ON THE COVER THE MODERN WAY TO DRESS

TRADITIONAL OPULENCE

For many of us, Christmas is all about indulging in favourite time-honoured rituals, and nothing feels more festive than a beautifully laid red and gold table

Ink linen tablecloth in Claret Red with Gold Drips, from £625; matching napkins, £35 each; all Summerill & Bishop. Talking Tables Luxe

Gold glitter table runner, £15, John Lewis & Partners. Gold placemats, from a selection at M&S. White dinner plates with gold trim, £8 each; matching side plates, £6 each; all House Beautiful Collection at Homebase. Natural Blush Gold Edge dessert plates, £24 each; Gold cutlery, £78/seven-piece set; all Maison Margaux. Vintage champagne coupes with gold rim, £9 each; honeycomb ball decorations, £9.50/two; all Rockett St George. Vintage tall glass candleholders, £35 each; sparkle wreath, £135; all The White Company. Red Dinner candles, £10/four, Rebecca Udall. Fabric-covered crackers, £118.94/four, Not on the High Street

Styling tip

Give this timeless look a few modern twists. Fabric crackers and tablecloths in crimson and gold will add a luxe feel. Bring extra bling to the table with gold-rimmed plates and glassware mixed in with foliage with a touch of sparkle.

GROWN-UP PASTELS

This is a modern alternative to a classic Christmas look and is perfect for taking you through into the party season

Cornice linen tablecloth in Rose Pink, £285; matching napkins, £30 each; all Summerill & Bishop. Camilla waxed Italian linen placemats in Petrol, £45/two, Rebecca Udall. Large pink charger plates, £30 each,

Maison Margaux. White dinner plates, £14 each, The White Company. Exclusive Brights side plates, £25 each, The Conran Shop. Goa matt white rose gold 24-piece cutlery set, £370, Amara. Blue and gold grass, New Covent Garden Market. LSA Blue Gio Gem tumblers, £40/four, Heal’s. Pink glasses, £15 each; matte white bottleneck vases, from £30 each; all The Sette. Clear glass candlesticks and bud vases, stylist’s own, find similar at Graham & Greene. Whirlwind glass vases, from £42 each; Delaney bobble glass candlesticks (used as bud vases), from £12 each; all Anthropologie. Pastel fringe medium crackers, £25/six, Meri Meri. Multi Pink Christmas trees, £45/six, Rockett St George. Light Up Honesty wreath, £90, Cox & Cox. White paper star decorations with gold trim, £12/two, House Beautiful Collection at Homebase. Large white paper star, £19; small white paper star, £16; both Layered Lounge

Styling tip

This fun trend is inspired by the colours we’re seeing in interiors right now – soft sorbet shades mixed with coral, fuchsia and dove grey. Balance them against clean white space and simple shapes so they really pop.

DRAMATIC METALLICS

Bronze and copper with masses of warm fairy lights draped along the walls will set the scene for a theatrical banquet

Ruffle linen tablecloth, from £189, Rebecca Udall. Live linen napkins, £65/four, The Sette. LSA Dusk Green glasses, £46/two; Teal Mervyn Gers side plates, £16 each; all Heal’s. Wonki Ware Organic dinner plates, £32 each, The Conran Shop. Duna Copper 24-piece cutlery set, £320, Amara. Jungle Cat crackers, £21.99/six, Gisela Graham. Green glass column candleholders, £12.95 each; faux Blue and Grey Cecropia branch (down centre of the table), £17.50; all Graham & Green. Baubles from a selection at Nkuku, John Lewis & Partners and Gisela Graham. Paper decorations, £20/three, Layered Lounge. Fairy lights, from a selection at John Lewis & Partners. Artificial Pre-Lit Christmas tree, £180, House Beautiful Collection at Homebase

Styling tip

Metallics teamed with teal and olive green is a rich mix that works together to form a beautifully dramatic backdrop. Velvety ribbon, mercury glass and burnished baubles add to the sumptuous look. Visit lizcocozza.com for more table styling inspiration

THE BIG CHRISTMAS TREE DEBATE: REAL vs FAKE?

Which will you go for: grown in the ground or shop bought? We’re here to help you pick your perfect fir, whether it’s choosing and caring for a real one or branching out and going faux…

There’s nothing like the uplifting scent of a real Christmas tree to get you feeling festive, and the ritual of choosing one is just as important as decorating it. If you’re going authentic, these are the key things to remember before you hand over your cash…

Check it’s fresh To make sure you get the best tree for your home, check for freshness before you buy. Give it a shake a few inches above the ground to ensure most of its needles remain in place. Inspect container varieties Some Christmas trees are container-grown, which means they have been in their pots for at least one season. They tend to be small – usually no more than three feet tall. It’s often possible to lift the tree out of the pot to inspect its whole root system and ensure it’s healthy and intact. The tree itself should look verdant and perky. Choose the right size It may seem obvious, but measure the height of your ceiling and the floor area where you’re going to place your tree. Take a tape measure with you when you go to buy it, and be sure to allow enough space for a decoration to sit on top and for a stand in which to place it.

DON’T KNOW FRASER FROM DOUGLAS?

Here’s our guide to the most popular varieties in the UK

NORDMANN FIR

This is the UK’s most popular tree. The dark green needles have excellent retention, and the strong symmetrical branches are great for hanging ornaments.

NORWAY SPRUCE

Water well to keep the needles happy on this traditional Christmas tree, which is dark green and has a rich, sweet scent and a good conical shape.

FRASER FIR

A newcomer from the US, this fir offers great fragrance, dark green needles that are silvery underneath, and strong, upward-turned, pyramid-shaped branches.

BLUE SPRUCE

Smaller and slow-growing, this is a good choice for a second tree or for tight space. It has beautiful colouring and its strong branches are ideal for heavy decorations.

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR TREE

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) recommends: Care Your tree should be fed and cared for like any other houseplant being brought into a warm, dry atmosphere. Give it water each day to help it last longer – retaining its pine fragrance and its needles. Plant After Christmas, a container-grown tree can either be planted out, with a very good chance of success, or left to grow further in a pot. In this case, it’s a good idea to transplant it into a larger container. Disposal Many BCTGA members and local councils offer Christmas tree collection services, where used trees are picked up and recycled. Find more details at gov.uk/garden-waste-disposal.

NOBLE FIR

With bluish-green needles and a fresh fragrance, this fir keeps well and has short, stiff branches that can take heavier displays. It arrived in the UK from North America in 1830.

LODGEPOLE PINE

If kept well-hydrated, this pine will last well and hang onto its green/yellow needles. With upwardfacing tapering branches it’s a favourite with traditionalists.

DOUGLAS FIR

Offering probably the strongest scent of all Christmas trees, this is a true fir with a great shape but, thanks to its dense foliage, it’s a little harder to decorate than some.

SERBIAN SPRUCE

Tall and slender with graceful, upswept branches, this has a more unusual look, with glossy, dark green needles with streaks of white. First popular in Central Europe.