If you are trying to get into the festive spirit don’t stop at putting up a Christmas tree but follow our top tips for decorating your whole house.
- Let the decorations start before your guests get indoors. A traditional wreath of holly on the door adds a bit of Christmas cheer as do special outdoor lights hung on a tree or bush. More unusual ideas include dangling sleigh bells or a pair of ice skates from your door knocker and placing a tradional sledge in your porch. .
- Once inside the house make the most of your banister and tie ribbons or tinsel around it. Bowls of Christmas scented pot pourri, a poinsettia or a bowl of glass baubles can be placed on a hall table to add to the Christmas theme.
- Candles are great to add a festive touch. Whether you opt for advent candles, beautiful candelabra or floating candles in a bowl is up to you. Scented candles reminiscent of mulled wine or pine are particularly effective. Another great idea to appeal to the olfactory sense is to place a stick of cinnamon in a jar of water and put it behind the radiator.
- In the lounge decorate your pictures and mirrors with garlands or bows. Hang decorative Christmas stockings from the mantelpiece. Fill the hearth with fir cones and holly.
- Consider having small Christmas trees in each of your bedrooms. If you choose not to do this because of lack of room then drape garlands of tinsel over your wardrobes. If you have fitted bedroom furniture, such as the units made by the likes of Wren Bedrooms, then you may have to make do with bows on the door handles.
- Get out the festive towels for the bathroom and kitchen. If you don’t have anything in this line then plain reds or greens will do the trick.