With over ten years’ experience creating beautiful interiors, leading Australian stylist, Fiona Gould, has some fabulous styling tips to share for those looking to up the ante on their home entertaining this Christmas.
Choose your Christmas style – are you looking for modern or traditional or a blend of both? A blend of old and new at Christmas time looks lovely – for example, cut crystal glassware paired with modern plates – it keeps the look interesting and unique.
Refresh – many people have Christmas favourites – napkins, table cloth, decorations that they bring out every year. Is it time for a refresh? Decide what you want to hang onto and what you’re ready to discard. Introduce a few new favourites into the mix, some new linen napkins or more modern candles for the table can make all the difference and can be used all year round to make it worth the investment.
Colour Code – colour co-ordination is the key for creating a balanced look at Christmas. Try choosing a traditional Christmas colour like red or green and pairing it with a less traditional colour like pink or blue, for example – to create a beautifully relaxed but fun and unexpected look. Hints of metallics like gold or silver give a timeless look and adds the celebratory sparkle we need at Christmas. For an ultra-laid-back vibe, try layered neutrals with pops of fresh greenery.
Christmas crackers/bonbonniere – Christmas crackers are such a fun way to set the meal off with a bang and there are a wide variety available, including some fabulous novelty items like Freixenet’s gorgeous Christmas Bon Bons. Designed to look just like a high-end Christmas cracker, they each have a Piccolo bottle of Freixenet’s delicious Prosecco and Sparkling Rosé to make a gorgeous gift for adult guests and they look so pretty on the table. It’s a really lovely touch to have a beautiful gift
like this waiting for each guest at the table. Place them straight on top of the top plate or napkin, or sitting straight just above the plate, so they have pride of place and are the first thing your guests see.
Accessories – Christmas is the perfect occasion to bring out your special tableware. Cut crystal glassware adds such a beautiful touch and I’m particularly loving coupe style glassware for champagne, to feel extra fancy. Linen napkins and tablecloths also add that extra sense of luxury. I like to source long lengths of linen fabric for my tablecloths each year – it’s very affordable and then doesn’t matter if they get stained. With table centrepieces, the trick is to not go too big – you don’t want to obstruct the view to others or clutter the table where share plates could go. Low lying floral arrangements, some scattered candles and some greenery garlands are always an easy win.
Luxe to Less – you don’t need to spend a fortune to ace your Christmas style. Trends are steering back towards the love of classic shapes and traditional elements, so embrace your old crockery that’s hidden in the back of the cupboard, have a look at your local op shops for beautiful pieces you can re-purpose, and mix with a few new special pieces for that modern touch to create a special look that is completely unique.
Wow factor – Christmas day is a special affair, so clear the clutter that may normally sit around the house and make room for your festive additions. Fairy lights always provide wow factor and I love to have them everywhere, especially striking when paired with greenery garlands up a staircase balustrade for example. There’s some beautiful fine wire lights at the moment that look extra special draped across the dinner table too. A drinks station is also a fantastic way to create a magic moment on arrival. Having everything ready on a buffet cabinet or drinks cart styled with flowers, crystal glassware, ice buckets and fairy lights – what could be more inviting.
Finally, Fiona says it’s important to remember that there are no style rules at Christmas and it’s important to relax and have fun.
“Christmas is a time for celebration and love and so decorating your home in a way that makes you feel good is all that is important.”
