Christmas: Traditional Decorating Ideas

Done with minimalism? Go all out for an unashamedly traditional festive look, complete with the little touches that make Christmas special

Abigail Owens 4 December 2014

Houzz contributor and Design Director at Carolyn Parker Interior Design Ltd, which is based near York and specialises in luxury designs. Abigail, has been named one of the Daily Telegraph's Top 20 UK interior designers.

Houzz contributor and Design Director at Carolyn Parker Interior Design Ltd, which... More

Comment4

Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.

Over recent years, some fairly minimal themes have been popular for the festive period. If you are getting bored with the idea of a twiggy tree that’s sparsely decorated with plain baubles, or some discreet little Scandinavian objects hanging from ribbons, then let me take you back to a vision of a more traditional, unashamedly over-the-top Christmas. Yes, that’s right. I am ready to see Christmas going back to its more traditional roots, using lots of seasonal sprigs, beautiful red berries and oodles of flattering candlelight.

It’s the finer details that will bring your home to life for a holiday to remember, so let me also give you some inspiration on how to wrap your presents this year, as well as ideas for leaving personal touches around the house. From little treats on each table setting to sprigs of holly above picture frames, giving your home a traditional Christmas look is the best way to get yourself, your family and your guests in the mood for a wonderful festive season.

Houseology Design Group Limited

Glimmer with glass and metallics
If you have a really contemporary interiors style and classic red and gold are too much for you, you can still achieve a traditionally festive feel while sticking with a simplified colour palette.

Here, glass accessories go beautifully with antiqued metallics. Even the wrapping paper is cleverly coordinated with the colour scheme – always something to consider if you want a picture-perfect Christmas morning.

L H Interiors

Break out the fairy lights
Staircases really lend themselves to being the star of the show at Christmas. This can be the perfect opportunity to go a little overboard. I adore this staircase – it’s over the top and yet so stylish. The cool hue of the fairy lights gives a really frosty, wintery feel to the garland ornamenting the banisters. The large silver baubles reflect it beautifully and create a real impact in the space.

Houseology Design Group Limited

Match pretty with plain
Brown paper is not only affordable, it’s also stylish, versatile and incredibly easy to use when wrapping awkwardly shaped presents. There are so many beautiful types of ribbons on the market, so you can splash out a bit and get something you really love that will work well with your festive colour scheme. Use brown luggage labels for your gift tags and tuck a little sprig of eucalyptus under the ribbon, just to go that extra mile for your favourite friends.

Houseology Design Group Limited

Add festive touches to your table
It doesn’t take much to make your table settings festive. I really love this little robin sitting on a napkin and bringing a light-hearted spirit to the arrangement.

If you want to do something more home-made, a little sprig of holly works really nicely, as does a piece of eucalyptus wrapped in ribbon.

Beware, though: don’t use holly sprigs if you have children around, as the berries are mildly toxic and the leaves are crammed with caffeine.

BROWN DAVIS ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

Decorate shelves and mantelpieces
This is a great way to make use of the surfaces above your fireplaces and on bookshelves. Using bigger pine cones works well. You don’t need to create a continuous garland like this one, but it’s so effective and brings a certain importance to the room.

If you don’t mind the dropping needles, it would be lovely to do this with fresh pine branches. Alternatively, an artificial garland or pine sprigs would work just as well, and you could then enjoy them year after year. I would still go to the effort of finding real pine cones, though, as they really make this look, so it’s well worth it.

See more marvellous makeovers for your mantelpiece

Houseology Design Group Limited

Cluster candles
Pillar candles are a very simple and cost-effective way of bringing warmth and light into a room. They work so well around a fireplace because you can take comfort from them even when the fire isn’t lit. And don’t just reserve them for the evening – even in the daytime, they bring a sense of luxury and occasion.

Be warned, though: the bigger the candle, the more wax is likely to drop. Make sure they are sitting in or on something that can contain the flow of hot wax.

Houseology Design Group Limited

Bring in seasonal foliage
We are so lucky to have such beautiful scented greenery throughout the Christmas period – you can find most things you might want to decorate with as soon as you step out into the countryside. Pine cones are perfect for piling into baskets or glass bowls, and sprigs of pine branches emit the ultimate festive fragrance.

You should also be able to get eucalyptus from any good florist – its chalky green tones look great on their own or can be added to other arrangements of flowers and berries. You can go overboard if you like, but I like the restraint of this scene. It’s festive yet subtle enough that you could happily live with it throughout the season.

Mary Prince Photography

Hang a wreath
We tend to only see wreaths hanging on front doors. But if you live in a shared building, why not be imaginative and hang your Christmas wreath on a window or elsewhere? This is a really lovely way to add your own personal touch. There are plenty of wreath-making classes at this time of year, so it’s worth checking around your local florists and craft shops to see if you can make your own. Making decorations yourself really adds another layer to your Christmas spirit.

User

Light the lanterns
This look may not be practical all year round, but for just these few festive days of the year it can be worth making the effort to achieve such a fabulous effect.

I love the idea that the warm glow of the lanterns can guide guests towards an evening of Christmas entertainment – or back to your room at the end of the night.

Discover how to welcome the winter with mood-enhancing lights

Houseology Design Group Limited

Display sweets in style
Glass cake domes add a touch of luxury and feel as though they are for the star baker – or for the host who pretends to be! There really is nothing more inviting than seeing sweet delights sitting behind glass, ready and waiting to be eaten. It certainly beats slaving over a swiss roll, then having to stuff it into an old Quality Street tin to be forgotten about.

Plus, what better way to celebrate all the festive treats that come but once a year? Christmas is the perfect excuse to be indulgent…

AMR Interior Design & Drafting Ltd.

Pick the perfect tree
Oh, if all Christmas trees looked like this, then the world would be a very beautiful place. You just can’t get that perfect cone shape with a natural tree and that is the compromise you make.

The proportions here are perfect, and the bands of baubles in red and silver work brilliantly. This a tree to be proud of – there are no duff decorations or poorly wrapped presents under this Christmas tree!

TELL US…
What does ‘traditional’ mean to you when you think about decorating for Christmas? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.