5 Tastemakers On How They Decorate Their Homes For Christmas
SIMS HILDITCH
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Emma Sims Hilditch: “I recommend trimming any errant branches of the tree down and setting them aside to use as a centrepiece for the mantlepiece or Christmas table. In terms of decoration, it’s often simplest to start with the lights, followed by big baubles. Any gaps can then be filled with smaller decorations and fresh foliage such as eucalyptus, holly and mistletoe. This helps the tree to feel fuller and fresher for longer. In our home, we like to use a collection of old and new decorations on our tree. Christmas is a time for family, so it’s special to make homemade decorations and see decorations from your childhood hanging on the branches. Like with any design, it’s all about creating a balance between style and homely charm.”
HUTLEY & HUMM
THE FIREPLACE
Melissa Hutley: “With a fireplace, I always recommend starting with some faux greenery then building on this with foraged greenery – ivy lasts well and low-hanging branches from evergreen trees can give your display a softer, wilder look. If your fireplace is in a kitchen or dining room, giving it a fruit theme can be really effective – there are so many beautiful fruit and vegetable decorations available now (Petersham Nurseries has a wonderful selection). Battery-operated lights in ‘vintage gold’ will also keep wires to a minimum. This year, I’m loving the idea of ‘Candy Land’ decorations – in the past, we’ve used glass candy canes tied with thin velvet ribbon and wired from behind to secure them at the front of foliage. We’ve also put swirl lollipops in bud vases that we hid in the greenery to give it some extra height.”
LUCY VAIL FLORISTRY
THE WREATH
Lucy Vail: “The key to a beautiful wreath is texture, so I like to combine flowers and foliage of varying sizes. White dried paniculata hydrangeas are great for scale, and when paired with the more delicate dried statice or dried white strawflowers, they create a beautiful arrangement. I use dried fruits in all my wreaths to make the designs fuller. There’s a wonderful range of foliage available during the winter. Snowberries are pretty, as is mimosa which, most commonly yellow, can also be found in a silvery colour right now. Scots pine and berried eucalyptus are classic choices, but if I’m going for a more ‘frosted’ look, blue pine is best. To build up the texture, I use eucalyptus pods. You can use the same dried flowers for years to come if you look after your wreath carefully. Make sure you keep it in a sheltered doorway, so the flowers aren’t in direct contact with the elements and spritz your wreath with water once a week to keep it fresh. On Christmas Day, I place mine on the table with a candle inside, so it doubles up as a centrepiece. When the festive season is over, dry out your wreath on a piece of newspaper and once the moss has completely dried out, store it in a hat box a until next year.”
REBECCA UDALL
THE FESTIVE TABLE
Rebecca Udall: “I like to go all out with candlelight on my Christmas table – think votives and tapers placed throughout, and lanterns and pillars dotted around the room. I also add extra embellishment to the napkins using a velvet ribbon to tie a handmade bauble for everyone to keep. This year I will be adding a small gift to each place setting, wrapped in special paper; I love Florentine's and Romeo & Jules’s designs. Stylish crackers and seasonal flowers add the final flourish. I gravitate towards burgundy and orange-amber tones as they feel festive without being too strong – personally, I’m not a fan of red and, if it’s right for your personal style, I think a dusky blue or navy with silver looks beautiful. My favourite plates have some detail around the edge, such as scalloping or another texture. For this year’s table, I’ll be using the Alicia glasses from our current collection, in the crimson colourway, but anything handmade with colour or pattern will add something to the overall scheme. I’ll also be using our Hellebore linens and I add height along the table by using rattan chargers and strategically placed flowers and candles.”
HEATHER EVELYN
PRESENT WRAPPING
Heather Evelyn: “Wrapping presents is one of my most treasured traditions, so I always leave plenty of time to get creative with them. This year, I’m feeling all things green; I have a lovely new forest green patterned wrapping paper that will look good with an assortment of green and cream ribbons. As a rule, both ribbon and tags are a must for me, and as a special touch, I plan to add in tonal foliage and berries for a little pop of colour. For awkward-shaped presents, I tend to pad them out to make them into a fun shape.”
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