Rummage for secondhand decs
Rummage for secondhand decs
Vinterior Set Of 12 Vintage Hand Decorated Christmas Baubles. Seller – RediscovaView image in fullscreen
Vintage hand-decorated Christmas baubles, £65 for 12, vinterior.co
In the lead-up to Christmas, my son and I head to the charity shops in search of secondhand decorations. Most shops redecorate their stores for the season; they are a treasure trove of options. Not only is this a super cost-effective way to decorate, it creates a tradition and adds character, charm and authenticity. Our favourite Christmas runner is a beautiful vintage tapestry we found while out searching in Hertfordshire. It depicts a traditional scene with children playing in the snow, sleighs, outdoor Christmas trees and decorated houses. I love its simplistic charm and good, old Christmas family fun.
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Invest in a fancy candle – and scatter pine cones
Ralph Lauren Home Single-Wick Holiday CandleView image in fullscreen
Single-wick holiday candle, £70, ralphlauren.co.uk
The first thing I buy is Ralph Lauren’s evergreen, juniper and redcurrant-smelling Christmas candle (£70) as it immediately transports me to Christmas Eve. Every bowl is full of pine cones and leftover baubles. Mini acorns and pine cones are scattered along the dining table. And I use brown paper wrapping for presents, with luggage tags and thick rope or wired ribbon.
Taper candles for a centrepiece
Danish taper candles.View image in fullscreen
Danish taper candles, £8 a pair, abodeliving.co.uk
For my table decor, I always buy some Danish taper candles (£8 a pair) in Ice Latte or Toffee shade, from my local interiors shop, Abode Living in Brighton. I like the candle shape – nice and minimal – and they’re good quality, so don’t burn too fast. I also decorate the table with clusters of fresh clementines that I buy from my local fruit and veg shop (Fiveways Fruit), as they sell the lovely ones with leaves still on.
Buy a meaningful bauble
Christmas tree style with Charlotte Colbert Holiday baubles. Photography By Amit Lennon Date: 22 Nov 2024View image in fullscreen
Holiday bauble, £22, charlottecolbert.com. Photograph: Amit Lennon/The Guardian
Every year I buy a Christmas decoration for each family member to add to our tree. Last year for my sons it was a robot and David Bowie, and my husband got a hot sauce. Buying something personal to them that we can cherish and reuse year after year feels really special. Over the years, we’ve built a meaningful collection that holds a lot of memories – and makes for a Christmas tree unlike anyone else’s.
Create a tablescape
Create a tablescape
A Christmas tablescapeView image in fullscreen
Photograph: Milo Brown/Maison Margaux
I love a good tablescape, and I up my game at Christmas . I do what I tell my clients to, and layer textures, height and splashes of colour using runners, place mats, tall tapered candles, flowers and foliage (I like to use potted herbs as a centrepiece to add scent). The key thing is to leave enough room for the turkey and trimmings. I detest Christmas crackers; they’re table clutter, so are banned. And last year we used a couple of large Victorian serving platters I found in a charity shop, to avoid having loads of vegetable dishes taking up every inch of space. It also saved on the washing-up.
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