Christmas


Deck the Halls!


With the UK Christmas spend expected to exceed £22 billion this year. Dawn Kingsford provides some thoughts on creating the ideal festive home…


with vibrant ruby, amber and bronze decorations expected to steal the limelight. And while pink and white themes, shocking turquoise baubles, geometric vibes and strong


A


ccording to the style gurus, we’re going all ‘autumnal’ this Christmas,


bold lines will all have a place, according to retail bosses; whatever you choose, Christmas is a time to get creative and personal. Festive lights – inside and out – will retain


a strong following , with “soſt, warm tarnished gold and burnished bronze expected to stay in fashion”, with blush textured cushions, metallic and brass framed mirrors hotly tipped as an easy way to update your display with that luxe vibe. But while more than a third (39%) of us


are expected to spend up to £200 on festive frippery, more of us will be looking to personalise the occasion with quirky additions like a winter wall mural and hand-made giſts from the heart. Here are some of the ideas finding favour this year: Foster family time during the big countdown: Set up a thematic magnet display on the fridge that’s easy for the litle ones to access; create small giſt bags for each day of Advent to hand out to family or make a seasonal display with coloured candles that each of you can light in turn. A wreath hanging on the door welcomes


Guests to the festive table should be able to take away special items left for them


30 Mid Kent Living


visitors into your home and is a great way to show your festive cheer. Try making your own with flexible wire, cutings from your gardens and bows , feathers or lights for added affect.


Complete your winter wonderland with a made- to-measure, removable Christmas wall mural www.wallsauce.com


How about making customised minimitens


for those friends who offer you a helping hand through the year. Using a simple template, craſt them from coloured felt and cuff them with them cotton wool. These adorable pieces can be hung from doorknobs, on your tree or the mantle. Tey’re the perfect way to demonstrate you appreciate their help. Surprise guests with table decorations as


party favours that they can take home, such as festive place setings; decorated glasses; floating tea candles in miniature glass jars or with Epsom salts, which sparkles like snow, and sprigs of holly.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72