CLEVER DECORATING Six

| CLEVER DECORATING | Wo reaths

SIX CREATIVE CHRISTMAS WREATH IDEAS FOR EVERY ROOM OF YOUR HOME

Make it oversized

Not just for the front door, a statement wreath can adopt the spot of a mirror or artwork in any room over the festivities. Dried grasses, foliage and flowers will not only add wow factor, but can be used year after year. Give it a twist…

To make a big faux wreath, wrap a garland around a metal hoop. Secure it with florist’s wire.

Dress up your seats

Attaching wreaths to the backs of dining chairs with simple twine or ribbon adds an unexpected decorative touch and could also become an elegant keepsake for your dinner guests. Give it a twist…

Hang a personalised place setting from a gift tag at the top of each wreath.

IT’S A KEEPER

Use faux rather than fresh wreaths on chair backs to prevent shedding or staining

FIRM HOLD

Spray dried foliage with hairspray to stop it shedding

Suspend over a table

A delicate asparagus fern wreath hung above the dining table brings an airy and ethereal look, and draws the eye to what’s below. Adorn with glass baubles in subtle tones of pink and gold, hung by ribbon, for the perfect finishing touch to this sophisticated scheme. Give it a twist…

Swap baubles for fresh flowers in your chosen colour theme, entwined into the wreath.

Trim plates with fairy lights

A simple gold-metal leaf garland wound into the shape of a wreath creates a stylish place setting and brings a touch of sparkle to the dining table. Give it a twist…

For a lush alternative, use moss to embellish your place setting. Tuck soft dried florist’s moss between your charger and your dinner plate to create the look of a moss wreath.

UNDERSTATED LUXE

Balance glitzy tableware and crackers with plain linen napkins and silk ribbon-tied cutlery

PAINTCHEATSHEET Terracotta Tiles durable matt emulsion, £35.15 for 2.5ltr, Ideal Home at Albany, Brewers

Humpty Dumpty claypaint, £47 for 2.5ltr, Earthborn

Sulking Room Pink estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

Add a moss present topper

Bring a little festive greenery to beautifully wrapped presents with a soft dried-moss wreath. Tuck in sprigs of rosemary for a hint of fragrance and secure with satin ribbon. Giveit a twist…

You could also place a small bunch of fresh eucalyptus or fir (snipped from the back of your Christmas tree) under the ribbon tie.

WALLPAPERASCHRISTMAS W R A P SUBTLE VEINING Marblesque Marble wallpaper in Rose Gold, £8 a roll, Dunelm ALL SMART GRAPHIC Holden Décor Etta chevron metalliceffect wallpaper in Blush, £5 a roll, B&Q AGLOW Cubic Shimmer wallpaper in Grey/

Copper, £8 a roll, I Love Wallpaper COVER ARTIST

Use an inexpensive wallpaper as an alternative to wrapping paper to give presents a luxurious feel

Provide a warm welcome

Swirling fern fronds around wooden embroidery hoops are a fanciful twist on the traditional wreath. Apply metallic paint in rose-gold and copper tones for a pearlescent, shimmering finish. Hang in the hallway from cotton and velvet ribbon for an elegant look. Give it a twist…

Wrap fresh green foliage around the glam metallic sprayed hoops. LEVEL BEST

If you have picture rails, hang wreaths from them using ribbon or fishing wire and a picture rail moulding hook, so you can adjust them easily.

MAKE IT OVERSIZED

Dried grasses, foliage and floral wreath, from £85, Zita Elze Flowers. Walls in Sulking Room Pink estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Cuddlemuffin Medium modular sofa in Magnesium washed cotton linen, £2,250, Loaf. Tufted woven throw in Nude & Black, £69; Minimal brass side table, £245, both Rose & Grey. Beatrix cushion in Harry Rose Hip, £84, Neptune. Velvet linen cushion in Golden Lichen/ Natural Linen, £60, Niki Jones. Gold-rimmed cocktail glass, £55 set of four, Graham & Green. Hand-formed brass finish tray, £26 set of two, Curious Egg. Four Blush Glittered Brush Christmas trees, £15.50, Cox & Cox.

SUSPEND OVER A

TABLE Asparagus Fern wreath, from £65, Zita Elze Flowers. Plum velvet ribbon, £1.80m, VV Rouleaux. Glass drop decorations in Amber and Clear, £4 each, all Rowen & Wren. Ribbed bauble in

ADD A MOSS PRESENT TOPPER

10in Moss wreath, £2.39, Easy Florist Supplies. Marbled Gold handmade Folk wrapping paper, £3 a sheet, Rowen & Gold, £10; large Glitter Swirl bauble in Pink and Red, £17; Texture bauble in Gold, £9, all The Conran Shop. Walls in Sulking Room Pink estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Tablecloth in Pebble linen in Paprika, £151m, Christopher Farr Cloth. Lena brass champagne cooler, £72; Linen napkins in Plaster Pink, £18 set of two, all Rowen & Wren. Pion White Speckled porcelain dinner plates, £16 each; recycled cotton paper Jewel ornaments in Caramel, £5.95 each, all Rose & Grey. Gold-rimmed cocktail glasses, £55 set of four, Graham & Green. Dipped Gold decanter, £50, Cox & Cox. Pelagia cake stand, £48; (on bench) Muse cushion, £65, both Curious Egg. Speciality mince pies, £16.75 for 12, Bettys. Heritage Modern loveseat in Oak, £825; Heritage armchair in Oak, £449, both Ercol. Chichester dining table, from £1,000; Arundel oak bench, from £490, both Neptune. (On bench) gift in Rose Gold foil wrap, £4.50 for a 3m roll, Paperchase. Pale Azalea organdie ribbon, £1m, VV Rouleaux. (On mantelpiece) Brush trees, from £15.50 set of four, Cox & Cox. Cards, £2.95 each, Nancy & Betty

Wren. Berry Copper Nepali paper, £6.50 a sheet, Shepherds. Sable Twig satin ribbon, £1.50m, VV Rouleaux. Minimal brass side table, £245, Rose & Grey. Norbury dried wreath, £86, Neptune. Heritage armchair in Oak, £449, Ercol. Walls in Sulking Room Pink estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Tablecloth in Pebble linen in Paprika, £151m, Christopher Farr Cloth. Linen napkins in Plaster Pink, £18 set of two; Lena brass champagne cooler, £72, all Rowen & Wren. Gold-rimmed cocktail glasses, £55 set of four, Graham & Green. Dipped Gold decanter, £50, Cox & Cox. Pelagia cake stand, £45; hand-formed brass finish tray, £26 set of two, both Curious Egg

TRIM PLATES WITH FAIRY LIGHTS Leaves

string light, £45, Graham & Green. Inka dinner plate in Caramel, £34 for two, OYOY Living Design. Brew tray by Tom Dixon, £215, Heal’s. Washed linen napkin in Rust, £10, Toast. Gold cutlery with black handles, £45 for a 16-piece set, Rockett St George. Sable Twig satin ribbon, £1.50m, VV Rouleaux. Linen tablecloth in Plaster Pink, £82, Rowen & Wren. Form bowl in Brass, £185 set of five, Tom Dixon. Organic cocktail glass with gold rim, £16, Rockett St George. Tank low-ball glass by Tom Dixon, £75 set of two, Heal’s

PROVIDE A WARM

WELCOME 7in embroidery hoops, £3.50 each; Silver metallic florist’s wire stick, £2.75 for 50g, all Hobbycraft. Fern fronds painted in FTT-001 Film Television & Theatre Collection paint, £8.50 for 250ml, Mylands. Tied with Pale Plum single-sided velvet ribbon, £1.80m, VV Rouleaux. 9in embroidery hoops, £3.75 each, Hobbycraft. Fern fronds painted in Artisan Copper Effect paint, £12 for 250ml, Craig & Rose. Tied with Pale Azalea organdie ribbon, £1m, VV Rouleaux. Walls in Sulking Room Pink estate emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5ltr; skirting in Picture Gallery Red estate eggshell, £67 for 2.5ltr, both Farrow & Ball. Heritage Modern loveseat in Oak, £825, Ercol. Presents, from top, wrapped in Berry Copper Nepali paper, £6.50 a sheet, Shepherds. Sheer organza ribbon, £4 for a 5m roll, John Lewis & Partners. Marbled Gold handmade Folk wrapping paper, £3 a sheet, Rowen & Wren. Rose Gold foil wrap, £4.50 for a 3m roll, Paperchase. Dark Amaryllis rayon ribbon, £1.25m, VV Rouleaux. Nuala cushion in Rosa, £140, Black Edition at Romo. Cashmere blend rug in Ochre, £3,350, The Conran Shop. Similar sequinned cardigan, H&M. Similar gold shoes, & Other Stories