Deck The Halls
One of the first things that comes to mind when talking about putting up the Christmas decorations, is of course the Christmas tree! But there’re lots of other ways you can spruce up, (excuse the pun), your home as well as your Christmas presents, so read on for all your Christmas décor inspo!
1. Door Wreaths
We can’t go without mentioning the door wreath as this is a classic Christmas decoration. Whether you go for a fresh spruce wreath, an artificial one or something a bit different and quirky, there’s something to suit your theme. If you do go for fresh spruce, be sure to give it a spray with water from time to time to keep it fresh. They do however, last really well if made from evergreen foliage. If you really want it to stand out on your door, why not add some battery-operated fairy lights?
Did you know that wreaths symbolise everlasting life because they’re a continuous circle shape and traditionally made from evergreen foliage? The wreath also represents victory over death which is why they’re often used on graves.
I know some people worry about their door wreath being stolen so you can of course hang it on the inside of your door or if you have a nice wall space, you can hang it there. In this case, artificial may be the best option as it’s warmer inside and the fresh foliage/ water could damage your wall.
Here are a few ways to hang your door wreath…
1. Hang on a hook or nail. You can use the plastic stick on ones that are surprisingly sturdy or you can get special metal wreath hooks to hang over your door and some of them have lovely decorations on them.
2. Tie it on to your door knocker if you have one using ribbon or twine.
3. If you haven’t got anything on the outside of the door to attach it to, you can use a long piece or ribbon and take it over the top of the door and tie on the inside.
If you’re interested in having a go at making your own wreath, check out my upcoming workshops. I also offer online ones and you can buy the Christmas wreath kit as a one off for £45 and it comes with a tutorial video.
2. Christmas Sprays
If you’re not a fan of the Christmas wreath but want something on your door, you could go for a spray instead. This could be done in floral foam to create more of a diamond or teardrop shape or you could simply have a bunch of foliage tied together and decorated with a bow at the top.
3. Garlands
But the front door isn’t the only great place for decorating. Although it’s nice to make the front of the house look pretty, the reality is, you’ll be spending more time looking at your indoors décor and you want to be able to enjoy it! Garlands look great and can be used to decorate various bits of your house. You could put it on the mantelpiece by the fire if you have one or trail it down the bannister. They look lovely draped along windowsills, around doorways or you hang them up around the ceiling. You can of course still use them outside around the doorway or trailing down the posts on a porch if you have an open porch and again these look lovely with lights threaded through. You can have them made to a length to suit you if it’s fresh rather than trying to find one to fit. If you are hanging it then you will need some sort of hooks to attach it to.
4. Swags
Similar to the garland but slightly different is the swag. It’s generally shorter and rather than being one thickness all the way along like a garland, it is typically fullest in the centre. This too could be used to decorate the fireplaces but also looks nice draped around a smaller item like a mirror or again over the top of a doorway.
5. Kissing Balls
One idea you may not have seen before, is the kissing ball. It’s normally a round ball shape made of evergreen foliage and is hung over a doorway or from the ceiling. They originated in the Middle Ages and were called holy boughs, traditionally with a baby Jesus figurine in the centre. The name kissing balls came from the Victorian era when they were revived again and they often included mistletoe in them as well as herbs.
6. Table Decor
There are many ways to decorate the table. You could have a garland running down the centre but it all depends on how much room you’ve got and what shape of table you have. Don’t forget to allow space for all your cutlery, glasses and crackers! They take up more room than you think! If you have a round table, then going for something circular works well that can be appreciated from all angles. From wreath rings with a candle in the middle, to a posy bowl of flowers, there’s endless possibilities and if you work it in with your colour scheme then it looks even better!
You can also get diamond shaped sprays or table runners that are thinner for rectangular tables. Be careful when lighting the candles as you don’t want to set alight to the foliage or flowers as well! For safety, they work best in a vase so the flame doesn’t reach the greenery. Just make sure the vase is taller than your candle! Also consider the height of your centrepiece. They work best sitting under your eyeline so people can still see each other across the table.
If you’re on a budget, scattering loose pieces of foliage along with pine cones, cinnamon sticks and dried fruit creates a nice rustic look. You could also use a table runner or create your own using a roll of hessian or pretty ribbon. Velvet works well for a classy tablescape and you can get it in various colours, typically deep, rich shades.
7. Table Place Settings
If you want to go all out and impress your guests, adding sprigs of foliage or a mini corsage to sit on your napkins, can look really pretty and finish the whole look off!
8. Christmas Presents
These corsages can also be used to decorate your Christmas presents. Your friends and family will be so impressed they won’t want to unwrap their gifts! If you’d like me to send you a video on how to make these dinky corsages, drop me a message here.
You can also check out my video on how to make a bow on my Instagram page.
Do get in contact if you’d like to place an order of have got any questions. I always love to hear from you! Happy decorating!
