Add the element of glamour to your home this Christmas with wreaths, lights, tabletop accessories and ornaments. Here are some decorating ideas to set the festive mood.
When you invite family and friends over to celebrate the holidays, you want to have the most attractive decor to enhance your home’s beauty. Every room can use a festive touch. We take you through several indoor spaces that feature amazing decorations. Whether you want to create a traditional home or prefer something contemporary in your living room, kitchen and hallway, these ideas will inspire you.
A focal point
Not many of us have a mantel or fireplace to reel in the attention of a guest. You could improvise with a vintage sideboard. Not every accessory needs to be centred on Christmas.
You could try garlands, simple wreaths and twinkling fairy lights. A great way to dress the area is to fill it with a mix of candlesticks and put a beautiful vase of flowers in their midst.
Using ivory candles can help you create an all-purpose display that can take you from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. Transform the setting from autumn-inspired hues to Christmas favourites and then to anything that glitters.
You could also set up a forest with appropriate pieces. For a fun touch, replace pictures over your mantel with a framed festive message.
An outsider’s view
Give your guests a dramatic welcome by flanking the entryway with decoration. Make sure your front door doesn’t let your festively decorated hallway down. Hang a classic wintry wreath to welcome guests and spread some seasonal cheer to the street beyond. Elegant wreaths can be dropped from broad ribbons to create interest to a staircase. Before you start decorating, give your home’s entrance a good clean and clear away clutter. Consider replacing your doormat with a festive one.
A little extra
Make your gifts look exuberant with polka dots and chequered prints instead of the usual safe options of matching colours. String up fairy lights wherever you can in as many ways as you can. Hang up trinkets, mistletoes and baubles by window panes, from lintels or even air vents. Prop up art with mirrors, canvases and stencils. Let the kids decorate the banisters with a craft project they learnt at school.
On the table
Since it’s the centre of Christmas meals, the dining room is often the place you decorate first. Don’t worry if your tableware doesn’t match. For a modern twist, layer them in different hues and designs. Napkins in a vibrant tone give an instant lift to classic white porcelain.
For added holiday sparkle, use decorative accents in both silver and gold. Go with a simple centrepiece. Something as simple as glasses and dishes filled with seasonally appropriate candies can make a sweet table topper, especially at dessert time.
The living room
A gorgeous tree and a few well-placed decorations are sometimes all you need. A splash of bright colour really helps lift a neutral living room. Pile on the holly and garlands; deck the tree with berry-coloured baubles.
For a show-stopping living room, you can’t beat a shimmering silver colour scheme; especially when all else is white. Keep to a simple or single colour palette for a contemporary touch.
Rearrange the furniture so there’s plenty of space for everyone to gather. Add pouffes and ottomans, so guests can move them around easily. Make sure there’s sufficient space to set the drinks and snacks. Set a welcoming mood with low-level lighting and scented candles.
