1. OPEN DOOR POLICY
A front door wreath sets the tone for the entire interior, says Carolyn Donnelly. She likes to personalise hers using lengths of artificial pine that she weaves into a wreath shape (€20), to create a foundation onto which she strings of sleigh bells (€20), with a trio of oversize sleigh bells (€8) dropping down the door below to create visual and aural atmosphere. The paper stars (€10 each) are easy decorative additions.
2. DECK THE HALLS DARK
HomeSense operates on a similar retail basis to TK Maxx in that you never know what must-buy surprises you’ll find in store. While not yet available in Ireland, the styling of the shop’s visuals offers plenty of inspirational ideas for the hall, starting with the faux foliage that is wound around the matte black painted banisters and helps carry the Christmas mood upstairs. Candelabra and lanterns, both fitted with battery-operated tea lights, mean you can dispense with electric lighting in favour of a far more atmospheric form of illumination. This simple idea works best in a stairwell painted in a dark, almost black chalk-finish colour paint. Farrow & Ball’s Downpipe is one option.
Homesense.com; farrow-ball.com
3. A WELCOMING FIRE AS FOCAL POINT
Whether the stockings were hung by the chimney with glee or set under the Christmas tree, a roaring fire on Christmas Eve is essential to conjuring up the right mood for Santa’s visit, according to the design team at John Lewis, who have added real seasonal berries atop the wainscoting panels, piled presents under the tree and set copper coloured pheasants (€17.50 each) around the room to create a woodland theme at this Rushkin House story. This idea is also reflected in the tree decoration, which includes gold acorns (€3), pinecones (€2.50) and hedgehog baubles, (6)
Ie.JohnLewis.com
4. MULL OVER IT
Decorating is far harder than it looks. It takes much longer to unravel light strings and deal with damaged decorations that you ever anticipate. Sustenance in the form of shortbread stars and hot drinks like mulled wine or a hot toddy will give you the sugar rush you’ll need to navigate the long hours of decorating. Set the scene with a Notre Monde Tribal hexagonal glass tray (about €112), Esrum serving bowls (about €8.50 each) from Broste Copenhagen and Falcon enamelware mugs (about €10.50 each), and matching teapot (about €24.50) all from UK-based Amara Home.
Amara.com
5. DARK STAR
Add the lustre of midday to after-dark present wrapping with some festive light in the form of these gorgeous Star of Bethlehem cushion covers (large, €9.99, small, €7.99) from H&M Home. The mercury glass tea lights (€4.99 each) make the lustrous beaded cushion covers (€24.99 each) seem even more opulent. The H&M Design team responsible for this look has wrapped the gifts, (pictured) in simple matte black crepe paper tied up using thick silver lame ribbon for a modern take on monochrome.
Hm.com
6. MAXIMUM IMPACT
More is more, says Mary Kelly, the right-hand woman of Brown Thomas’s creative director John Redmond, of the maximalist tree that has been styled by the department store’s display team. They’ve teamed pistachio and peppermint greens with bon-bon pinks for a colour scheme that looks great against dark grey or blue walls.
Decorations include velvet ice-skating boots and regal crowns by Tinker Tailor in a vintage pink that work really well with the soft greens.
Big blowsy blooms of poinsettia are used to fill out any bare branches. “The idea is to fill the tree so that there are no gaps,” Kelly explains.
“The top of the tree is left bare,” says Redmond’s other little helper, right-hand man, Conor Dunbar. “No star, no angel, nor fairy adorns this design.”
The layering effect is achieved by first winding two-inch thick spools of ribbon around the boughs then laying at least four sets of warm white pea lights – approximately 720 lights– on the branches, before hanging a single bauble, of which about 800 were used to fill the tree out.
Both Conor and Mary like to buy new decorations each year to add to their own tree, items that remind them of a place or a mood. “It’s about layering memories,” Kelly explains. “Whether it’s the tinsel-clad toilet roll made by your first-born when he was just three or a hand-blown bauble bought on a memorable holiday, each piece recalls a family moment and brings you closer together, for as you hang them you recall those people and places.”
Once the tree was dressed the team added a “skirt” of padded antique white organza embroidered in gold thread over the base to hide the tree stand. A tulle tutu would also work here.
It took a team of four an estimated five hours to dress this tree, so take your time and enjoy it, they counsel. “Invite the family together and put on a pot of mulled wine, unravel all the memories and savour the moment,” says Mary.
And if you hate the result you can always go back afterwards and tidy up the tree, something Kelly and Dunbar have both confessed to doing in Christmases past. Just don’t tell anyone.
Brownthomas.com
7. GILT EDGE GLAMOUR
When it comes to dressing the table for dinner, the design team at Marks & Spencer has opted for old-school glamour, soft tea rose shades with gold cutlery, beautifully embroidered napkins, a crisp white starched tablecloth and deliciously feminine lace placemats. Low-set crystal glass candlesticks and mercury glass tea lights add soft and flattering light. A gold-trimmed dinner service completes the look, with pink champagne served to emphasise the sense of occasion.
The inspiration is Hollywood’s golden-age, explains Claire Roberts, designer at M&S. “We have designed elegant pieces that will create sense of glamour and opulence using mixed metals and plush velvets combined with a soft colour palette for a look that will remain elegant for years to come.”
marksandspencer.ie
8. COCKTAIL TIME
A cocktail cabinet can be filled with a selection of bitters, fizzy mixers and soft drinks and juices to make non- alcoholic drinks for drivers, as well as stiff drinks for the party crowd. Next’s Logan bar table (€240) is a simple to assemble option. Linea margarita glasses (€43 for a set of four) and the Biba baroque champagne saucers (about €17 each) from House of Fraser will make any moment fizz and will also double as punch and frozen cocktail vessels. The star lights cost €39. All are available in store but have sold out online.
Ie.nextdirect.com; houseoffraser.co.uk
9. IT’S A WRAP
How you gift wrap your presents reveals a lot about you, so show that you’ve made an effort. Flying Tiger is a source of great contemporary ideas while gift-wrapping essentials from Next and Marks and Spencer offer a more traditional approach.
Ie.flyingtiger.com; Ie.nextdirect.com; marksandspencer.ie
10. WHY DON’T YOU STAY?
Unexpected overnight guests are part of the Christmas experience. If you don’t have a spare room, then set them up in the landing as the stylists at Ikea have done. Battery-operated strings of lights can turn a dark and gloomy corner into a warm and welcoming place to get some shut-eye. The Wee Willie Winkie-style supersize LED candlestick (€60) from Ikea offers another, portable light source. Beautiful embroidered robin motif bed linen, from €54 to €95 at Marks and Spencer, is another option.
Ikea.ie
