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November 28, 2022
5 minute read
For some, simply decorating the tree is not enough when it comes to the festive season – not only is a coordinated Christmas décor scheme required, but garlands, baubles, shimmer and sparkle have made their way into most rooms in the house. Here, Victoria Purcell, Digital Content Editor at goodhomesmagazine.com, outlines five ways to get your home ready for the festivities…
Every year, Good Homes magazine showcases the hottest Christmas décor trends in its roomsets for Ideal Home Show Christmas
Fans of all things snowy and sparkly will love the Arctic Shimmer roomset. This serene décor trend features winter whites, soft greys and shimmering silver with tactile materials such as chunky knits, velvets and faux sheepskin. Set the table with pearlescent glasses, classic white china, silver cutlery and crisp grey linen. You can shop the roomset, created in partnership with Next Home.
If rich, deep hues are more your thing, check out the Winter Berry roomset. An update on the classic red-and-green colour scheme, it features deep plums and aubergines, teamed with glorious gold and wooden furniture, finished with some quirky accessories. You can shop the roomset, created in partnership with Next Home.
Those who like a more pared-back scheme might prefer Scandi Luxe, featuring chic black decorations teamed with white and gold to soften the look. Dress your Christmas table with elegant ribbed glassware, gold cutlery and matt-black crockery. You can shop the roomset, created in partnership with Next Home.
If biophilia and bringing the outdoors in is more your thing, check out Woodland Jewel. This roomset is rich in colour with a grown-up edge. Pair dark evergreen hues with amber and tortoiseshell accessories, decorate with sustainable paper decorations and complete the look with mini toadstools. You can shop the roomset, created in partnership with Next Home.
A real growing trend over the last few years, tablescaping is a must for hosts wishing to prove they have the most – especially those fond of showcasing their interiors prowess on Instagram. But what is tablescaping? Well, put simply, it’s table setting elevated to an art form. Sure, cynics may argue that you spend hours putting the thing together only to have ravenous family members dismantle it in seconds, but who are we to stand in the way of a good trend?
To get started, as with any good décor scheme, pick your key colours and choose your tablecloth, napkins and placemats in those shades. Or, start with your centrepiece and work out from there. Establish complementary colours for embellishments such as candles, candle holders, glassware, cutlery and a seasonal dried flowers or pampas grass arranged in a water jug.
If you’re not confident in your skills, or just don’t have time to shop, check out From The Post House, which will mail out a box of seasonal goodies to take care of your tablescaping needs, either by subscription or as a one-off purchase.
Decorations don’t often make it into the bedroom, but a few simple touches will create a fabulously festive sanctuary. You can create a festive bedroom in no time with a simple change of the bedsheets. Look out for reversible Christmas bedding for versatility.
Alternatively, you can simply fling a festive throw on top of your existing bedding, like this Alaska Sherpa fleece throw (£27).
Other ways to bring the festivities into the bedroom include mini Christmas trees (let the kids go wild decorating their own), cushions and garlands that you can drape over shelves. If you’re lucky enough to have a four-poster bed, then go to town adorning it with garlands and oversized honeycomb paper baubles. B&M offers a fabulous range of accessories to give your bedroom a bit of festive glamour (below.)
Garlands have enjoyed their prime position atop the fireplace mantelpiece for years, but a stair garland is a must to really wow guests as they step through the door. The key to a great stair garland is layers. Start with a faux green foliage and add fairy lights, then embellish with whatever colours you’ve opted for this Christmas. For a classic look, add holly berries, then dangle red and gold baubles at differing lengths. If you wish to incorporate real foliage, start with a faux base and, closer to the big day itself, embellish with real greenery (go too early and it might wither and need removing). Fragrance your stair garland with scents of eucalyptus, cinnamon or pine so that your home smells Christmassy on entering. Wilko’s pine and berry garland (below) is a great buy this Christmas.
You can run your garland right down the newel post (the main post at the bottom of the stairs) for extra drama, but if coats tend to live here, then don’t! And if you need to keep the banister clear to provide support for children or elderly relatives going up and down the stairs, then thread the garland through the bottom of the balustrades so that it rests on the stairs rather than the banister. Alternatively, just wrap skinny strands of garland around the balustrades. Lights4fun.com have a beautiful garland in their Christmas collection perfect for wrapping around your stairs (below.)
Unsurprisingly, home bars rally took off during lockdown, but it’s a trend that looks like it’s here to stay. Perfect for Christmas when you’re hosting family, friend and the odd unexpected guest, a home bar can be as elaborate as you like. A drinks trolley is an easy and practical option, so you can wheel it about depending on your set up. A retro classic, it’s definitely had a revival of late, and there are plenty on the market, from John Lewis (below) to more expensive art deco versions.
You could also buy a cocktail cabinet, which will come will handy things like bottle racks and glass storage. But equally, you could transform a sideboard, shelf or dresser into a cocktail area like B&M have below – just make sure the surface won’t be damaged by any sticky spills. If that could be a problem, add a shimmering metallic tray or some stylish placemats. Perhaps add a wine glass rack or shelf above to showcase your glassware? To style your Christmas home bar, group your spirits into similar colours, choose glassware that fits the rest of your scheme and display it front and centre, then embellish with citrus fruits, fairy lights and splashes of gold. Add a wreath, garland or a few sprigs of holly, depending on how much space you have.
All Good Homes roomset images are credited to Media 10/Sam Frost.
March 25, 2025 
