WebDecember2017

56 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
Sticking to these loose themes will help to create
a warm and traditional Christmassy look and
feel to your home. You could make big draping
arrangements of greenery on your mantelpiece with
fairy lights and wide ribbons intertwined. Use lots of
big golden baubles on the tree and go overboard on
fairy lights. And make a big leafy wreath in green and
red for the front door.
Alternatively, there is an increasing trend towards
the Scandinavian look to Christmas decorations. This
is very much the opposite to the traditional look in
that it is very understated and minimal. There are a
couple of core looks that we see more often now. One is
a simple palette of red, white and green decorations.
Going this route, less is definitely more and think
modest real trees, matte rather than shiny, simple
clean lines, small white lights.
There’s also another look in this theme that is about
simple layering of whites and greys with touches of
matte silver or white glitter – another really lovely
look. Think of solid, pale colours, natural fabrics
and materials so lots of soft woollies and simple
wooden painted shaped decorations, and piles of
freshly chopped logs at the fireplace. You could try
hanging clear glass baubles at different heights above
your table, or spraying small pine cones white and
hanging them in front of the window. Create a simple
structure with pale twigs and hang some baubles
from it. Use some clear glass bottles to hold tall, white
candles or make a twiggy wreath and spray it white.
So which way will you go this year? I am always a
bit torn on this one. I love the minimal look in the
magazines and the Scandinavian feel probably
appeals more to my taste at any other time of the year
and maybe one day I’ll try and focus Christmas that
way, but when we open our big Christmas bag and
haul out the boxes of tinsel, and giggle over memories
represented by our collected gatherings, it tends to
naturally go a bit more towards the other direction.
The little light-up Christmas house with its tinkly
tune, the oversized handmade stockings and the
baubles with the flashing Santa noses don’t really fit
into any theme and I think, for us, I quite like it that
way.
© Timorous Beasties