The festivities this year may feel a little differentfrom usual. But, whether you enjoy a small neighbourly gathering or a cosy family celebration, there's no need to scrimp on festive sparkle! With the help of our seasonal decorating ideas, you can still make this Christmas the most stylish one yet...
1
Choose a beautiful wreath
No festive front door should be without a wreath. Here, Florist Yolly has used dried hydrangea heads and dried hops and mixed them with fir and berries. The subtle addition of a bauble, a robin and some glittery leaf decorations keeps it natural and adds a bit of fun. Click through for more homemade and shop-bought wreaths for this Christmas.
2
Decorate the hallway
Set the tone from the moment your guests step through the door. Here, a willing ‘maître d’ greets guests with a glass of something delicious.We've put together round-ups of the best festive drinking glasses, the key cocktail ingredients to have at hand and stylish drinks trolleys.
Fairy lights and swags of foliage, both real and faux, look fabulous wound around bannisters and create a festive atmosphere. When buying a pre-made garland or swag, avoid plastic where possible and look for paper or fabric garlands or swags made from metal and glass baubles.
3
Make a statement with the tree
On this vivid tree, bright splashes of colour are used to create a twist on tradition. Greens and tones of gold and bronze are brought up to date with a flash of fluorescent coral in candles and ribbons. Click here for our guide to this year's best Christmas tree decorations.
Find out how to decorate with coral pink here.
4
Go all-out with the wrapping
Metallics always make Christmas sparkle, adding a touch of magic. Tuck sprayed foliage under ribbon to make presents look extra special.Subtle paper wrapping can also be made to zing with plenty of luxuriant ribbons in zesty shades! Click through for our guide to wrapping paper and tags.
5
Make the dining room shine
In the dining room, draw the eyes upwards to a hanging centrepiece or ‘flower cloud’ made from a faux foliage wreath with added berry branches and fern fronds. Coloured glass and decorative china elevate this otherwise simple table setting. And, when it comes to place settings,decorative metal angel wing candle clips make heavenly napkin ornaments, and can double up as extra presents for dinner guests to take home with them.Read our guide on how to set the perfect Christmas table for more tips and inspiration.
6
Get crafty and make pomanders
Christmas is all about tradition and the perfect time to indulge in simple crafts, such as making pomanders which will scent the house with citrus and spice...
How to make pomanders
In a nutshell, pomanders are the scent of Christmas! Here's how to make them...
1. Begin by wrapping a length of ribbon around an orange, fixing the ends with a pin. You can leave it like this or wrap ribbon around the other way, to look like a parcel.
2. With a needle, pierce the skin in any pattern you like, pushing a clove into each hole.
3. Place the finished pomanders in a lovely bowl or dotted along the centre of the dining table to gently fill the air with their aromatic scent.
4. If you want to make these in advance, you will need to allow the fruit to dry out. This can be done by storing each pomander in a paper bag in a warm dry place, such as an airing cupboard, or a shelf above an Aga.
Stairs cry out for a dose of flamboyance at Christmas. Wind lights, ferny fronds and golden garlands up the banisters for a magical way to light yourselves to bed.
Styling: Rose HammickPhotographs Catherine Gratwicke
