Interior designer shares affordable Christmas addition to ‘add depth’

Decorating your house doesn’t need to be a mammoth task or cost the earth with a few clever tricks to add sparkle and sophistication to your home.

Here Express expert Kate Conrad, from Madison & Mayfair, reveals how to create the holiday vibe without making a dent into your Christmas shopping funds.

She said: “To start with, ask yourself the question of ‘what makes me feel festive?’ and then go from there. For some people, that means the traditional red and gold decorations but for others, it might be a scandi, ‘hygge’ feel.  For many homeowners, candles are the first things that spring to mind.

“They are perfect for this time of year and give off a warming glow that adds a touch of cosiness to any room. There are a wide variety of candles with wonderful Christmas scents.

“From fresh pines to warming oranges and cinnamon to add that festive ambiance and they can be found in most high street stores at this time of year. You can add to the festive effect by placing candles amongst pine branches and baubles for a table display.

READ MORE: Five tips to keep your Christmas tree ‘fresh and healthy’ until the New Year

“In terms of actual Christmas decorations, a great contributor would be a tree skirt. It makes a great festive addition to your tree. I think that having a well-decorated tree shows that you take pride in your living area – especially at Christmas time.

“It creates a focus for your room and sets the tone for the theme which runs throughout your festive decorating. A tree skirt is perfect for covering branches or tree legs and allows for a cleaner pathway to place presents around and again, contributes to a tidier aesthetic. Christmas is the time of year when it gets dark early, and you get that ‘let’s stay indoors’ feel a lot more often.

“Warm, cosy lighting is key for creating a festive environment, and so I think a full-bodied lamp goes well in any living room to add that much-needed glow. With its golden frame and black shade, the lamp is unique and sophisticated, and appeals to those who want to stray away from traditional Christmas decor.

“Whilst the generic red, green and white are often associated with Christmas, the gold theme is often used as an accent colour to add a touch of luxury, warmth, and elegance to Christmas decorations. For someone seeking home comforts this Christmas, a throw is a perfect festive addition to your sofa.

“Draw out some of the colours from your decorations – perhaps a deep red or forest green – and play with luxurious textures to add depth. A faux fur or velvet throw not only provides something to snuggle under on a cold evening, but allows seasonal decorations to seamlessly blend in with your permanent furniture. Accent colours can be added in with cushions on sofas and armchairs.

“Finally, for those that enjoy a festive tipple, there’s no better way of displaying your beverages than on a drinks trolley. It’s a great opportunity to get beautiful glasses and flutes out of the cupboard and display them next to decadent bottles of spirits. With a huge range of Christmas drinks available at great prices, use the variety of colours such as the deep purples of sloe gin, or the metallic label on a bottle of fizz, to create an inviting and imaginative display.”

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