For me, Christmas decorating is all about the tree, the table and the door wreath.
I love to embrace the nostalgia we feel whilst decorating the tree. In my opinion, it’s not about matching or co-ordinating the decorations. More importantly, it’s the collection of decorations that have been gathered over many years, each with its own story or memory.

One of my favourites is Miffy with a Pearl Earring, bought on a trip to The Hague where the Girl with a Pearl Earring painting is on display at the Maritshuis museum.

Each year I add a new bauble to the collection

There’s also the yellow and black football player bought at a game in Dortmund, and decorations I gave to my mum that have now come back to me. I love that those decorations are hung on the tree every year, and each year I buy one to add to the collection. If I’m going to family or friends over Christmas I like to take a bauble for their tree, or a candle for the table.

The table is the next key element. Bringing nature inside with holly, ivy, pine and spices for a table display is a lovely touch. I put them on a tray with candles in the middle of the table from December through to the New Year. They are so easy to gather and give a lovely, subtle, seasonal scent to the room.

The perfect backdrop for your get-together

Christmas is a time when we often gather together with family and friends, and a joyful table setting really adds to the sense of season and occasion. Mix up colours and textures on your Christmas table setting with foliage, candles, a cloth and napkins to create the perfect backdrop for your get-together.

Last but not least, there’s the door wreath. I enjoy making one every year at the start of December in a local workshop. It’s my absolute favourite thing to do at the start of advent. I’ve added a small bronze door knob to my door for hanging wreaths easily. A door wreath is a lovely way to welcome visitors to your home during the Christmas season.

The smallest touches create a magical feeling

It’s a season that, for me, lasts from the start of December to Epiphany in January, including the Winter Solstice. I bring in pine-scented soap for the bathroom, fairy lights, foliage and mistletoe. They are the smallest touches that come together to create a magical personal feeling to Christmas and make it really special.

Oh, and if trends are your thing, this season it’s all about bows! Make them bold and bright and tie them to your banister, the top of your tree or the back of your dining chairs.