Decorating
My Kind of Christmas: Sam Charles of Strawberry Squeeze
Lifestyle blogger Sam Charles shares her Scandi-inspired Christmas style and fun family traditions
Sam Charles’s popular interiors and lifestyle blog, Strawberry Squeeze, covers everything from interiors to travel inspiration to the countdown to Christmas… and all so stylishly.
Here, she gives us an insight into her family-orientated, Nordic-style Christmas, which reflects the décor in her home. The only thing missing, she says, is a huge fire. Tell us what you think, and share your own kind of Christmas in the Comments below.
See more in this series: My Kind of Christmas: Charlie Gladstone of Pedlars I My Kind of Christmas: Blogger Claire Donovan of Heart Handmade
Here, she gives us an insight into her family-orientated, Nordic-style Christmas, which reflects the décor in her home. The only thing missing, she says, is a huge fire. Tell us what you think, and share your own kind of Christmas in the Comments below.
See more in this series: My Kind of Christmas: Charlie Gladstone of Pedlars I My Kind of Christmas: Blogger Claire Donovan of Heart Handmade
What does your home look like at Christmas?
Leave traditional green and red decorations at the door, my home is light and airy. It has a clean, Scandinavian and midcentury style, and our Christmas decorations reflect that theme.
Last year, the tree was in the living room, but I’ve recently bought a black leather Eames lounge chair and ottoman, so the Christmas tree will be moving into the kitchen. Despite not having a real Christmas tree, there are plenty of natural materials in the home, such as mistletoe and pine cones.
Check out more ideas for creating a Scandi-style Christmas
Leave traditional green and red decorations at the door, my home is light and airy. It has a clean, Scandinavian and midcentury style, and our Christmas decorations reflect that theme.
Last year, the tree was in the living room, but I’ve recently bought a black leather Eames lounge chair and ottoman, so the Christmas tree will be moving into the kitchen. Despite not having a real Christmas tree, there are plenty of natural materials in the home, such as mistletoe and pine cones.
Check out more ideas for creating a Scandi-style Christmas
How traditional is your Christmas dinner?
Growing up, my brother and I were never huge fans of roast dinners. So every year for as long as I can remember I’ve eaten everything but a roast dinner on Christmas Day.
When we were younger, my mum always said that Christmas was one of the most special days of the year, so we should have anything that makes us happy. Our Christmas dinner is far from traditional. People think we’re bonkers, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Growing up, my brother and I were never huge fans of roast dinners. So every year for as long as I can remember I’ve eaten everything but a roast dinner on Christmas Day.
When we were younger, my mum always said that Christmas was one of the most special days of the year, so we should have anything that makes us happy. Our Christmas dinner is far from traditional. People think we’re bonkers, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What’s your present-wrapping style?
I wrap my presents using brown paper and string, then decorate them with natural foliage. On some of the larger gifts, I attach pine cones, ribbon, mistletoe and fake holly (to avoid injury). This year, I’m practising modern calligraphy and I hope to address everybody’s gifts in script.
I wrap my presents using brown paper and string, then decorate them with natural foliage. On some of the larger gifts, I attach pine cones, ribbon, mistletoe and fake holly (to avoid injury). This year, I’m practising modern calligraphy and I hope to address everybody’s gifts in script.
Do you dress up on Christmas Day?
Every year, I treat myself to a new outfit for Christmas Day. A trip to The White Company for something cashmere tends to do the job. As difficult as it is, I don’t let myself wear my Christmas outfit until the 25th – it’s tough!
Every year, I treat myself to a new outfit for Christmas Day. A trip to The White Company for something cashmere tends to do the job. As difficult as it is, I don’t let myself wear my Christmas outfit until the 25th – it’s tough!
What’s your top Christmas decorating tip?
Wrap up and head to the high street to get some inspiration; there are so many themes and ideas that will get your creative juices flowing.
Remember to keep your wallet at home and treat the shops as a real-life Houzz feed. Once you get an idea of what theme you’d like to go for, then you can head online or back into town to buy decorations.
Wrap up and head to the high street to get some inspiration; there are so many themes and ideas that will get your creative juices flowing.
Remember to keep your wallet at home and treat the shops as a real-life Houzz feed. Once you get an idea of what theme you’d like to go for, then you can head online or back into town to buy decorations.
Which family traditions do you always follow?
Every year, usually the Sunday before Christmas, we head to my grandparents’ house for ‘wishing tree day’. Everybody in my extended family gets together to exchange presents, eat lots of amazing food (my grandad is a chef) and partake in our family Christmas tradition.
We all write a secret ‘wish’ on a watercolour card, painted by my grandad, and pin it to a mini Christmas tree; one year later, we all read out our wishes and see if they came true! It’s really adorable, because nobody remembers what they wrote, and it’s great to see what we’ve achieved over the year.
Every year, usually the Sunday before Christmas, we head to my grandparents’ house for ‘wishing tree day’. Everybody in my extended family gets together to exchange presents, eat lots of amazing food (my grandad is a chef) and partake in our family Christmas tradition.
We all write a secret ‘wish’ on a watercolour card, painted by my grandad, and pin it to a mini Christmas tree; one year later, we all read out our wishes and see if they came true! It’s really adorable, because nobody remembers what they wrote, and it’s great to see what we’ve achieved over the year.
What’s your favourite Christmas snack?
Oh, that’s a toughie. It has to be mince pies washed down with mulled wine. Oh, actually, mince pies and gingerbread latte – YUM!
Oh, that’s a toughie. It has to be mince pies washed down with mulled wine. Oh, actually, mince pies and gingerbread latte – YUM!
When do you open your presents?
Opening stockings in bed is a must. Shortly after that, we head downstairs for tea and bacon sandwiches and open the larger presents from under the Christmas tree.
The rest of the day changes slightly from year to year, depending on where Christmas is being held. Last year the family came over for Christmas dinner at my house, because it was the first year of me being in my brand-new home. This year, we’re heading to my parents’ house to be spoilt by them!
Opening stockings in bed is a must. Shortly after that, we head downstairs for tea and bacon sandwiches and open the larger presents from under the Christmas tree.
The rest of the day changes slightly from year to year, depending on where Christmas is being held. Last year the family came over for Christmas dinner at my house, because it was the first year of me being in my brand-new home. This year, we’re heading to my parents’ house to be spoilt by them!
Which Christmas movies or TV do you always watch?
Love Actually, without a doubt! Who doesn’t? Also, Elf is a no-brainer. Nothing beats curling up on the sofa with some Christmas cookies and watching movies. It’s totally OK to watch Christmas movies more than once in one month – it’s Christmas!
Love Actually, without a doubt! Who doesn’t? Also, Elf is a no-brainer. Nothing beats curling up on the sofa with some Christmas cookies and watching movies. It’s totally OK to watch Christmas movies more than once in one month – it’s Christmas!
What’s your dream Christmas house?
I’ve spent a lot of time, money and effort creating the Scandinavian-style home I always wanted.
That said, as much as I love my home, I do think that cuddling up around a large fireplace on a big sofa in a traditional, manor house-style home would be a lovely way to spend the festive season. Ideally, I’d be somewhere far, far away with those closest to me (and deep snow is mandatory).
9 homes on Houzz we’d love to spend Christmas in
I’ve spent a lot of time, money and effort creating the Scandinavian-style home I always wanted.
That said, as much as I love my home, I do think that cuddling up around a large fireplace on a big sofa in a traditional, manor house-style home would be a lovely way to spend the festive season. Ideally, I’d be somewhere far, far away with those closest to me (and deep snow is mandatory).
9 homes on Houzz we’d love to spend Christmas in
What’s your favourite Christmas record?
Last year, I played Daniela Andrade’s Christmas EP on repeat; her voice is beautiful.
Check out the Strawberry Squeeze blog and find Sam Charles on Twitter
What makes your Christmas Day unique? Share details of your kind of Christmas in the Comments below.
Last year, I played Daniela Andrade’s Christmas EP on repeat; her voice is beautiful.
Check out the Strawberry Squeeze blog and find Sam Charles on Twitter
What makes your Christmas Day unique? Share details of your kind of Christmas in the Comments below.
My partner’s birthday is at the end of November, so we have a strict no-Christmas-decorations-until-December rule! On the first Sunday of December, we dedicate the day to eating mince pies, drinking mulled wine and putting up the decorations while listening to festive tunes. The tree is dusted in artificial snow and hung with glass baubles, cute polar bear decorations and white fairy lights, perfectly reflecting our Scandinavian-style home.
Is your tree real or artificial?
We have a lovely floppy-eared house bunny named Petal, so we opted for an artificial tree so she doesn’t hurt her paws on fallen needles. We save so much money on buying Christmas trees every year, so we can dedicate the cash to more decorations!
I miss the smell of a real Christmas tree in the home, though, so we stock up on plenty of scented candles.