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A full-on festive look can be neutral, too – here’s how to decorate without going bright.
If you think the only way to fill a home with the festive spirit is to go wild for colour and pattern, think again. Deck the halls in a neutral colour palette and you not only create a joyful home, but one that is quietly stylish and elegant, too. The key is to decorate as many surfaces as possible, layering in a variety of textures and tones that create a visually interesting, rich and luxurious scheme that is anything but dull.
Start with the main event – your tree. Adorn it with plenty of fairy lights – wrap the tree in hundreds of cluster lights (which are much more tightly spaced than regular fairy lights) to create a twinkling delight at the flick of a switch. Embellish the branches with baubles of differing sizes and shapes, choosing a timeless and sophisticated palette of white, silver and glass tones that complement each other, as well as the green of the tree. Mix your finishes, for instance, the smooth touch of white ceramic bells and doves juxtaposed against the warmth of wool and the soft fluffiness of faux fur, to create a variety of textures and shapes.
As it’s Christmas, inject a little sparkle with glittery stars and frosty snowflakes, along with graceful droplets and shapely baubles. Finally, give the scheme depth and balance with the darker tones of mercury or beaded decorations.
With the tree fully dressed, it’s time to decorate the rest of your home. Begin by welcoming Christmas in with a stunning wreath hung on your front door, and if you have hallway stairs, wrap a pre-lit faux garland around the banister, tying in shimmering, silvery baubles for extra sparkle. Alternatively, tie in strips of silver ribbon for a minimalist yet luxurious look.
The flat surfaces in your home are perfect for Christmas decorating. If you have a mantelpiece, drape a twinkly garland across it and then add extra decorative touches. White candles in glass pillars or dinner-candle holders in differing heights look elegant. Add an extra flourish of seasonal joy by hanging a small tree decoration around the candle by the lip of the holders, or sprinkle a variety of differently textured baubles throughout and finish by propping a statement lighting decoration, such as a large star.
Decorate across the front of the mantelpiece by evenly hanging small wreath decorations across it, or, if you prefer, use ribbon to hang two or three extra-large baubles at different lengths down one side for a festive focal piece.
Similarly, lay a pre-lit garland the length of a sideboard or console table; then, create a festive vignette at one end using a candle-lit lantern and a collection of candle holders and tealight holders. To play with shapes, stack some ‘gifts’ by wrapping varying-sized boxes in glossy Christmas paper and tied with ribbon and, perhaps, finishing with a decorative accessory.
Fancy going foraging? Fill a ceramic vase with winter foliage, a sculptural branch or a few twiggy branches, and decorate them, either with mini baubles, or entwined with decorative fairy lights to bring the outdoors in. Balance your display by placing a shallow bowl filled with a variety of pretty baubles at the other end of your sideboard or table.
A lovely way to decorate a coffee table is with a tray set with a scented candle and surrounded by a variety of mercury tealight holders or fairy lights, both combining a variety of textures. Another option is a bowl with a selection of Christmas trinkets and a sprig of greenery. Don’t forget side-tables, too; a small bowl with baubles or lights works well, or even perhaps a small table-top-sized tree. Interior doors can get the festive treatment, too, by hanging a foliage swag or a small wreath decoration from your door handles.
The decoration done, your finishing touch is to up the cosiness factor. Introduce highly textured pieces, such as a throw draped over an armchair or a sofa and cushions covered in faux fur or sheepskin. Not only do they feel good to the touch, the softness is a perfect contrast to the cooler look of metallics and glass, for a festive look that is a feast for the eyes but is warm and welcoming on the senses.
This content was first published as part of a partnership with Telegraph Media Group and published on telegraph.co.uk.
