7 Tips for Festive Flair
No other time of year is as steeped in nostalgia as Christmas. From the family heirloom decorations that are lovingly unpacked from the attic each year, to the same festive album that is dusted off and spun on the record player once more, to the eager anticipation of getting dressed up on Christmas Eve for a glass of champagne and kisses under the mistletoe, before hurrying little ones off to bed.
Christmas is a time to wrap yourself in beauty and make memories you’ll treasure with the people you love most. It’s about cultivating a feeling of exuberance and togetherness, creating your own traditions and celebrating every moment. Explore our tips for setting the scene for your best Christmas yet.
1. Charm with Candlelight
Candlelight is one of the easiest ways to add festive atmosphere. Use beautiful sculptural candleholders, such as our sustainable mango wood and antique brass Lanterns, arranged at different heights on your hall table and mantelpiece to welcome guests and create an elevated sense of occasion. The handblown recycled glass on our Hurricane Lanterns catches the light beautifully, enhancing the magic of each flicking flame. There really is no lighting more flattering than candlelight. It will create a feeling of instant feeling of intimacy and cosy togetherness.
2. Wreath Magic
Beyond the windows lit up with the twinkling Christmas trees, it’s the wreaths on doors that make us smile. The word wreath comes from the word ‘writhen’, an old English word meaning ‘to twist’ and the wreath is a Christian symbol of eternal life and love. Eco-friendly, beautiful and handmade, our Wreaths will give your neighbours pleasure as they pass, show off your style and last you a lifetime.
You can keep them simple or enjoy spending time dressing them up with fairy lights and foliage to create your own unique designs. For something a bit different, use a wreath decorated with candles as the centre of your Christmas Table – you’ll be sure to wow your guests.
3. Graceful Garlands
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some beautiful Festive Garlands strung up around your home. Garlands are a great way to bring some Christmas magic to every corner of your home and look beautiful draped over the banister, mantelpiece or along the dining table. Opt for sophisticated styles that can be used year after year, such as our handmade, recycled glass Ekiti or Harini Bauble Garlands, which always look elegant. Place these near to fairy lights so they sparkle.
You can also opt for leaf and nature-inspired garlands, such as our warm brass Khamila Leaf or Tula Garlands for a feeling of natural elegance and sophistication. These delicate metal garlands are wired so you can artfully arrange them around decorations on a mantelpiece or shelf.
4. Elegant Tree Embellishments
Steer clear of disposable plastic decorations and choose refined, naturally made Tree Decorations and Tree Toppers in delicious hues that will bring gentle sophistication to your festive look. Our recycled glass Baubles come in gorgeous shades, such as dark smoke, antique copper, burnt amber and rustic gold, which bring a timeless beauty and elegance. They catch the light beautifully and feel harmonious and delightful. Instead of choosing elves and snowmen, opt for our shaped decorations in the style of beautiful natural festive objects, such as our Adoni Fir Cones and Ngoni Wire Hanging Stars.
5. Branch out
It’s not all about the tree. If you’re short on space or trying to be less wasteful by not buying a tree this year, then one of our favourite festive decorating tricks involves foraging a beautiful branch on a wintery walk and bringing it home to either place in a vase or suspend over our Christmas Table. This can then be decorated with baubles, fairy lights and garlands, just as you’d decorate your Christmas tree. Our Giant Baubles are a winner here, as they allow you to play with scale and bring a childlike sense of wonder to your festive scheme that everyone will enjoy regardless of their age.
6. Room for Retreat
Christmas with family members is one of the most precious gifts, especially after not being able to be together last year. However, we’re all individuals and there will inevitably be moments when elderly relatives will need a post-Christmas dinner nap, or your introverted teenager would appreciate a moment curled up with their book. By making sure you’ve got areas where guests can unwind without retreating altogether, such as well-positioned Handcrafted Armchairs with cosy Throws and Reading Lamps, you’ll make sure Christmas is comfortable and relaxed for everyone.
7. Stylish and Sustainable Gifting
Following COP26, the race is on to forge an effective global response to the climate emergency well before 2030. The way we shop matters, particularly when it comes to buying Christmas gifts. When you buy with us, you are choosing a transparent end-to-end supply chain. Our gifts do a bit more by supporting independent makers, championing slow traditional skills, and using sustainable, natural or waste materials. We work hard reduce the environmental impact of every single product we make. We’re not perfect, but we are doing everything we can because we believe you can have great products and be mindful of looking after the earth too.
Our curated selection of Eco-Friendly Gifts includes elegant fair trade Jewellery, sustainable mango wood classic Board Games and Luxury Gifts, including sumptuous Velvet Bedspreads. These will be gifts so good you’ll want to buy them for yourself too and your recipient will treasure them long after Christmas. Explore our full Eco-friendly Gift Guide and find handcrafted gift ideas to impress everyone on your list.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our 7 tips for creating Festive Flair in your home. Please do explore our other blog posts for more stories and design tips. Happy Holidays!