HT City

AVOID CHRISTMAS CLICHES

Experts suggest X’mas decor tips to make it chic, elegant and of-the-moment

- Manish Mishra ■ manish.mishra1@hindustant­imes.com

It’s hard not to be a tired cliché during Christmas. Everywhere you go, the same decoration­s — fairy lights, the overwhelmi­ng hues of green and red — can be found. If you want to live it up with elegance, minimalism always works. Prateek Jain, creative designer, Klove, says, “If you keep the decoration­s in a single colour — for example, in all white or all gold — it adds a layer of sophistica­tion. Instead of using the common fairy lights, you could add different forms of light bulbs, playing with geometric shapes. These small changes will make your decoration­s stand out from everyone else. You can also mix different sizes of decoration­s and lights, hanging or placing them at different heights.”

BE A PRINT CHARMING

There are a lot of contempora­ry and interestin­g ways to do up your home for Christmas. Start with your living area and give it an update with some quirky cushions that add colour and visual interest, as well as a spot of whimsy that’s in tune with the festival. Rashmi Shukla from Jaypore says, “If quirky is not your thing, take up cutwork cushions or embroidere­d ones in silk or cotton. Spiff up the bedroom with some colourful blossom prints with Kantha. Punctuate your spaces with scented candles as they’re a great option for decor and the aroma gets the holiday mood right, too. The fragrances are not only blends of Indian floral notes but also have a pretty packing to make a great gift.”

BE ECO-FRIENDLY

Don’t just stick to the basic red and green décor, think about classic combinatio­ns like black and white, which make for a crisp, graphic combinatio­n. Decor expert Raseel Gujral Ansal of Casa Paradox says, “Try to incorporat­e as many eco-friendly décor elements as you can, it’s the need of the hour! Succulents are earth friendly, low maintenanc­e and an excellent modern Christmas decorating idea. Arrange a few in a centrepiec­e, or go big with a succulent wreath or garland. Treat all the senses – I’m a big believer in indulging all the senses. It is the key to create a beautiful home. Play with textures to draw interest and convey this special time of year.”

 ?? PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KLOVESTUDI­O ?? Chic and elegant dinner setting with mood lighting and gold accents (Clockwise from above) Toy with hues of green and gold in your table decor, Santa’s reindeer; Dhoora aluminium platter and charger plate with brass finish
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KLOVESTUDI­O Chic and elegant dinner setting with mood lighting and gold accents (Clockwise from above) Toy with hues of green and gold in your table decor, Santa’s reindeer; Dhoora aluminium platter and charger plate with brass finish
 ?? PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/CASAPARADO­X ?? Wildlife-inspired table decor ideal for a Christmas dinner
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/CASAPARADO­X Wildlife-inspired table decor ideal for a Christmas dinner
 ??  ?? Pink clamp dyed and hand embroidere­d Chanderi cushion cover
Pink clamp dyed and hand embroidere­d Chanderi cushion cover
 ?? PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM/JAYPORE ?? Dhoora mild steel votive with brass plating; Golden brass jwalaa three wick candle by Elan (left)
PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM/JAYPORE Dhoora mild steel votive with brass plating; Golden brass jwalaa three wick candle by Elan (left)
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