How interior designers decorate their homes for Christmas

By Victoria Cawthorne

If your Christmas home décor feels like it’s missing that certain ‘something’, some tips from the professionals could help you to give sparkle back to your festive interior. We asked the team at Blocc Interiors, Bellway’s showhome interior design partners, to tell us how they decorate their homes for Christmas – grab your notebooks, because you’re going to want to steal all of these inspiring insider ideas.

Karl – Creative Lead

“For me, Christmas is all about embracing the beauty of nature that surrounds us. There are so many easily accessible elements that truly bring a natural touch to the holiday season. Creating a rustic Christmas theme holds both nostalgic charm and a contemporary feel, effortlessly achievable by combining woodland finds with some high street treasures.

“Pinecones and natural evergreen foliage paired with hessian and wooden tree decorations are my go-to. I favour a real Christmas tree and add dried hydrangea heads which I then bury into the tree to add another layer of interest and then add wooden and felt tree decorations. A large terracotta bowl filled with eucalyptus, pine and berries and natural beeswax candles makes a great centrepiece for either the dining table or coffee table.

“Linen napkins tied with raffia and handwritten name tags bring a homely natural touch and I always add clumps of moss down the centre of the table, scattered with twinkling tea lights to really set the scene. Sparkle just isn’t my thing so I go for that link to nature above everything.”

Image credit: poppyview_home

Gabriela – Head of Residential Design

“When decorating my home for Christmas, I always choose a colour palette and stick to it, making sure that all of the decorations are coordinated. I use seasonal cushions to match the decorations, and I especially like using covers with tartan prints or shimmery fabrics. A snuggly throw over the sofa is also a must.

“The lighting is really important – I always use warm fairy lights on my Christmas tree, as cold or blue lights are too harsh on the eyes. I also light up the rooms with table lamps rather than ceiling lights to add to the atmosphere.

“I like to style my Christmas dining table with interesting accessories, such as pine fronds with cinnamon bouquets placed on top of napkins, an arrangement of twinkling lights and a little gift pouch of mints for each guest. Finally, I fill my home with the scents of vanilla, mulled wine and cinnamon to ensure each sense is delighted.”

Image credit: our_bellway_sherwood

Ste – Interior Stylist

“My Christmas décor starts with my door – so a wreath is a must! Continuing the theme through my home, I drape a fresh eucalyptus or pine garland around the banisters and over the mantle, adding stockings to create an eye-catching display.

“I style up my coffee table with a bowl of baubles and Christmassy candlestick holders, and change the dining table centrepiece for a vase filled with festive foliage, or a display of candlesticks surrounded by winter berries and leaves.

“If I’m hosting family or friends over the Christmas period, I make sure that the guest bedroom is cosy and inviting with cushions, a faux fur throw and seasonal scents to fragrance the air.”

Image credit: mynorthernabode

Imogen – Interior Designer

“For me, no Christmas décor is complete without warm twinkly lights, velvet red ribbons and candy canes!”

Melanie – Interior Designer

“I love using frosty, clear and white colours in my Christmas décor, with touches of black for depth and elements of rose gold. I cluster baubles together and wire them to the tree, keeping colours to a minimum and grouping them using various sizes.

“I then wrap eucalyptus garlands and foliage around the tree, and place them along the mantle. For consistency, the same theme is used in every room. I also use warm white lights, never coloured and never bright white - this creates a soft mood, alongside lots of candles.”

Image credit: amandaryanhome

Chloe – Interior Designer

“I stick to a smart, monochromatic colour scheme, using white, silver and sparkle elements as accents, and maintaining the colour palette throughout my home.

“I prefer to use ribbon on the Christmas tree rather than bombarding it with tinsel, and always make sure that my gift wrapping matches the rest of my décor. Bows and ribbons on presents add that extra luxury aesthetic.”

Jess – Interior Designer

“It’s all about sentimental pieces of décor at Christmas, such as handmade baubles, family photos, or ornaments that have been handed down through the family.”

Image credit: the_oakwood6

Sarah – Interior Designer

“I prefer a traditional interior style at Christmas, using white as my starting point and building out from there to create a sophisticated festive look. I always try to bring the outside in with subtle foliage and sprigs to add life to my home.

“One of my favourite things to do is channel the Victorian era and create a fancy Christmas dessert table!”

Jane – Design Manager

“I like to bring a Nordic Christmas vibe to my home with a fresh, neutral colour palette, white wood, handmade ornaments, copper accents, glass baubles, oversized paper decorations and lots of eucalyptus for its soothing scent and calming aesthetic.

“Each year I make my own wreath using fresh pine or eucalyptus, pinecones, cinnamon sticks, and ostrich feathers. I always opt for warm fairy lights for that extra cosy feel.”