Unless you’ve had your eyes closed since Halloween, you will have noticed that Christmas has come early in 2020. Spurred on by the ‘Queen of Christmas’ herself, Mariah Carey, when she declared it to be ‘time’ on 2nd November, a host of other celebrities such as our friends Michelle Keegan and Alan Halsall have also decided to spread some festive cheer throughout lockdown. The celebrity race is now on to deck the halls (the doors, the fireplace and the entire outside of the house)! And why not. After such a challenging year, many are looking to get into the festive spirit a little earlier than usual. If you’re in need of some inspiration, TLC’s event planners have curated the best ideas to achieve perfect styling for a festive home this year.
Wreaths and Garlands
Instagram is brimming with images of gorgeous cosy fireplaces dressed with oversized, statement garlands right now. The trend is for an abundance of green foliage – try eucalyptus, blue spruce, holly and sphagnum moss – draped over the fireplace with lights nestled amongst for some winter warmth. Keep the baubles and adornments to a minimum for classic elegance. For a more modern look, we love the idea of a beautiful green garland with silver, palest blue, greys and then splashes of warm gold.
Or take inspiration from one of our events – create a simple festive look using twigs, storm lanterns, candles and a dusting of snow! These gorgeous tea light baubles proved that the smallest details can make the biggest impact.
No fireplace? No problem. Deck your staircase or doorway.
Creating an Entrance
Make an entrance by framing the space around your front door with a welcome archway. This takes the same principle as a fireplace garland and upscales it for maximum impact. Michelle Keegan has gone to town with this idea and flanked the door with life-sized toy soldiers.
Traditional Welcome
For a more scaled-down approach and to get on board with the traditional handmade, homemade movement that’s sweeping the nation, wreath making is gaining momentum with many providers offering online options in light of the coronavirus pandemic. A simple oversized wreath hung on the door is an effective way to set the tone for what’s to come inside the home. Traditional colours of red, gold and green will be popular. A blend of foliage, twigs, berries and fruits works fabulously.
Rainbow Bright
To create perfect styling for a festive home, you can’t ignore the impact of the NHS rainbow. Rainbows have become a beacon of hope this year. A way of uniting the nation through the lockdown and showing our appreciation of the wonderful work of the NHS. Bright, bold and beautiful. It can be subtle with just a few well-placed rainbow decorations hung on the tree, or a stunning. A high-impact rainbow wreath on the door.
We love this simple, contemporary flower wreath on Etsy.
Another very effective and stylish way to incorporate this look would be to create an ombre effect. Taking baubles and ribbons from yellow and fading them throughout the colours of the rainbow. John Lewis has achieved this to great effect within its Pop Art Christmas trend – adding in surprising touches for personality along the way, including the gorgeous oversized neon lights on the tree.
Light It Up
In complete contrast, our next look for perfect styling for a festive home takes a very pared-back approach to colour, with the onus on creating atmosphere through lighting.
Winter white is a classic look and the bonus is, it takes the odds of a white Christmas right up to 100 per cent. Choose a snow-tipped tree and all-white decorations. We love this whimsical look from https://www.homedit.com/white-christmas-tree/white-christmas-tree-with-gold-and-silver-decorations/
You may have seen the £12 Amazon rug hack that did the rounds last Christmas, which is a great example of how a really inexpensive addition can make a huge difference. This is a great tip as it adds in some texture for warmth and visual interest. Layer up a few furs onto your couch and add some pretty rattan, Nordic style decorations for the cosiest of winter scenes. Think contemporary ski lodge, and you’ll have the look.
If you just can’t do without colour, then winter pastels are a growing trend and look so pretty against a backdrop of shimmering fairy lights.
If you have the budget, there’s no need to head to the nearest DIY store. Have professionals come in to advise exactly how to light up your home for the perfect Christmas. TLC’s event planners have been dressing homes and businesses for many years – unique ideas and Christmas inspiration are in abundance.
TLC’s events director, Jess Randall, shares one of her insider Christmas design tips.
“Curtain lights are one of the most effective ways to transform a room. Use them as a backdrop, then add in some different sizes and designs of the bulb to create visual interest. Use lanterns at floor level to ground the scene.”
“Don’t forget the outdoor lighting. Installing an outdoor socket is the best way to keep it safe. Keeping it all neutral with warm-toned lighting is the best way to stay elegant. When dressing a room for an event we try to use repetition, so rather than one big outdoor statement light, try a row of smaller Christmas trees flanking the drive. This idea could be taken into your hallway too.”
Handmade Homemade
Crafting has really seen a Covid-19 resurgence, with most of the UK spending more time at home with their kids. And that has translated into a Christmas trend with a homemade, artisanal charm. This look combines traditional reds and greens with rustic textures of wood and foliage. Add in some handmade elements – think paper chains – around the home and dinner table. Plaid and tartan are a key element of this trend.
If you’re particularly artistic then try your hand at wood burning. You can pick up rustic wood rounds inexpensively, then burn personalised Christmas designs onto them. They make great presents, place settings and baubles.
No Rules
Christmas is all about having fun. And if there’s a year when the traditional rules of Christmas can be rewritten, then it’s 2020. In creating the perfect styling for a festive home this year, you could opt for a tropical tree with bright colours and surprising style. Think cactus, flamingos, pineapples, crayons, spaceships – literally anything goes with neon lighting in the background. Use the day to have a tropical party complete with cocktails.
And who says Christmas trees must be green? Personally, I love a black tree with metallic and white colourways. You could adorn it with some gorgeous hand-blown glass baubles. A way to shop local and support small businesses. Or try something like these vintage style baubles from Cox and Cox This look would be suitable for an art deco themed table with metallic charger plates, gold cutlery, rich satin and coloured glassware.
Wood. Metal. Even upside-down trees. Just be creative.
Or choose a gorgeous palette of brown, copper, bronze – and then add a vibrant turquoise splash. A Moroccan influence. It’s stylish, urban and unusual for the season, but trust us, the colours absolutely pop. Twigs. Bark. Berries, Cinnamon sticks. Evergreen foliage only enhances the winter look, textures and scents. In finding your perfect styling for a festive home, be individual. Make your home a reflection of you!
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