It's December....time to decorate!

For me, the start of December means it's time to start getting really festive. It's my favourite month of the year, Christmas, my birthday, NYE...its all here! November feels slightly too early but December 1st I'm all in! Elf on the Shelf made his eagerly anticipated return this morning and advent calendars have already been opened. Now it's time to get the decorations out!!

Living in London inspiration is all around, theres nothing I love more than wandering through the city, seeing all the christmas displays and the myriad of incredibly decorated trees!

Photo Credit: CN Traveller - David Parry, Paul Grover, Steven Joyce, Charlie Round-Turner

Whilst I have two young children I am keen to not let my home turn into a multicoloured, flashing spectacle of tinsel and coloured fairy lights. I like to embrace the Christmas sparkle but less disco Disney and more magical, twinkling, festive is the vibe.

Now, I strongly believe Christmas decorating is a personal choice, if you want to create a space that screams Santa on steroids - do it! If it makes you happy, hang that tinsel, set thoses lights to flash, pop a santa hat on the dog and turn up the Christmas tunes. Enjoy it!

But as an Interior Designer there's a few tips and tricks I follow when I decorate my home to create the environment that gives me all the festive feels.

Choose a complimentary colour palette

Deciding on a selection of colours to use throughout your decorating creates a cohesive feel in your home. I choose a palette that compliments my existing decor, for me, thats deep greens and blues with a selection of mixed metallics to add a luxe feel. Bronze, copper, golds in a brushed/aged effect to counter any excessive shine. Remember, just because it's Christmas doesn't mean you have to decorate in green and red!

Add in lots of textures

Luxurious textiles such as velvet ribbons, faux fur throws and burlap sacks under the tree create a tactile, cosy atmosphere perfect for coming home to at the end of a cold day.

Natural elements

Adding into the textural element is festive foliage and plants. Alongside the tree (whether real or artificial) I love to add in pieces of fresh greenery, eucalyptus, and berries into my decor. I find this adds another layer of interest and a great christmas scent when using real pine branches! In recent years I've also been adding in more natural ornaments such as wooden bead garlands and baubles to create a softer feel than the snazzy bright baubles of the past. Definitely one for the neutral interior lovers out there!

Gift wrap

Garish prints, disney characters and shiny foil wrapping paper aren't really the look I want under the tree I spent hours carefully creating and positioning baubles in exactly the right position (at least until the kids decide to move them). With all those gifts that sit under the tree waiting to be given out on the big day I want them to add to the look of the room not detract or become the focal point of it. To ensure that I compliment the decor I already have in place I choose wrapping in brown parcel paper and just one accent colour to tie in what I already have going on. This year its deep green. I go for a mix of patterns so it adds visual interest and fun but all within the same colour family. Ribbons and "snazzy bits" as we say in our house all tie in with the accent colour theme.

Garlands aren't just for mantels

Unfortunately I'm not blessed with a fireplace in my living room currently (Santa has to find another point of entry...) but I do have a large opening between the dining and living rooms. It is in this opening I hang a tension shower rod and drape over a garland with lights and hanging wooden/paper decorations so it creates a magical entry into the room where our main tree is (and where Santa leave the presents). I like placing the garland here as it makes an unexpected festive moment of an otherwise dead space. Other, less expected places to put a garland may be entwined around pieces on your coffee table, or if you have a blanket ladder try draping a lit garland off the top rung and down to the floor.

Play with scale to make a statement

Who said baubles need to be small, I love to add in giant baubles or giant paper stars to really make a statement. Hang them from garlands, mantels, place a selction of them on the floor by the fireplace even add a couple of the mega monsters to the tree to give it some ooph!

I've pulled together some decorations that I currently have or are in my basket (or wish list) to purchase that echo all the tips I follow above.

1. West Elm Velvet Baubles

2. Champagne Silver Hanging Finials

3. Set of 6 Christmas Baubles

4. The White Company Smoked Beaded Bauble

5. Cox and Cox Blush Glittered Textured Baubles

6. Large Silver Antique Glass Baubles

7. Honeycomb Cream Christmas Tree Decoration

8. Light Up Eucalyptus and Pine Cone Wreath

9. Suncatcher Crystal Pendant

10. Glass Icicles Drop Ornaments

11. Beige Velvet Ribbon

12. Willow Wicker Mistletoe Wreath

13. Wood Bead Tassle Decorations

14. The White Company Mercury Extra Large Ribbed Bauble

Some of the links above are affiliate links which means at no extra cost I earn a small commission with every purchase made through the link.

Now it's time to pop on my Christmas pjs, curl up infront of the tree and enjoy a festive hot chocolate! Have a great Christmas everyone!