More candles – and coil lights in vases
Ikea KLOKHET Unscented candle, dark grey-green, 25 cmView image in fullscreen
Klokhet unscented candle, £3 for eight, ikea.com
I change the colour of any tall candles from white or pale pink to deeper shades of pink and red. And I coil fairy lights into big glass vases so that by Christmas, the house is twinkling with anticipation. You can get both from Ikea.
Commit to a colour
Fireplace and Christmas tree with presents in living roomView image in fullscreen
For me, the festive season is always about making the space feel decadent – royal camp is the best way to describe it. My tree ritual is really committing to a colour – I approach it like I’m designing a collection – and the last couple of years have been almost all white. Obviously, I know it’s beautiful to have a tree full of baubles that represent memories, but I’m silhouette-driven and like high-impact choices, which opting for one colour gives.
Burn some incense
Vyrao Ember Incense SticksView image in fullscreen
Ember incense sticks, £35 for 30, vyrao.com
When I want a clean smell that reminds me of log fires, I burn Ember incense (£35) from Vyrao. It’s just gorgeous. That, along with the smells of proper cooking and baking, is the scent of Christmas to me.
Display your dried hydrangeas
Dried hydrangea flowers.View image in fullscreen
Dried hydrangea flowers. Photograph: Amit Lennon/The Guardian
If you’re looking to bring the outdoors in this Christmas but fancy a change from slowly desiccating greenery, starting with something that’s already beautifully decayed is a nifty solution. Dried allium heads have a celebratory air – they evoke fireworks, especially if you coat them in metallic spray-paint – but for something a little more ubiquitous look to dried hydrangea flowers . They are starting to brown and dry naturally now in a garden near you (alternatively, ask your florist), and you don’t need many to make a show-stopping table or mantle arrangement. Tie with a piece of velvet ribbon if you fancy, or weave them into a wreath (just be mindful of having candles nearby). Their aesthetic is universal, so come 6 January you won’t need to take them down.
Festoon your bannisters
Festoon your bannisters
Woman stands in front a house decorated for Christmas with a tree and a festooned banisterView image in fullscreen
Jess Cartner-Morley with her gloriously festive bannister. Photograph: David Newby/The Guardian
I love a festooned stair bannister. It makes the house feel festive when you are lugging laundry upstairs or legging it out of the door to work. All you need is lengths of greenery, which can be real foraged ivy or the fake pine stuff. Wrap it around the bannister – messy is fine, it looks good when bits trail down the spindles. Wind fairy lights through for added twinkle. If you don’t have stairs, you can get the same effect by draping festive greenery over a picture or mirror in your hallway. It’s like a Christmas wreath, but for inside.
Invest in reusable crackers
Happy crackers.View image in fullscreen
Liberty Christmas red crackers, from £35, happycrackers.co.uk
The best Christmas purchase I ever made was the Colours of Arley x Happy Crackers reusable fabric crackers They are a chic addition to any tablescape – you can fill them with your own goodies and use them year after year. Happy Crackers does all sorts of designs, from modern stripes to traditional florals (from £30 each).
… or pimp your shop-bought ones
John Lewis Wired Metallic Ribbon L5m, GoldView image in fullscreen
Wired metallic ribbon, from £3.50, johnlewis.com
I like to level up shop-bought crackers with ribbon and even a sprig of foliage or flowers to make them feel special. You can stick on a handwritten card that works as a place-setting idea … I’ve even sneaked them open and popped in a handmade chocolate as a more thoughtful gift.