LAPLAND TRIP WAS CANCELLED SO I CREATED THE MAGIC HERE

TERRI HAMILTON, 33, manages rental properties and lives in Berkshire with her husband Paul, 34, a business owner, and their two children Ella, seven, and Jack, five. She says:

Four weeks ago I decided to put up our four Christmas trees and staircase garland early as a surprise for my children. The joy etched on their faces when they arrived home from school to an indoor wonderland was magical. Like millions of children they have had so much taken away from them by the pandemic, including school, time with their friends, birthday parties and holidays.

I asked my husband to get the decorations down from the loft after Halloween. The same week, I bought everything to make the garlands, as well as two new trees.

At 50 metres long, the garland goes all the way up the staircase, around the galleried landing above and down the other side. It cost around £200. I’ve added almost 4,000 cluster lights at £100, as well as baubles, fir cones and pearlised berries.

Standing proud at the bottom of the stairs are two full-size nutcrackers, an 8 ft tree on the landing and a 7.5 ft tree in the lounge. We also have a 5 ft tree in the dining room.

our planned trip to Lapland this Christmas has been cancelled, so creating a festive wonderland at home is my way of trying to make everything extra magical here for Ella and Jack instead.