Fun Ideas for Christmas

I'm loving some of the posts on ideas for Christmas decorations from Pinterest, and will be making some the decorations myself this year.

I'm sure that most people would agree that a bit (or a lot, depending on how much bling you like) of lighting looks magical, especially at this time of year, when it gets dark so early. Now that battery operated lights are so available, and last longer, they can be added anywhere and  everywhere!

Fairy lights on a fireplace mantle, around door architraves, across the top of picture frames, and even inside jars and lanterns look so pretty when lit. There are some clear baubles that you can buy from Amazon, which would also look pretty with fairy lights and can be hung on the Christmas tree. I bought some and have filled them with white and dark chocolate shavings and marshmallows for making hot chocolate, delicious as well as pretty decorations.

I love this idea from Xerxes to fill stockings with cutlery, a fun way to dress your table. Although I'll have to improve on my knitting!!

Hang some pine cones on some twine and add these across an archway for a beautiful but more natural look. They will add a nice seasonal aroma to the room too. 

These napkins look so Christmassy, add a few cinnamon sticks, winter berries, holly or mistletoe and tie them with some twine. 

Oooh! Some orange slices pricked with cloves to hang on the Christmas tree, beautiful and pefumed.

Don't over complicate things. I find that if I stick to making decorations that are easy, I actually carry them through.  For example, curling a sprig of rosemary round and binding to make a circle  couldn't be simpler and looks so pretty on a plain plate or napkin. 

A few tips on How to add those finishing touches to your room

We sometimes get asked to help clients to finish their room off, by this we mean adding cushions, rugs, pictures, lamps etc, these accessories bring a room come to life.

A chance for you to show your personality by adding pieces that are meaningful to you and reflect the way you live whether you’re an avid reader, a quirky collector or a world traveller. 

A few things to remember; small or single objects can disappear or look lost on their own, so group them together, which will make more of an impact. Odd numbers look more natural, for example a group of five tea lights look more effortless than four of them bunched up.

You can add colour and textures in cushions, tie backs, pictures, to help a muted room look more interesting. A fluffy rug, velvet cushions and table lamps will make the room look warm and cosy. 

Add flickering candles at various heights, statement centrepieces such as a vase of flowers that tie in with the colour scheme, add some nice trimmings to the base of a plain lampshade to make it fun, a ribbon to curtains as a tie-back, or pick out some of the colours in a painting which will pull the room together.

Fun Ideas on Christmas Decorations

I found some inspiring and innovative tips for Chrismtas decorations in Elle Deco this month. 

How lovely as well as easy to add a festive theme to the centre of the table. Fill glass jars (that you can buy at affordable prices from Covent Garden Flower Market), with clementines, leaves attached or peppermints you can even sit them on an arrangement of ivy that you've cut from the garden.

White is my favourite background colour at Christmas as greens and reds stand out against it (of course as do all other colours!). A white napkin tied with twine, and a few sprigs of natural foliage (or scented herbs)  from the garden, again is simple yet stylish.

There is nothing more magical than candlelight, so lots of candles, all sorts of shapes and sizes dotted around the place or table immediately create a spellbinding atmosphere.

Draw or get one of the kids to scribble a winter scene in white chalk on a blackboard - as easy as pie! It doesn't matter how naive the drawing.

Another idea for candles is adding cinnamon sticks around church candles, not only will you get the lovely Chrismtas scent as the candles warm up, but they also look charming - a nice pressie for someone?

 

 

Pinterest And Why I Love It

Is there a better way to keep images you like on file? I don’t think so.  As an interior designer I have tried a number of ways to file pictures.

Looking for a particular reference? You just have to search an item and various images come up. I find it more useful and quicker than browsing through interior magazines. Not that my magazines get left untouched, but I consider it a luxury to find time to leaf through them.

Many of my clients are now on Pinterest too. They create a board that they share with me showing their likes and dislikes. This is a very useful tool as it gives me a feel of the client’s taste and less time to work out what look they want us to help them achieve.

Pinterest is so easy to use! 

I’ve linked it to my Twitter and Facebook accounts so that I don’t need to add something to each one individually. I can even add to it from an app on my phone.

Using social media doesn’t come naturally or easily to me, this way I can keep on top of it at the press of a button!