All aglow for a stylish Christmas
Even if pushed for space, there are ways to turn your home into a festive spectacle
WE MAY dream of a towering, bauble - laden spruce, but not everyone has room for a tree worthy of The Nutcracker.
Space is at a premium for many of us, including first-time buyers, downsizers and those living in small flats.
The good news is that you can still inject seasonal sparkle, even if a traditional Christmas tree isn’t a practical option. Whether your home is sleek and streamlined or more traditional, the key is to create a focal point.
Sparse festive touches can look halfhearted, so don’t be afraid to scale up, even where there isn’t much room to spare.
One idea repeated in clusters, such as grouping different sized candles on an ivy-adorned mantelpiece, produces a more striking result than a lone decoration. Florist Philippa Craddock ( philippa
craddock.com), who has a studio in Sussex and an outlet in London’s Selfridges, suggests adding a twist to the traditional approach.
‘When there’s no room for a tree, the principle of bringing the outside in still applies,’ she says. ‘The trick is to add a sense of abundance.’
Try adding seasonal hardy foliage to banisters, mantelpieces and door frames, creating a simple garland with rope or twine. Leave it natural or add decorative flourishes such as baubles.
Habitat has some cheaper, berry-and-bauble wreaths. Otherwise, place festive foliage and ribbon bows on the tops or corners of picture frames for an elegant note.
Another natural look is to replace a classic pine tree with a less cumbersome alternative. Entwine the branches of a hessian-wrapped potted olive or bay tree with white fairy lights and vintage- style baubles for a rustic take.
You can repeat this look throughout your home: at the dinner table, tuck rosemary sprigs into linen napkins, securing with twine or brown string, and use the same approach when wrapping gifts.
If cool contemporary is more your style, why not make a witty reference to a classic tree? Not On the High Street (not on the high
street.com) has a selection of wall stickers including a snowflake Christmas tree, £29.95, which can be removed come New Year. Interior designer Niki Schafer ( nikischaferinteriordesign.co.uk) suggests pinning a string of lights on the wall in the shape of a tree.
‘Invest in good- quality pieces,’ she says. ‘I use a twig LED light instead of a real tree, which sits in the window for a welcoming, festive glow. Placing fairy lights and candles by mirrors will help to bounce light and sparkle around.’ Designer Clare Pascoe ( pascoe
interiors.com) is used to dressing small spaces for maximum impact.
She likes to decorate a vintage or bamboo ladder with lights and baubles of varying sizes, adding a few oversized pieces to play with scale. Prop it against the wall for a neat but festive display. And don’t forget to add a dollop of colour too cheer up a treeless scheme.
Baubles can be used inventively:: gather your favourites under a large glass cloche on the coffee or dining table, sticking to similar hues, such as hot pink, mono-chrome or etched glass.
Scent will introduce a festive note. Natural foliage such as pine,, eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon and orange have a season all fragrance, while splashing out on a luxury scented candle will add an instant festive touch.
Try Rachel Vosper’s hellebores ( Christmas roses), from £ 34 ( rachelvosper.com), or Philippa Craddock’s bags of scented fir cones, dried oranges and cinnamon sticks, £18.
This season sees a return to paper decorations. But the look is more Scandinavian chic than Seventies garish — think giant, crisp white stars, colourful honeycombs and metallic pom poms such as those from £4.50 at Pearl & Earl ( pearl
andearl.com). Or there’s laser-cut plywood that slots together to make simple but effective pieces, such as the 3D stag’s head, £25, at Cox & Cox ( coxandcox.co.uk).
Woodland looks are also in vogue. designer Joanna Wood ( joanna
wood.co.uk) suggests a compact display of decorative feathers, fluttering birds, shimmering fir trees and fairy-tale snow globes.
If all else fails, opt for multifunctional decorations — a wreath can be removed from the front door and used as a centrepiece on the dining table with the simple addition of a candle in the middle.