As the countdown to the big day begins, many of us can’t wait to get into the festive spirit and put up our Christmas decorations.
But in our enthusiasm we might be guilty of coming up with something, well, tacky: a celebration of bright lights and clashing colors.
“The holidays are a time when it’s easy to make decorating mistakes that instantly cheapen your home,” says Chloe Barrow, interior design expert at Laura James Furniture. ‘The decorations you pull out of the coop each year can quickly become outdated and there are many traditional tropes that now scream ‘noughties Christmas’ rather than elegant modern festivities.”
Of course you don’t care – and why should you? It is Christmas after all. But if you do, follow our guide to creating a truly stylish Christmas – and find out whether your decorations are tastefully chic or tacky.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Don’t go overboard with your curbside display. Less is certainly more. Think elegance
TASTELESS: Avoid cheap, brightly lit winter wonderland displays. Inflatable snowmen and reindeer are a definite no-no, as are lighted sleds and enough light to take down the National Grid.
“Other signs of tackiness include a plastic wreath, snowfall window stickers, or Christmas characters,” says Kate Conrad, owner and home décor expert at luxury home goods store Madison & Mayfair.
Once inside, the first signs of tacky decor include stockings with names on them placed near a fake fireplace, Dairy Milk advent calendars and the sound of Michael Buble’s Christmas album playing continuously.
CHIC: Less is more. Think carefully curated lamps elegantly wrapped around a single piece of foliage, tasteful homemade wreaths on the front door and real fires roaring as soon as you step inside. On the wall, among a limited number of decorations, hangs a hand-knitted Advent calendar containing small gifts and artisanal chocolate. Elegant takes effort – even if it seems effortless.
THE SMELL
Oranges and cinnamon sticks evoke the spirit of Christmas without artificial flavors
TASTELESS: Scented candles – especially any ‘seasonal’ or limited edition varieties. Wax and synthesized mulled wine is a bad combination. Ditto festive air freshener.
CHIC: Woody, natural but never overpowering. Breathe in and inhale the citrusy scent wafting from homemade, dehydrated oranges artfully curved around the lounge’s lintels.
THE ALL-IMPORTANT TREE
Keep it simple and let the tree take center stage with tasteful decorations
TASTELESS: Where to start? This will be big – no, huge. And regardless of size, it will be made of the finest artificial fir (which can still cost a pretty penny) with dozens of giant presents underneath wrapped in mismatched, brightly colored paper.
CHIC: No matter how small the tree, it will be real and traditional – whether it is a small Scandinavian-style wooden grove or a lovely little tree that gives off the grassy scent of pine. Moreover, the real product is biodegradable, helps farmers and fights climate change. Good upper class stuff. Many chic homeowners plan to plant their Christmas tree somewhere on their property in the new year.
TREE DECORATIONS
Choose colors like gold and white without too many trinkets. It’s easy to go overboard
TASTELESS: Bright shiny multicolored ribbons, bows and baubles, baubles, baubles. All interspersed with plastic decorations with clichéd slogans and a mischievous Santa Claus to counterbalance all the chocolate angels and cute Disney chocolates with Christmas eyes. The fairy will resemble the drunken partner Barbie kicked out after she went too hard on the Babycham.
CHIC: Tree decorations are sparse and in simple shades such as white, gold or silver. The baubles are made of soft velvet and are hung in groups of three, six or twelve to create stylish definition. The tree is crowned with a classic five-pointed star, perhaps finished in a shimmering silver shade. There will be no fairies. Only one or two gifts are tastefully placed under the tree.
COLOR COORDINATION
Think refinement, if you do go for red and green, make sure you tone it down a bit
Interior expert Chloe Barrow advises using white, gold and silver for a little more restraint
TASTELESS: Green and red. Everywhere. Or just an explosion of dazzling colors. ‘Foiled multi-coloured streamers stretching through your living space, intensely colored Christmas carpets that strongly complement your home are also offenders,’ says Melissa Denham, interior design expert at Hammonds Fitted Furniture.
CHIC: Garish shades of red and green are replaced by sophisticated (but sparkling) neutral shades. “Think shimmering golds and silvers, soft whites and coppers,” says Melissa. Chloe Barrow points out that red and green can be chic when they’re subdued. ‘Use green as a base, dot deep red around and share the space with silver, gold or white to balance the heavy Christmas colours.’
RELIEF
Soft colors and mood lighting create a festive atmosphere without being flashy
TASTELESS: Basically anything that causes a headache. ‘Christmas decorations that are too bright and overwhelming, such as Christmas lights in multiple colors. Think of loud colors such as flashing red, green or blue as these can look busy or overwhelming, as well as tacky,” says interiors expert Liv Conlon, head of ThePropertyStagers.co.uk. Equally offensive is anything mechanical/that moves and needs to be plugged in/charged, and lights that are projected onto walls.
CHIC: Rule number one is that the lighting is so soft that you’ll need a flashlight rather than sunglasses. High-quality lighted decorations are all about soft white or warm Christmas lights, strung with precision, adds Liv Conlon.
decoration
Tasteful decoration on the mantelpiece creates a cohesive, refined look. Throw away the tinsel
TASTELESS: All the big statement ornaments on fireplaces – and this applies to the entire pantomime cast. Namely Santa Clauses, elves and snowmen. Basically, anything that looks like it was stolen from the Christmas display at your local mall.
CHIC: Tasteful pieces, made from materials such as glass, metal or wood in muted tones or metallics. “These create a cohesive and sophisticated look,” says Liv Conlon. Wooden stars, tiny pine cones and homemade craft chocolate advent calendars are all clever and tasty.
WALL DECORATIONS
TASTELESS: First of all, they are everywhere, crammed into every nook and cranny where there is room or space. ‘Think sparkly decorations such as tinsel, and cheap decorations and baubles made from poor quality materials,’ says Melissa Denham.
CHIC: These will be limited to one tinsel-free room, for example the lounge. “Leaf garlands over mantlepieces and lush eucalyptus wreaths look vibrant and beautiful and add a festive scent to your home,” says Melissa.
TABLE SETTING
For the table, it’s all about textures and glamor without any festive gimmicks
TASTELESS: Look, it saves on washing up, but disposable items are not enough. “A paper tablecloth, Christmas chair covers and over-the-top decorations like table confetti can instantly look tacky,” says Kate Conrad. The same goes for festive plates and mugs (‘Have ayy Christmas’) and where to start with the designer chair covers with elves and reindeer…
CHIC: There will be an impressive candlelit centerpiece and elegant crackers on a fabric table runner for a more sophisticated finish. It’s all in the textures with accessories made from high-quality materials such as velvet, silk or wool. “These materials are tactile and offer a touch of glamour,” explains Alice Whitehead, head of product at Just Fabrics. Chairs simply have to be comfortable, stylish and simple. No Christmas cushions in sight. If covers are used, they are neutral velvet.