Easter is the new Christmas!
Trees, wreaths, crackers, decorations galore — sales are soaring, says Harriet Sime
MoST of us have a box of stored Christmas decorations stuffed with baubles and tinsel. Yet we often do nothing to decorate our homes for Easter. It is after all the most important day in the
Christian calendar. A moment of celebration, doubly so when it combines with the arrival of spring. Some of our European neighbours have long made Easter a festive occasion, so perhaps it’s time we upped our game.
In Sweden, almost every household holds egg colouring parties. In ukraine, it surpasses Christmas as the most important holiday of the year, and in the Netherlands, homes are adorned with willow branches and tiny wooden eggs, while the dinner table is dressed with spring flowers and candles, with an Easter tree at the centre.
But we’re getting there. According to John Lewis, Easter decoration sales are already up 77 per cent compared to last year.
I’ve never considered dressing my home with anything Easter-related, but after a day with the John Lewis team I’m sure my attic will house a box of Easter decorations for evermore.
TABLE-TOP DECORATIONS
For the dining table, it’s best to use a limited colour scheme.
‘ Stick to one or two colours and compliment the style of your room’, says Bethan Harwood, home design stylist at John Lewis. ‘If you’ve got blue furniture, stick with blues and purples.’
Themes including Peter rabbit, the Easter bunny and eggs are natural favourites at Easter, as are daffodils. Emma Bridgewater recently introduced a cheerful collection of daffodil china. The crockery sits nicely alongside her trademark polka dots. In fact, a daffodil egg cup is sold alongside two polka dot cups in a set of three (£ 29.95, johnlewis.com).
The table centrepiece is important. ‘It should give some height to the table, but also be fun,’ says Harwood. ‘You can add nests and grass rabbits, but make sure not to create a barrier across the table. Easter trees are lovely for display and can be moved to the side when dining.’
Easter crackers are also big business and are sold in many supermarkets. Sainsbury’s Easter Crackers feature bunnies, chicks and carrots and include paper hats and a gift (£5 for six, sainsburys. co.uk).
For a more sophisticated look, go for M&S’s Easter crackers which include hats and cookie cutters (£5 for six, marksandspencer. ‘I always opt for drama when decorating a dining table, especially around Easter when everything is bursting with life,’ says Sue Jones, creative director at oka. ‘I like to hang up our colourful ceramic eggs or scatter them around the table (£40 for 12, oka.com). They were inspired by the hand-painted eggs we found in the Czech republic.’
EASTER TREES
JUST as Christmas trees act as the focal point of a room, large, Easter trees are becoming increasingly popular. John Lewis’s blossom tree (£120, johnlewis.com) features prelit blossom which works as the perfect base for decorating with baubles and painted eggs. But you don’t have to go out and buy a tree. ‘You can go to the woods and collect some twigs,’ says Harwood, ‘Pussy willow works well at Easter, it dries out so lasts for some time and has nice pretty white tips.’
FESTIVE WREATHS
For a festive welcome before your guests even step foot in your home, add an Easter wreath to your front door.
Gisele Graham’s faux daisy and twig wreath will add a splash of colour and could be used throughout the spring season ( giselagraham.co.uk, £27.99).
For a more festive look, go for a wreath featuring colourful specked eggs (£25, johnlewis.com).
‘A wreath is a great way to make a statement,’ says Harwood. ‘I would hang it on a front door or the entrance to the main entertaining space at home. Wreaths can also double up as a centre piece on your dining table or side-board.’