ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A SOOTHING

In my tiny, deluded mind, come festive season my home becomes a drastically less impressive, definitely less early-1990s-American version of the McCallister mansion – the inarguable star (move over, Macaulay) of the now-iconic Christmas film Home Alone. I’ll assume for all our sakes that you’ve at some point seen the movie so you’ll know I’m referencing – in the opening scenes at least – a big, beautiful, roaring home packed to its perfect brim with Christmas adornment and every seniority of family member with all the warmth, welcome chaos, simmering tensions and hilarity that brings. (We’ll park the child neglect and burglary issues for now.)

In this delusion, I am the frolicsome host sipping on mulled wine and serving up a cinnamon-scented embrace to all. In reality, I’ll probably be like that bit 10 minutes into the film when Macaulay Culkin gets really hacked off with the rest of his family and hopes aloud he never has to see any of them again. Though rather than being marched under protest to the loft, as he is, I’d skip there willingly, desperate for a quiet, cosseting space away from the inane quarrelling and just-detectable passive aggression of extended and not-so extended family.

For it’s during the holidays, after we have shopped, prepped and partied ourselves to burnout before throwing open our doors and filling our homes with loved ones (along with the ones we’ve avoided for the past 12 months) that we need to find sanctuary in the very place that’s descended into eggnog-fuelled pandemonium.

So, as we stare down the barrel of this upcoming season, let’s collectively commit to carving out a little corner of peace and goodwill in our homes. And in doing so, let me gift to you a Christmas List of guidelines to help you create your very own festive refuge.

Now, sanctuary is not an objective concept. What soothes, relaxes or uplifts me won’t necessarily do the same for you. And so I turn to science (for we always follow ‘The Science’), listing only those things that have been proven to enhance our mental wellbeing. Let’s start with the space itself and the fact it needs to feel, well, spacious. The keyword here is ‘feel’ because the physical size of your home doesn’t matter – indeed small spaces can feel comforting. Rather it’s clutter that kills the sensation of spaciousness and, according to research by the University of California, can spike our levels of the stress hormone cortisol. So, while the rest of your house can descend into bedlam, commit to going full ‘Marie Kondo’ on your own slice of sanctuary. Next, you need to soften it up. Cashmere throws, sherpa-lined blankets, faux-fur cushions – however you want to do it, incorporate soothing, tactile features. According to a study in the Journal of Consumer Research, when we’re feeling slightly frazzled we innately want to reach for soft or pleasant textures. At the risk of straying into cliché, it appears that science backs our addiction to a scented candle. In fact, aroma can play a huge part in how we feel. Jasmine, lavender and pine are your proven go-tos for relaxing fragrance. As well as something pleasing to smell, give yourself something nice to look at. Staring at

‘Whi le your house houseplants for as little as three minutes has been proven descends i nto bedlam, to reduce stress levels, while looking at visual art has com m it to goi ng f ull repeatedly been shown to do the same, even having “Marie Kondo” on your the power to reduce blood pressure. I guess the epitome of ow n slice of sanct uary’ festive relaxation – the roaring, open fire – is not only warm but the ultimate art-in-motion. My favourite piece of science I stumbled over was conducted by the Happiness Research Institute, which found that the happiness you derive from your home has nothing to do with its size or worth but how much pride you take in it – pride being based on the time and effort you’ve invested in it. So, that’s o cial. Loving your home is good for your mental health. All you need to live out your full festive host-with-the-most fantasy is a decluttered, soft-textured, beautifully scented, nice-stuff-to-look-at-filled sanctuary, no matter how many people have popped round. Feel free to write your Christmas List accordingly.

H O M E C O M F O R T S

SOF T & COSY

If the budget doesn’t stretch to a throw then stunningly super-soft socks will do the job. Cashmere bed socks, £36, thewhitecompany.com

SANCTUARY SCENT

Do a spot of at-home forest bathing with a wintry woodland scent. Woods candle, £60, byredo.com

TACTILE TE X TURE

Snuggle down under faux fur in a comforting warm hue. Burnt Amber throw, £85, grahamandgreen.co.uk

SOUL SOOTHING

As house plants go, a kentia palm is good for the blood pressure and, apparently, hard to kill. Big Ken plant, from £52, patchplants.com