How to have a classy Christmas: 28 festive home decorating ideas from style gurus

Snuggle under a cashmere throw

Snuggle under a cashmere throw
John Lewis The Ultimate Collection cashmere Throw, Berry RedView image in fullscreen
The Ultimate Collection cashmere throw in berry red, £180, johnlewis.com
I’m all about the hygge when it comes to Christmas, so I want my home to feel warm and cosy. I love bringing out all my beautiful cashmere throws and blankets. I’ll stack a few in a wicker basket, throw a couple on the sofas, and use some at the bottom of the tree to place all the presents on. I love Janavi because its cashmere is so soft, with different textures and in gorgeous, deep, rich colours. We love to snuggle up under them – and I don’t have to put them away until April!

Tie ribbons on to everything
Looping bows around folded napkins and plates.View image in fullscreen
Loop bows around folded napkins and plates to add pizzazz. Photograph: nerudol/Getty Images
One affordable and stylish way to make your home feel Christmassy is by incorporating ribbons. You can tie big looping bows round folded napkins, plates and table settings, the stems of wine glasses, or even the base of candlesticks. For a cohesive touch, I also wrap ribbons round my Christmas tree – wired ribbons are great for this as they hold their shape beautifully as they cascade. Cut a 1.5-metre-long strip and push the top, bottom and middle into the tree to make it look as if it’s trailing down the tree. It’s a more romantic, effortless take on Christmas.

Hand-write your menus
Hand-painted menus by Laura Jackson.View image in fullscreen
Hand-painted menus by Laura Jackson. Photograph: Laura Jackson
I love to hand paint my menus with watercolour for special occasions. It’s as simple as painting on an A5 card and adding sketches inspired by the food you’ll be serving. I’ve been doing this for years for family and friends (the kids love helping at Christmas, too). Sometimes we use zigzag pattern scissors to achieve a different border or go for an alternative menu shape such as a champagne bottle or cocktail glass.

Make your own foraged wreath

Make your own foraged wreath
Sallie Smith’s handmade wreath, photographed on a pink front door. Photography By Amit Lennon Date: 18 Nov 2024View image in fullscreen
Sallie Smith’s handmade wreath. Photograph: Amit Lennon/The Guardian
Every year I make a wreath for the front door. The base is made from a ring of natural rattan grapevine. I got it from a garden centre and have had it for years. I use wire to attach clippings of foliage from my parents’ garden – spruce and fir, sprigs of holly and even trimmings from evergreen plants – and the offcuts of the Christmas tree (I always select one too big for the room). The decorations change from year to year: traditional baubles, feathers or just pine cones collected while walking the dog.

Buy some high-street wine glasses
Bohemia Crystal glassView image in fullscreen
Bohemia Crystal glass, £4.99, zarahome.com
It’s so, so difficult to find good, affordable high-street stemware for your Christmas dinner table. It tends to be dipped in rose gold (not my taste), excessively thick (limits the drinking experience) or adorned with pineapple print (why?). Thankfully, Zara makes elegant, light and perfectly tulip-shaped glasses for appreciating wine – and they’re inexpensive enough (£4.99!) that you can swill with abandon.

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