are some fabulous fake candles on the market, if you need a safer option. Or trail fairy lights across the top of the mantelpiece.

Head outside on a cold, crisp night – decorate a tree, wrap yourself in blankets and light up the patio with storm lanterns.