Christmas lights - how to make your home sparkle
Create a welcoming entrance - Credit: Archant
Jo Naughton is queen of the sparkles when it comes to Christmas, heading up Harrogate-based Lights4fun. These are her tips for making your festivities merry and bright, inside and out
LED candles create atmopshere and ensure safety - Credit: Archant
Welcome
Creating a wow factor entrance to welcome family and guests is simple to achieve if you stick to some guidelines. Stand back from your door and work out lighting at three levels, above, middle and ground. The easiest option is a door wreath lit by a few sparkling micro lights. At ground level a potted shrub or mini Christmas tree looks charming with outdoor battery lights woven in the branches. Invest in a six hour timer so they come on at the same time each day for six hours.
If you have a covered porch, try a net light in the ceiling. They are fantastic as they can be stretched to accommodate the space you have. You can secure it in place with hook nails. I created this look using large pine cones glued onto thick hessian string.
Create a stunning festive table - Credit: Archant
The hallway
The first part of home that you step into. I used TruGlow real wax LED candles and sparkling stars to create this look.
The Christmas table
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Try and include some personal pieces for the table. I've used old crystal glasses from my grandparents, and they really give a feeling of nostalgia. Use foraged leaves with berries for a centrepiece, or opt for a faux one, as here, for use year after year. The main thing is to tie in your design with the surrounding décor for a cohesive look.
My Christmas
It's always spent at home, with family and friends gathering to celebrate. I cook the traditional turkey with all the trimmings, and plenty of compulsory homemade sausage rolls! Our favourite part of the day is singing carols around the piano, often ending in The Twelve Days of Christmas, which makes us all laugh. We're very blessed to have my 90-year-old mother-inplaw to play for us. Boxing Day is traditionally a long walk. We live quite rurally, so it's easy to step out of the house for a couple of hours, much to the delight of our dog, Bella. The best part of the day though is eating up all the delicious leftovers and a Christmas film in front of the fire.
