Make your house sparkle with the spirit of Christmas
Top tips from interior designer Stacey Sibley, Creative Director at Alexander James Interiors
With the party season upon us once more, make your house sparkle with the spirit of Christmas. Your home is the perfect canvas to let your personality shine through and show your guests exactly what Christmas means to you.
Adding a touch of yuletide to your home is easier than you may believe, and Alexander James Interiors has a few tips to help you on your way.
Starting with perhaps the most important and festive part of any family’s Christmas, the tree has long been an iconic and popular decoration, whether real or artificial. Take your inspiration from your existing interior. In contemporary and neutral spaces, pair an accent colour with silver to add a splash of glamour and sophistication –make the tree a focal point of the room. If your home has more of a country feel, embrace and enhance the rustic charm by choosing a traditional Nordic style tree with natural wooden ornaments using red as the dominant colour. Natural pillar candles informally arranged on the hearth work equally well in both traditional and contemporary homes.
If you find yourself with too little space for a tree, fear not. Bring that natural element into your home instead by arranging a selection of dried branches or twigs in a basket or vase. Entwine the branches with soft LED lights and embellish them with small decorations to give it a gentle and atmospheric glow. This can work well with foliage arranged on a mantelpiece or wrapped around bannisters.
When winding down in the evenings, there’s nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a glass of mulled wine and a classic Christmas movie. Give your living room a cosy, wintertime feel by introducing different festive features to stimulate the senses.
Introduce cushions, throws and blankets in luxurious fabrics and soft textures. Faux fur and soft cashmeres are a big hit with everyone, particularly the family pets! Christmas fragrances bring back memories of childhood – cinnamon, spice and fresh pine are all traditional smells that we associate with this time of year. Diffusers and candles are a popular and decorative choice; room sprays can also be used on garlands and the Christmas tree. While scents work well in the living room, here’s a tip: it’s not wise to use them around food, as the smell can overpower the much anticipated banquet.
With such an enormous build up to Christmas day itself and the lunch that we have such great expectations for, don’t forget to work your personal magic on the table decorations. Like your Christmas tree, use the colour of your home to inspire the style of your garlands. If your interior has a country feel, try a simple yet effective arrangement of foliage, fruit and holly placed on a deep coloured central table runner. While this is effortless, it gives a really organic and high-impact effect.
If your home has a more contemporary feel about it, neutral and glass decorations can provide an elegant and sophisticated look that is great for both family and child-free Christmas dinners. Glass candelabras positioned in the centre of the table are very effective when entwined with bright white LED fairy lights as the lights reflecting on the glass provide a sparkly and enchanting feel to your dinner.
When it comes to decorating your home for the holidays, there is no right or wrong. Don’t be afraid to try something different, and be confident in your tastes. Enjoy the festivities and a merry Christmas from Alexander James Interiors.
If you want some interiors assistance please call Alexander James Interiors on 020 7887 7604or visit their website www.aji.co.uk.