Tis the season to be jolly …. and perfectly co-ordinated …

The silly season is swiftly approaching and some shops have been stocked with twinkle and glitz since at least mid September.   Many of us approach this time of year with a sense of fear and trepidation with our multi tasking skills being tested to the limits trying to achieve the perfect Christmas home for welcoming family and friends.  

The covers of interior magazines will doubtless show wonderful interiors with beautiful soft furnishings in gorgeous shades of reds, plums and blacks elegantly dressed with coordinating silvers, and golds.   Very winter, very glamorous and very Christmas.   But what if your decoration collection resembles that of a jamboree bag?   Starting again is fun but can be expensive.   Look to your own home for inspiration as most of us feel comfortable with a certain style and this is where your decoration selection should come from.    The festive season is short and temporary so choose decorations that harmonise with your house and current décor.   You’ll be less likely to get bored and change them too.   And don’t forget the entrance to the house.    Popular choices are door wreaths or decorated standard trees for either side of the front door, but they should be in proportion to the scale of the entrance to your home.   A greater impact is achieved by a bold choice of decoration but restrained in colour.

The rules of scale and proportion apply to the size of your Christmas tree too so don’t forget to consider the height of your ceiling and the overall size of the room before you go shopping!   There is no sadder sight than a tree than has been beheaded and then “trimmed” to fit into its allotted space.    The final insult to the poor tree is a daily blast from the central heating system.  By the time Boxing Day arrives, the tree has all but given up.   Artificial trees can rarely compete with the real thing but there are some great quality ones to be had and they do have the advantage of coming in different sizes and of course, longevity.   

And finally, the piste de resistance is of course the dining room where your table will take centre stage for the Christmas meal.  If you have the space to fit a Christmas tree in the dining area do so as the  lighting is fantastically atmospheric.    Coordinate your table decorations with your tree or select something which harmonises.   Your table does not have to be laden with festive paraphernalia to ensure it is seasonal.   Beautiful china, gorgeous linen and glowing candles are wonderfully soothing.   And finally, if the shops really are offering too much choice, and let’s face it, it is fun at least trying to make a decision, you can never go wrong with pure white table linen, beautiful crystal glasses and fresh foliage and flowers on the table.   Good luck !

Oct 08         Dec 08