Birdie Fortescue’s Guide To Decorating & Hosting At Christmas

Do you buy new decorations each year, or do you prefer to make and re-purpose pieces?

A bit of both. I love using decorations I have collected over many years, but I also enjoy adding fresh touches such as handmade gingerbread biscuits and simple bows in wired hessian ribbon. It adds personality and feels homely while tying the house together with things that have meaning.

How do you use foliage, flowers or foraged pieces in your Christmas schemes?

Christmas is the perfect season to bring nature into the house. Ivy, holly, spruce and other greenery from the garden add texture, scent and warmth. For larger displays, I sometimes call on a florist to help. This year, my great friend Georgie Fordham from Georgie's Garden Flowers has created some wonderful arrangements. Fresh flowers really uplift the rooms and give a festive feel throughout the house.

Talk us through your Christmas tree…

I have a faux Christmas tree, which is the perfect height and shape for our drawing room. Decorating it is a real family moment, but I tend to take the lead! The drawing room is very light and the colours soft and peaceful – it’s paler than any other room in the house. The key pieces that set the tone are a set of 19th-century Chinese panels which I sourced from the flea market in Paris. 

I love mixing baubles we have collected over the years with newer ones, along with handmade gingerbread biscuits as mentioned earlier, which is a family tradition. I like the tree to feel coordinated and calm, and I decorate with pinks and reds, reflecting the room. Christmas is very chaotic and busy, and if the backdrop of the house is calm and peaceful, it is visually more relaxing! I am not really one for gaudy decorations!

Do you approach each room differently or is there one cohesive theme throughout?

There is always a thread that runs through the house, often led by art and colour, but each room has its own personality. The sitting room is quite traditional and decorated in reds and greens, while the guest bedroom feels more contemporary in brighter pinks. However, they all relate to each other and each room seamlessly flows into the next.

Are there any DIY touches or handmade decorations that have become staples over the years?

Handwritten tags for place settings, sprigs of greenery tied with ribbon and little details for the guest rooms. I find the most charming things are often the easiest to make.

What are your favourite ways to make the house feel instantly warm and inviting?

Candlelight, soft lampshades, scented candles, bowls of clementines and, above all, comfortable sofas and armchairs.

How do you structure the days around Christmas when hosting family and friends?

I like to keep things as relaxed as possible and this comes with lots of preparation. I focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere and let the days flow naturally rather than trying to over-plan every moment. On Christmas Day, we visit the local church we can see from the house and walk across the field for the 9am service. Then we have our stockings at breakfast – a family tradition is to have very crispy bacon alongside sourdough, granola, yoghurt and fruit with some strong coffee. That’s a good way to start! Depending on whether we’re having lunch at home or not, we might go for a walk with the dogs after breakfast – Wells beach is a firm favourite! This sets us up for a day of eating and indulgence!

What are your essentials for creating a welcoming atmosphere when guests arrive?

I like making a guest bedroom feel as welcoming as possible with a carafe of water, a vase of flowers and a scented candle. I want guests to feel as if the room has been prepared just for them and always leave out an extra throw, the latest magazines they might be interested in and a towelling dressing gown. Lots of lit fires throughout the house are a must, along with soft lighting and trays of food and drinks.

Do you have any go-to table-setting ideas or traditions you bring out year after year?

The table is always layered with colour and pattern and, this year, I’ve chosen a classic red and green colour palette. I always start with the tablecloth and I add lots of candlesticks in various heights. The light fades so early in winter that atmospheric candlelight is very important over a long lunch. Handwritten name tags make the occasion special without being too formal and they look charming tied around a napkin with velvet ribbon. I love to decorate the table with lots of greenery such as holly, ivy and eucalyptus from the garden and scatter it with cones or dried fruit. Our dining table is perfect for easy conversation as it is very narrow and inclusive. My ideal Christmas is to relax with family and enjoy fun conversation, catching up and sharing presents.

What dishes, drinks or small rituals anchor your festive celebrations?

We always have quite a houseful over Christmas, with family of all ages, so it’s important everyone is happy doing what they like. We open presents before lunch with a glass of Champagne and smoked salmon. After lunch, whether we are playing games, doing a jigsaw puzzle, watching a film or reading, there is plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves. Dinner on Christmas evening is ‘help yourself’ (ham and leftover turkey with winter salad for those who are hungry, and smoked salmon). We are normally pretty exhausted and it’s fun to be able to fully relax and chat through the day.

Finally, what’s your best piece of advice for hosting over the holidays?

Don’t aim for perfection and enjoy yourself! Create a warm atmosphere and the rest will follow.

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Photography by Cherise Bailey