Alice Palmer’s Guide To Decorating & Hosting At Christmas
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How would you describe your festive decorating aesthetic?
My decorating aesthetic is similar to my year-round style – I just tend to lean into a ‘more is more’ vibe at this time of year. I test out different decorating techniques, a lot of which are inspired by my travels. All the pieces and patterns in our AP&Co collections inform my decorative choices at home. For example, I like to create arched doorways, add decorative mouldings to the walls and put a turreted finish on top of the kitchen cabinet.
Travelling inspires lots of my Christmas decorating. Last year, I decorated my tree using bright green ribbons, red frills and white lace, drawing inspiration from different Mexican dresses. This year, I’ve gone more traditionally English with a tartan theme but in a raw silk for a festive sheen. I chose rich, bold silk, which I cut into strips to create a fabric garland in my living room in the same colours you’d find somewhere like India.
Which room do you start with and why?
The kitchen is where the Christmas tree lives and where I do most of my entertaining, so I find that’s the easiest place to begin. After decorating the tree, I’ll use the leftover fabrics and ribbons in other areas of the house, adding in foliage and other decorations to layer and adapt the spaces. This year, I used the extra tartan ribbons to create a tartan fabric garland, which I’ve hung all around the walls in the living room. Instead of trimming the ribbons to make them shorter, I left them long and oversized, draping over the artwork, to make the room feel really cosy.
The hallway, living room and my children’s bedrooms are the only other spaces I decorate – paper chains hanging from the children’s bedroom ceilings, our Tangier Stripe Stars hung on mirrors and foliage garlands up the banisters. I always make a wreath and keep it simple, just adding berries and pine cones to the foliage.
How do you translate your signature use of colour and pattern into your festive décor?
My kitchen has a predominantly pink and green palette – it has always been one of my favourite colour combinations and I feel the warm and fresh tones create a really balanced feel. I like to play on the green with lots of seasonal foliage from my local flower shops, Scarlet & Violet in Kensal Rise and Calluna on Golborne Road.
I love mixing colours and patterns and Christmastime is no exception – they look great against the bright yellow in the living room. The kitchen table is such a great place to experiment; you can have so much fun layering patterns with table linens, plates and decorations.
How do you use foliage, flowers or foraged pieces in your Christmas schemes?
I’ve recently decorated our shop on Golborne Road and instead of a tree, I bought lots of eucalyptus, pine, thistle and ilex. I like how the different textures and colours look against the fabrics and wallpapers – they work so well in big volumes in vases and on mantlepieces. They also look lovely draped on top of artwork and mirrors, and in place of flowers in small bud vases in guest bathrooms and bedrooms.
At home, I like to have various arrangements. Some go-tos for me include big bunches of eucalyptus in old French pots, and pine and ilex mantelpiece displays. This year, I also threaded some olive tree branches through the tops of my old Moroccan ceiling lanterns, which really draw the eye up and play with the light.
Talk us through your Christmas tree – do you have any traditions?
I have a 9ft Nordmann Fir tree. I love the oversized look and how it becomes the central focus of the room. We often buy ours from Kensal Pines; I’m always looking for the most symmetrical one. I start by getting it straight – lining it up in the stand always takes a while. Then, we pop our Tangier Olive Stripe Christmas Tree Skirt on the bottom. Next is lights. I plug them in first and then wrap them around the tree so it’s easier to see the placement. I use about four sets to ensure it’s really bright and warm.
Next, I wrap some bushy gold tinsel around the tree nearer the trunk – you don’t really see this, but it’s a brilliant trick for reflecting the light and creating more impact. I like to use lots of gold lametta tinsel – it looks like gold icicles. This year, I finished off with our Red Tangier Stripe and Swiss Dot Embroidered Ties, which add a great pop of colour. Lastly, instead of a star or an angel, we have a mini AP&Co lampshade on top. My children love to help me decorate, so it’s always something I look forward to at the beginning of December.
Do you approach each room differently or is there one cohesive theme throughout?
I always use lots of colour, so that does flow through the house but the mood changes as you go. My kitchen is a large, open-plan space using lots of soft pink and bright greens. My living room has bold yellow walls, broken up by reds and blues. It’s a north-facing room, so it’s important to use a colour that combats the cooler light. I wanted my bedroom to feel serene, so I used predominantly neutral tones with sandy limewashed walls and soft green fabrics, incorporating lots of ogee arches to add character and depth. Touches of red and white on the Christmas tree are always a chic, traditional choice and work well with the natural tones of the foliage.
Are there any DIY touches or handmade decorations that have become staples over the years?
I used to drape fabric around the base of our tree and eventually we started creating and selling our own tree skirts, which I now can’t imagine not having. Handmade decorations and paper chains have also become a go-to for both Christmas and birthday parties; they’re so easy to make and a great activity for the children. We use leftover wallpaper to make the garlands.
What are your favourite ways to make the house feel instantly warm and inviting?
I have our Wood Fire & Pine candles burning throughout the house – the scent instantly makes everything feel cosy and festive, and it’s usually the first thing people comment on when they walk through the door. I also use lots of low lighting to create that soft, inviting feel – it makes every corner feel cosier and more atmospheric. Lighting the fire adds both warmth and that wintery scent that feels so nostalgic at this time of year.
How do you structure the days around Christmas when hosting family and friends?
I like to be organised so things aren’t too chaotic but I try not to over plan either. Between Christmas and New Year, I get the children out in the fresh air as much as possible – everything becomes very laidback. We tend to stick to casual lunches and throw-together dinners. There’s a lot of friends and family coming and going, which keeps it fun too. It’s the same on Christmas Eve, I keep it simple ahead of the chaos of the next day with a very chilled supper at home or out at a local, low-key restaurant, before prepping a few bits and pieces for the next day. Before the children go to bed, we lay out carrots, whisky, a biscuit and milk for Father Christmas, and move the stockings from the fireplace to the ends of the beds.
Do you have any go-to table-setting ideas or traditions you bring out year after year?
I like having seasonal fruit and vegetables on my table with lots of candles and foliage. It’s such a low effort, playful way to create height and add some interest – perfect for last-minute plans, and it means you can easily change up your tablescape year after year. I also layer my tables with lots of different reds and greens, mixing in striped and block printed tableware and our Palm & Fern ceramic plate collection. I use red striped crackers too.
What dishes, drinks or small rituals anchor your festive celebrations?
I have three children, so the day starts quite early with stockings; the chaos is followed by breakfast and then a walk in the park before lunch and a cosy afternoon at home. When I’m hosting Christmas, my sister and brother-in-law come to stay with their two children, so it’s all go. The rest of my family and friends arrive around 12pm, and serving champagne and oysters is a great way to start. I keep the Christmas lunch as relaxed as possible – there are no strict timings.
Finally, what’s your best piece of advice for hosting over the holidays?
Be prepared. I always get my tablecloths, placemats and napkins all washed and ironed, ready to go, and a food delivery booked in so it takes the pressure off. Then, get everyone involved – my mum always brings a trifle and Christmas pudding, which is such a help.
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