Easy style tricks for Christmas

While Christmas comes but once a year for most of us, interiors stylists have the pleasure of creating the festive look many times over before the proper build-up even begins. They can be putting up baubles from July to October so who better to ask for quick tricks on how to make your Christmas decorations feel special this year?

All the stylists we spoke to advised spreading the Christmas love a little to balance out the spectacular tree. There are so many other great decorating opportunities from the fireplace and alcoves to the windows and doors, not to mention mini arrangements on side tables and larger room decorations to perk up dull corners. It’s all to play for.

‘I create little festive moments in each room of the house,’ says Charlotte Boyd who has been styling for magazines and brands for more than 15 years. ‘A group of pine or orange-scented candles together on a gold tray creates a wonderful welcome in a hallway, then just add a few sprigs of spruce or ivy to complete the display.’

‘If you live in a compact space, a festive arrangement is a great way of creating a mini tree,’ adds Bethan Harwood, Partner & Home Design Stylist at John Lewis (@johnlewis_bethan). ‘All you need is a vase, some faux foliage of varying heights and a few baubles. Start with the biggest foliage, then balance your colour and objects through it. You could even wrap little faux presents in a similar coloured wrap to the baubles and arrange them at the base.’

Festive lighting is one of the easiest ways to set the mood, using battery-powered line lights and candlelight to sprinkle twinkle all round the room. ‘Fairy lights dotted around your home instantly make everything feel Christmassy,’ says stylist Maxine Brady (@maxinebradystyling) ‘Pop them in vases, tuck them in your plants or around your window frames to bring sparkle to each and every room.’

‘For indoor lights, check batteries, check batteries and then check those batteries,’ says stylist Sara Bird (@thecontentednest). ‘I’m a sucker for simple sparkles, so mini copper-wire lighting is a must-have. Feed a length along windowsills and mantelpieces, wind into foliage, place into glass hurricane lanterns, on platters of baubles or even thread through log piles. It has to be a flickering set for me, though, as I love to watch the light change.’

Bethan adds a word of advice: ‘Keep lighting simple and warm for inside your home as this creates that inviting atmosphere – leave the coloured lights for party night or for outside.’

A few areas dotted with eye-catching displays can help give your decorating a story. Bigger and bolder room decorations really grab the eye and can be great fun. You can also cluster groups of smaller decs to create bigger impact. ‘I like to arrange glittering decorations in a bowl or vase, or on a tray which I then light up with battery lights for a long-lasting table centrepiece,’ says Charlotte. She also recommends tying a few favourite decorations together with ribbon to hang. Bethan, meanwhile, says, ‘A glass vase of baubles to match your scheme is a quick festive win that will add a little bit of magic to your normal interiors.’

‘I’ve followed my family tradition of using hand-me-down baubles, as well as adding a few new ones every year,’ says Sara. ‘The arrival of various child-decorated or child-chosen baubles inevitably mixes things up. I have two trees – one for the more subtle and delicate vintage glass ornaments, and one jolly, bright and home-to-every-style tree, where you’ll find the kids’ favourites.’

All our interior stylists decorate several trees a week when their Christmas photo shoots are in full swing so what’s the trick to the best-dressed tree? ‘You want the tree to sing with pockets of statement features, but you also need the eye to be stimulated by the whole expanse, not just one area,’ explains Wil Law (@johnlewis_wil), Partner & Home Design Stylist. ‘Make sure the lights illuminate the whole of the tree and that the spread of bauble colours is consistent. Apply the same balanced approach to statement pieces. For instance, if you have a neon decoration towards the top right of the tree, add one towards the bottom left too.’

To make your decor budget go further, Wil suggests filling out the majority of the tree with classic lights and simple plain packs of baubles. ‘You can then invest in some statement baubles, sprays and oversized neon pieces that command attention when nestled here and there,’ he adds. Garlands are also brilliant for adding to that full look.

Choosing a colour scheme will bring the look together but working in a theme really adds a bit of a magic. Make it personal to you whether it’s something inspired by a hobby or travels or just something you love. Check out our 7 themes for Christmas 2021 and the fun novelty baubles in every style, including the Copper River trend featured here.

Natural themes are always a winner as you can bundle in lots of fresh foliage which feels festive and abundant and which is often scented too. Look to winter favourites such as eucalyptus and spruce, as well as woody herbs such as rosemary. ‘Wreath-making is a great way to get crafty and add personality to your home, but it can be time-consuming,’ says Bethan. 'A swag made from foliage collected on your winter walks is quicker and more relaxed. Add extra drama with baubles, fairy lights or even a quick spray of gold or copper paint.’

‘The great thing about indoor wreaths is the weather can’t get to them,’ adds Sara. ‘I keep ribbons from gifts to weave through for colour, while tucking a few fresh herbs into a shop-bought wreath brings in fragrance. Rosemary and thyme remind me of Christmases past, but you’ll also find me adding dried grasses which are still very much on trend.’

As all stylists know, Christmas isn’t just about the Christmas tree and the room that it’s in. Let loose with decorations in the hallway, the bedrooms and even the garden.

Think about how visitors and guests will move through the space and create little vignettes to catch them by surprise and make them smile. A warm welcome in the hallway with lights and decorations sets the scene beautifully. Piling up gifts here feels generous and special too.

Wil recommends adding trimmings to the kitchen. ‘Warm fairy lights work well on open shelving around and create a lovely cosy glow for stirring the pudding when it’s dark and bitter outside.’

If you find yourself lost in a decorating frenzy, take a step back. Have a cup of tea or a mince pie and check out how your creations look from all angles. Trees should be decorated in the round with no bare bits at the back and, if you have tall ceilings, adding garlands on the walls will help pull the eye down to appreciate all the decorating at tabletop and mantelpiece height. Check from all seats in the room and peer in through doorways – a good stylist knows how to create a seamless journey that wows guests at every step and turn.