‘Tis almost time to deck the halls – whether you decorate the tree, dress the table or do everything – but how do you make sure your home shines with originality and reflects your style?
Luckily, we’ve rounded-up the boldest and brightest ideas for how to decorate at Christmas to help you on your merry way, whatever your taste and space. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, after all.
Christmas tree decor ideas
Luxury Christmas baubles are best when it comes to Christmas tree decoration ideas. Classier than tinsel and easier than lights, they usually come with a convenient metal hook or string loop that you can slide on to branches, while they add instant colour and texture to green foliage.
Top tip: for less delicate baubles, we recommend nestling them among branches rather than hanging, which adds more bulk and depth. Simply rest larger baubles furthest inside the tree and smaller ones towards the end of branches for a professional ‘layered’ look.
Opt for the 'vintage' look
Retro never goes out of style, so stock up on a collection of vintage-inspired decorations to recreate all the splendour of Christmases past, such as these colourful Glass Spot Baubles by Thie, this quirky Glass Santa Riding a Dinosaur Shaped Decoration by Sass & Belle or this classic Wool Mix Brown Christmas Pudding Decoration.
Look for baubles with a handcrafted feel in delicate glass or soft wool materials for elegant Christmas décor.
Let your personality shine
From hobbies to favourite animals or places and interests, baubles allow you to express your personality, while incorporating the colours, motifs and textures you hold dear.
This Metallic Resin Dinosaur Decoration Brontosaurus by Gisela Graham is a case in point – sure to be a talking point on the tree – while this Glass Glitter Lobster Shaped Decoration from Sass & Belle is a tongue-in-cheek take on the tangerine crustacean.
London-lover? This Glass London Bus with Garland Decoration will let everyone know. Christmas tree decoration ideas don’t get more fun.
Try Scandi minimalism
Quiet luxury is having a moment right now with neutral colours, understated motifs and a less-is-more approach, so why not try Scandi minimalism for classy Christmas decorations?
Consider these modern Deko Decorations by Broste Copenhagen, this simple Robin Clear Bubble Effect Decoration from The Original Winters Tale and these Glass Lines Ornaments by ferm LIVING.
Alternatively, a couple of crisp white Honeycomb Ball Decorations tucked between branches or stacked at the base of the tree will add simple Nordic charm.
Go full glam with all that glitters
On the opposite end of the spectrum, maximalists may want to go all-out with glitz and glamour, such as this shimmering Silver Mirror Ball Bauble, pearlescent Glass Jellyfish Shaped Decoration or sequinned Clear Glass Ball Decoration.
Focus on statement finishes, rich colours and unusual shapes for a tree that’s as eclectic and as it is fabulous. The star of the show when it comes to Christmas tree decoration ideas.
Christmas table decor ideas
Once your tree is up – sparkling like a diamond in the centre of the living room– it’s time to think about Christmas table decoration ideas. Tablescaping has become quite the art in recent years, whether a festive flourish here and there or a full-scale winter wonderland, adding a touch of drama and a sense of occasion to proceedings.
Whatever event you’re hosting, from a dinner party in the build-up to the main event itself or a festive soirée during ‘Twixmas, our christmas tableware will make yours the talk of the town.
Plump for candlelight
Candlelight makes all the difference when it comes to setting the scene for a festive get-together. Cluster a group of pillar candles of differing heights in a tray on a circular table or line them up down the length of a regular table for dramatic effect.
Nothing says ‘Christmas’ quite like the flicker of a flame between friends. A festive scent such as our Frankincense & Pine Short Pillar Candle or Winter Spice Tall Pillar Candle can be used to fill the room with seasonal fragrance before or after dinner to avoid fighting with the aromas of food.
Incorporate natural elements
If you’ve got an outside space, a quick forage will unearth all kinds of festive spoils, from pinecones to branches and winter flowers. Otherwise, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference in our range of realistic faux foliage, such as this Pine Branch and Mimosa Grass by designer superstar Abigail Ahern.
Display in a vase as a gorgeous centrepiece or lay down the length of the table as a makeshift garland. Top tip: a spritz of a seasonal fragrance will make them smell as authentic as they look.
Discover the art of layering
Have you noticed the one thing that professional tablescapes all have in common? Lots of layering. Start with a tablecloth as a blank canvas for your creativity – our classic linen style in a rich colour like midnight blue, pool green or wine red is a stellar choice – then simply add placemats (select the same colour as your tablecloth for a tonal look), statement plates – Nordic Sea, Ottolenghi Feast Face or Pearl White – and a series of glamorous glasses (for water, white and red wine, plus fizz) in an inward diagonal from the top-right of the place setting. Finish with gleaming cutlery on either side of the plate (laying from starters to desserts from the outside in).
Add a festive centrepiece
With the rest of the table set, there’s only one thing left to do, and that’s add a spectacular centrepiece as a sure-fire conversation-starter.
The easiest way to do this is with an elegant vase, like Moon by up-and-coming ceramicist Talia Nidam Warshawsky, Thyra from Broste Copenhagen or Buée by renowned French brand Ligne Roset.
Look to wintery colours, interesting shapes and warming textures to suit the season and avoid filling with foliage to let their designs do the talking.
Christmas light ideas
You don’t have to wait until ‘the big switch-on’ in your city, town or village to have your own switch-on at home, as it’s never too early. Whether wrapped around your tree, snaking between the bannisters on your staircase or enveloping your entrance, Christmas lights add twinkle, magic and warmth to Christmas decorations, whether indoors or outside.
Here’s our most illuminating Christmas light ideas.
Make your Christmas tree sparkle
The golden rule is to add Christmas lights before decorations, but how do you know what kind you need? First, decide if you prefer a classic or contemporary style, from simple Warm White LED Lights for the former to ornate Millie LED Glass Garland Lights for the latter.
Next, are you after a warm, yellow glow or a crisp, white light? Both give off very different effects. And, finally, do you want a set you can plug into a power socket or a cordless style that operates via a battery pack? Nova LED string lights by Sirius are perfect for lighting up a tree that’s in the centre of a room like a grand hallway, for example.
Add twinkling lights to your staircase
You don’t have to festoon a garland around the staircase to style it up for Christmas, as string lights will look just as stylish, while being significantly quicker and easier to decorate with.
Molly Cone LED garland will lighten and brighten your landing while adding interest with its nature-inspired design; while the Knirke LED indoor string lights will fill any space with an ethereal glow.
Light up your entrance
Welcome one and all with an entrance that ushers loved ones inside with the warm embrace of a long-lost friend. No less than 160 LED lights are attached to a subtle green wire that blends seamlessly with nature on this set by Sirius which can be easily manipulated into the shape of your doorway to pick out striking architectural features.
Otherwise, why not invest in a battery-powered set you can weave around a wreath that you hang on your door?
Don't forget about window lights
Finally, why not get inspired by an advent calendar with an illuminated feature in every window of your home to get the neighbours talking? The Hanging Circle Light in silver will look spectacular against glass while a cluster of Sara Flameless Candles creates the cosy on internal windowsills.
Get inspired by browsing and buying our collection of Christmas decorations.
[ INSPIRATION ]
Christmas
Moving into a new home is a milestone that deserves to be celebrated, especially as it’s considered as one of the most extreme things anyone can do in their lifetime, from the paperwork to the finances and the practicalities.
Luckily, Christmas provides the perfect chance to make recently-moved friends and family feel right at home with a well-chosen housewarming Christmas present. Whether it’s a close friend, neighbour or cherished family member, a little something can make a big difference to how someone feels in their new space, so we’ve rounded up the best new home Christmas gift ideas to help you get it right and put a smile on their face.
Practical Christmas gift ideas
Presents that are practical as well as personal are the sweet spot when it comes to new home Christmas gifts. Not only can the recipient actually use them, but they’ll think of you every time they do, from top-notch tableware to beautiful bath linen and A-list accessories. Here are just a handful of pressies we think are practically perfect.
Tableware gifts
Throwing open the door to welcome friends and family is one of the most rewarding aspects of settling into a new home – and signals that most of the boxes have been packed away and you’re more or less sorted.
So why not take stylish tableware as well as a bottle of wine if you’ve been invited over? A dinner set is always a safe bet and our Nordic Sea collection comes with 12 hand-glazed pieces in a striking grey-blue colourway that is sure to set the scene for many a soirée in a new home. Covetable cutlery always goes down a storm, too, such as the stainless-steel Santol set by Charingworth featuring no less than 42 gleaming pieces.
Otherwise, dazzle with a pair of Champagne saucers from The Vintage List –hand-blown and hand-engraved – for clinking and drinking with; get then talking with a centrepiece in the abstract form of the Thyra vase by Broste Copenhagen; or sprinkle a little magic with the Cobra salt and pepper shakers from Georg Jensen. All practical Christmas gifts that equally pretty.
Bath linen gifts
For moments when new homeowners aren’t packing away the last of the boxes or showing friends and family around, the bathroom provides a welcome sanctuary to rest and recharge.
So why not invest in some luxurious bath linen that envelops loved ones in five-star style? The check collection from Hay is as cosy as it is chic, whether the hand towel, wash cloth or bath mat, and adds instant style to even the most unfurnished of spaces; while our waffle range is crafted from ring-spun Turkish cotton for a pleasingly textured finish. New home Christmas gift ideas don’t come more chilled out.
Home bar gifts
Whether mixing and muddling cocktails on a Friday night, or simply pouring a glass of well-deserved wine mid-week, home bars help you to switch off from the strains of everyday life – and have spiked in popularity since the pandemic.
You don’t even need a dedicated bar, either: it can be a zoned area on the worktop in the kitchen or a built-in cabinet in the living room that conceals a secret ‘speakeasy’. From the simple but beautiful Anna G corkscrew by Alessi to the Aurelia Carafe from LSA International and the Indulgence Champagne cooler by Georg Jensen, we’re home to a range of practical Christmas gifts that will help new homeowners create their very own watering hole, whatever their taste or space.
Cosy Christmas gift ideas
From the packing to the moving and the unpacking – not to mention the sorting and styling – it’s hardly surprising that new homeowners can feel exhausted once the dust has settled. So why not spoil them with cosy Christmas gifts that help them feel truly at home?
Sleep gifts
Show them you know them with the gift of sleep. Cosy up their bedroom so it’s conducive to quality slumber with the likes of the lambswool Hottie set from Catherine Tough, our wild fig-scented glass candle and the Mulberry silk eye mask by Gingerlily, sure to soothe them into a deep sleep. Positively dreamy.
Wellness gifts
Amid the chaos, it’s important for new homeowners to carve out time for themselves, and our wellness gifts will encourage them to do just that. Lotions and potions add a touch of luxury to proceedings, from the vitamin E face moisturiser by MALIN+GOETZ to the polyphenol hand pomade from Pelegrims, while the Mulberry silk pillowcase will give them five-star hygge from the comfort of home.
Candle gifts
Whether for the beside or bath, scented candles are always a stellar choice when it comes to Christmas gifts for new homeowners, particularly when they feature seasonal fragrances.
Make like the three kings and bestow precious frankincense in the form of this short pillar candle, infused with the evocative scent of pinewood, or our winter spice brick candle, blending clove, orange and cinnamon in an unusual format.
For something a bit different, a set of six Twisted candles from Hay are sure-fire conversation starters, while the Underground candle by self-taught British designer Tom Dixon will never disappoint. Cosy Christmas gifts that are certain to help new homeowners get a glow-up.
Designer Christmas gift ideas
Designer Christmas gifts make for real investment pieces and are received all the more gratefully by new homeowners when you’ve really nailed their taste. Whether it’s a cult designer they’re a fan of, or simply an objet d’art they’ve been coveting, design aficionados deserve the best.
Designer vase gifts
A vase isn’t just a vessel for seasonal flowers or foliage at Christmas, but another way for homeowners to express their personalities, whether oversized and maximalist or delicate and understated.
The likes of the Massimo Bobble vase, the Ada vase and the Hourglass plant pot look as beautiful by themselves as they do brimming with stems or blooms. Why not take them full of flowers rather than wrapped?
Designer drinkware gifts
There are so many things to buy when you first move into a new home that sometimes the most practical items – such as glasses – get completely forgotten about. Give them the gift of gorgeous with stylish glassware such as the Terrazzo tumbler by Late Afternoon, Tint wine glasses from Hay or the Tank whiskey glasses by Tom Dixon. The perfect excuse to use them as soon as they’re unwrapped.
Designer wall art gifts
Walls can be one of the last things to decorate but artwork can be one of the most transformative ways to make a house feel like a home. You’ll need to have a handle on the homeowner’s taste, but consider modern pieces such as the Monstera print from Paper Collective, typographic treatments as in All Is Pretty by Andy Warhol via King & McGaw or surrealist prints such as the Magic Pods by Print Sisters.
Eco-friendly Christmas gift ideas
The most sustainable gift you can buy for a new homeowner is something you know they’ll love and won’t sit collecting dust at the back of a cupboard. But you can also prioritise eco-friendly Christmas gifts that bring together stylish design with sustainable materials and sound craftsmanship.
Cruelty-free beauty gifts
From the 100% vegan Fragrance Discovery kit by MALIN+GOETZ to the all-natural Bloomsbury gift box from Soapsmith and the paraben-free Dinosaurs design organic soap by ARTHOUSE Unlimited, good choices also make for thoughtful gifting with a clean conscience.
Gifts made from recycled materials
Eco-friendly Christmas gifts don’t come much more elegant than the Beach Clean placemats by Liga – crafted from sustainable cork and recycled EVA plastics – our Romilly rug, woven from yarn made from recycled bottles, or the Bit stool from Normann Copenhagen, comprising small bits of 100% recycled household and industrial plastic.
Get inspired by more gorgeous Christmas gifts for stylish new homeowners.
The Christmas tree sits at the heart of every home’s festive celebrations, so making the right choice when it comes to a festive fir is key in creating a cohesive, stylish and balanced scene. Follow these three simple steps from Anna Sheridan, Interior Stylist at Heal’s to maximise your Christmas décor:
To choose the right size: think big, then go bigger
“A tree that’s too small will feel out of place, while one that’s too big will overwhelm the space. For the perfect balance, opt for a tree that is six inches shorter than the ceiling height. This leaves plenty of room for show-stopping accessories, so there’s no need to hold back on the tree topper! “Tall ceilings are perfect for making a room feel more spacious, but if the floor is short on square footage, it’s best to opt for a slimmer style of tree. This means you can still go higher, without having to sacrifice any of the space within your room.”
To position in the right location: take a look around
“Whilst placing your tree in front of the window may seem like the best way to show off your decorations, you risk losing a lot of natural light, leaving the room feeling dark and uninviting. Remember to keep the tree clear of doors, to avoid knocking off fir needles or breaking any expensive ornaments. “It's also important to consider the current layout of your room, and where your furniture currently sits. The optimum viewing distance from a TV is 2m, so leave at least this much distance between the screen and the tree to keep branches out of the way of your favourite Christmas films, and be mindful that the twinkle of fairy lights may be reflected round the room if placed in front of any mirrors.”
To hang your baubles perfectly: pick a method and stick to it
“The perfect number of ornaments to use on your tree will vary depending on your individual style, but as a general rule, use six baubles to every foot (30.4cm) of the tree. “To avoid clustering the same type of bauble too closely together, first group them together in different themes, such as colour, texture and shape. Hang each type in a zig-zag pattern and gradually work through the themes to achieve a balanced and considered look.”
Christmas Styling For Every Home
Whether you’ve got an eye for anything that sparkles, like to go big and bold at Christmas, or prefer to keep things calm and cosy, Heal’s has a selection of decorations to suit every type of home.
Bold and Bright
“To create a maximalist look, choose no more than three bold colours as your palette, and balance the ratio of each shade equally throughout the décor. For traditional Christmas styling, opt for red, green and gold, or for a more contemporary feel, choose a combination such as pink, blue and green.
“To avoid overwhelming the scene, offset bright colours with accessories in a neutral palette to make the bolder decorations pop. Introduce depth by mixing both matt and metallic finishes throughout the scheme.”
Festive Glamour
“To make the most impact, stick to a single colour scheme with a focus on metallic finishes, to make your decorations pop in the festive light. A gold, bronze and neutral palette will offer a luxurious warmth. “While sticking to a minimal colour palette, consider adding texture with feathers, star-shaped ornaments and beaded baubles. Complete the look with warm yellow lighting in the way of fairy lights or candles, to allow the metallic finishes to twinkle.”
Credit: French for Pineapple
Scandi-Chic
“Use a soft palette of warm neutrals as a canvas to build an inviting minimalist look. Add touches of personality with handcrafted ornaments to bring life to the tree.” “Focus on building texture – mix matt finishes with natural, raw materials from the garden such as pinecones, berries and fresh fir branches, which will add a festive scent to the room whilst creating interest for the eye.” “Connect with nature and use responsibly-sourced materials, such as FSC-certified paper origami decorations.”
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