Dress your home at its best this Christmas with a little insider advice from The Christmas Decorators, designers for some of the most glamorous homes and famous names in the UK
With Christmas fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how to decorate your home and who better to help you than The Christmas Decorators? Over the years, Marcus Dunn, director at The Christmas Decorators, has been helping local home builder Countryside decorate a number of show homes to give them the wow factor ready for the festive season, as well as clients including Chelsea FC and The National Trust.
Marcus comments: ‘A Christmas wreath is the perfect way to welcome your seasonal visitors, and they are really fun and surprisingly easy to make. The heavier decorations should be added to the bottom of the wreath, slowly getting less dense towards the top. Adding the decorations asymmetrically and in odd numbers also helps to make the wreath look really natural.
‘We collected some natural pine cones, which is a fun activity to do with the kids, and used some floristry wire to tie them on. We also created bundles on cinnamon sticks and added some dried oranges, for a really natural finish. For fun, we perched some robins on the top of the wreath and incorporated some fabric hearts – you can really get creative with your ornaments!
‘To hang your wreath on the front door, if you don’t have a hook or a knocker, hang a long piece of ribbon over the top of the door, pulling the ribbon from the back until it is at the right height at the front. Secure it in place by tying the ribbon around a knob, loop or handle, using tape to keep it in place.’
Once inside, the centrepiece of your Christmas décor is always the tree. This means you can afford to make a big statement with it, going all out with lights, ribbons and a variety of baubles. A lot of people buy a real tree every year, but if you want to avoid messy shedding needles, a quality artificial tree can be a great alternative.
The best part of buying an artificial tree is that there are so many varieties: pre-lit, coloured, different widths and heights. And if you’re reluctant to give up the nostalgic scent of a real tree, you can even add to the festive feel of your room by adding naturally fragrant seasonal decorations like orange peel and cinnamon sticks, tied together with raffia.
Marcus adds: ‘To dress your tree, lights should always go on first, starting at the top of the tree and winding downwards, so they are evenly spaced. Next should be the ribbon or tinsel. We prefer ribbon, as it is more traditional and sophisticated than tinsel, and gives the tree a luxurious feel. Again starting at the top, decide which way you’re taking it, stretch it out about six inches, find another branch and wrap it around. Then continue this all the way down in a zig-zag motion around the tree, hiding any ends at the bottom under a branch.
‘Once the ribbon is in place, you can add the baubles. Whenever you add an ornament, we find it gives the best effect adding them grouped in threes or singles. We like to add a variety of sizes and shapes to draw the eye, with sprigs of artificial berries and flowers, glittering foliage, stars, snowflakes, icicles… the list goes on and on! If you have a really fabulous individual bauble, add it on its own in a larger space to make an impact.
‘The finishing touch is of course the top. It’s up to you what you put in pride of place, whether that’s a star or an angel, or something a bit different. We like to create a visually striking “explosion” with a bouquet of branches, coloured twigs and sparkly flowers.’
Find Out More
For more tips and tricks for decorating your home at Christmas, visit www.countryside-properties.com/Christmas, where you will find blogs and videos with step-by-step guides to create your own wreaths and garlands, plus tips on how to decorate your tree and table.
New Home for Christmas?
Beaulieu Chase, Chelmsford
Beaulieu Chase by Countryside offers an outstanding collection of stylish modern homes attractively configured along tree-lined streets and garden squares or overlooking an expansive landscaped park known as The Chase. The four-bedroom Gardino and Maxima house designs and the five-bedroom Terazza house design are currently available to move into before Christmas. You can buy with the Part Exchange service, with prices ranging from £684,995 to £924,995*. For more information, call the sales team on 01245 209991 or visit www.countryside-properties.com
Little Hollows, Chignal Smealy, near Chelmsford
New homes are also available with Part Exchange at Little Hollows, Countryside’s exclusive development near the tranquil village of Chignal Smealy, less than two and a half miles from Chelmsford city centre. The four-bedroom Chelmer house design and five bedroom Tamar house designs are available to move into before Christmas, with prices from £684,995*. For more information, call the sales team on 01245 442362 or visit www.countryside-properties.com.
*Prices correct as of 20 October 2016
A bit about Marcus
Marcus Dunn is director at The Christmas Decorators. He and his team specialise in the design and installation of interior and exterior Christmas lighting and decorations. Clients include Borough Market, Chelsea Football Club, The National Trust, Dominion Theatre and many high profile footballers and celebrities. For further information, visit www.thechristmasdecorators.com
