Tablescaping Tips
When it comes to decorating your house for Christmas, I find creating a memorable tablescape the most enjoyable. It is such a special time and there is so much satisfaction in dressing up your table to mark an occasion. Bring out your most loved and special tableware and glasses and add in subtle seasonal touches to make the scheme sing. Here I have carried a Japanese theme through the table settings with the trailing Peony tablecloth and Shashiko stitching of the linens. I find that the mix of the celadon greens and pinks in the tablecloth create an interesting contrast with the traditional greenery in the decoration and give the table another dimension.
Tablecloths are an easy win when it comes to dressing a table for an occasion and can quickly take your scheme from every day to elevated. Lay your tablecloth with coordinating rather than matching linens and stacks of mismatched ceramics for an interesting but harmonious look.
An abundance of seasonal foliage and candles of varying heights and colours are great centerpieces for a table all year round, but work particularly well at Christmas. Opt for berries and eucalyptus rather than holly for a more contemporary centerpiece and weave it through a scattering of candlesticks. For a smart, cohesive look, carry the colours used on your table throughout the whole room as a visual thread - colours in the table linens might reflect the paint colour on the walls and floral arrangements could pick out the tones of a key painting.
Dressing A Mantelpiece
Dressing your mantelpiece is a fun and easy win for injecting Christmas spirit into your interior. Begin by laying down a garland of eucalyptus or holly (or any foliage that you can forage from your garden!) and add berries or pine cones. Not only will this add visual impact, but it will also bring a wonderful, seasonal scent to the room. Intersperse your garland with candlesticks - adding candles to a mantle piece is something I wouldn’t do all year round and so it feels particularly special and festive at Christmas. Use candlesticks in coordinating tones and varying heights to create visual balance. There is nothing more inviting than a candlelit room so this is a quick fix for creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your family and friends to enjoy!
A Seasonal Sitting Room
When it comes to styling your home for Christmas, sometimes less is more - try to avoid making every room an extension of your Christmas tree! In a sitting room, the main focus I feel should be on the comfort and luxury created through sumptuous soft furnishings and low-level lighting. Soft textures, rich colours and woven textiles are perfect for this time of year and will add warmth and depth to your interior while giving your room a totally layered and interesting look. Here I have interspersed cushions in earthy-tones with velvets in bold seasonal colours. Remember to work with your existing scheme when adding in layers of print and pattern - draw out the key colours in your room and use these in varying tones and textures, combining soft hues with the occasional pop of colour. Aim for balanced asymmetry in your arrangements and don’t be afraid to mix patterns!
Sitting rooms are perhaps the most-used room in a house, particularly in the winter months, so aim to create a cocooning atmosphere where you can spend long, relaxing and peaceful evenings. Well-chosen lighting is essential to achieving this - create a warm, welcoming ambience with a combination of table lamps and wall lights rather than overhead lighting. Play with coordinating patterns in your lampshades and mix these with some neutral shades for interest.
Finally, complete your seasonal switch up with a Christmas flower arrangement on a coffee or console table. For a dramatic seasonal look, use an abundance of pine, eucalyptus, berries and thistle or for a more pared-back rustic arrangement try hazel branches or dried hydrangeas. Displays like these are great for creating a subtle festive feel whilst bringing in a touch of nature, and making use of what you’ve got in the garden!
