Tips on getting your home Christmas ready

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Tips on getting your home Christmas ready Making your home look the part is an essential element to your festive gathering so start thinking now about themes and budget for your decorations. Focusing on one look or one colour scheme will help you avoid turning your house into a garish grotto and will also save you money as you’ll avoid picking up a random selection of stuff that you realize later doesn’t match. The objective is Christmas cool and there are plenty of options around, from a classic green and berry red scheme, to purple and gold opulence or a more minimalistic Scandi-style white and red. The great thing is, by having Christmas at home, you get to let your creative juices flow and choose what suits your style, your personality and the vibe you want to create. But how to choose that vibe? “Whether we are having countless friends to stay or just arranging a festive family lunch, chances are that we’ll be up to our ears in holly, baubles and all the trimmings, and then worrying about how to create that perfect Christmassy look,” says Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company. No surprise that Chrissy is a fan of a classy, clean look of course – no glitter and gaudiness for her and her strategy is to keep it simple by choosing just two colours – and relying on the power of candlelight. “This year I’m using strings of white fairy lights, silver, clear glass and white decorations,” she says. “And I use candles everywhere, whether little clusters of tea lights on a shelf or window ledge, or even a clear glass fish bowl with long white taper candles nestled into a base of white dishwasher salts. “A room filled with flickering candlelight instantly feels softer, warmer and much more welcoming. Even if you do nothing else to your home at Christmas,” Chrissy continues, “make it light and sparkly. “Scatter twinkly glass gems across a tabletop, choose crystal candlesticks and white candles, mirrored tealight holders, and mirrored place mats. “All these will instantly send the light spinning and add bags of atmosphere.” But Chrissy’s way is not the only way and, as the festive range from Home Centre shows this year, a bit of glitter is extremely popular and some people prefer a, shall we say, louder look. “I can’t help it, I love sparkle, gold, red and anything that grabs the attention,” says Dubai-based expat Hannah Andrews, who hosts Christmas for friends most years. “For me, it’s the one time of year you can go a bit over the top, so forget minimalist chic and break out the tinsel I say. I honestly think you can’t go too far.” Then of course there is the really personal touch, which is great for those with young kids – make your own decorations. Many of us probably have happy memories of cutting out our own snowflakes or stringing together paper chains. Your house might not look like a festive catalogue but it will catch the eye and warm the heart.   Read the original story at: Tips on getting your home Christmas ready