As we settle in to another lockdown, many people’s thoughts are turning to Christmas and how they can make sure that this year’s celebrations feel as special as ever.
With only seven weeks to go until Christmas, the UK’s leading Christmas installation company, The Festive Group, which has been called upon to install trees, from a million pounds to small family favourites, has seen a sharp rise in requests for early installations and many customers are on a mission to make Christmas 2020 as special as possible.
With Government guidelines likely to restrict large gatherings, the emphasis for many people is to make it a fabulous family affair. Clients are keen to embrace the festive period earlier and make the most of the temporary distraction from the difficulties of this year.
Paul Lally, Operations Manager for The Festive Group, said: “We have definitely seen an increase in early installations and larger scale displays and many of our clients who normally go to warmer climates over the festive period are planning a traditional Christmas at home.”
The Festive Group has decorated the homes of many celebrity clients over the years including Sharon Osborne, Dawn Ward, Gemma Collins, Trent Alexander Arnold, Gemma Collins and Mo Salah. Lead stylist, Jackie Chapman, from The Festive Group, shares her top tips for turning your home into a stylish festive space…
1. Making an entrance – perfecting the hanging door wreath….
Door decorations have gained in popularity over the years, with wreaths becoming more and more decorative to match the detail and creativity of decorations inside the home. Many people struggle with how to hang their wreath without damaging their front doors or using unsightly and unstable nails.
To hang the perfect wreath, use a coordinating ribbon to go over the top of the door and attach to the letter box with string on the inside. Finish the look by creating a bow with the leftover ribbon and you have the perfect festive entrance to your home.
2. Little touches which make a difference
Although the Christmas tree is the centrepiece to any festive makeover in the home, don’t forget to include other decorative details throughout your home to tie your theme together. The addition of window garlands using some of the same decorations and baubles from the tree on a long pine wreath – brightening up the windowsill and it can be seen inside and out. A staircase garland can give a luxurious feel to your festive makeover and indoor festive doorways always look warm and welcoming. Fireplaces are normally a focal point in any room and tying them into the overall look of the festive makeover adds a touch of luxury and glamour.
3. The festive pièce de résistance
The tree really is the crowning glory of any festive home. Whether it’s a real or an artificial tree you choose, make sure you pick the right size and shape to suit your room and home. Most artificial trees come in a standard or a slim line base, so take into consideration the amount of free space you have in your living room; will it obstruct a doorway or are there any other pieces of furniture a tree might hide? Make sure its not too tall, either – think about the height of the room, especially if you’re opting for a real tree, as you don’t want the top to bend at the ceiling, taking attention away from your chosen tree topper.
4. Let there be light
Tree lights are usually sold with either ice white or warm white bulbs. If your room has a cool-toned silver colour theme, choose ice white lighting to tie in with the existing interior design. On the other hand, if your space has a warmer colour palette, choose warm white lights to complement these tones. Warm lights are often associated with a cosy feeling whereas icy lights are bright and sparkly – think about the vibe you want your tree to have.
5. The decorations
Some people prefer the ‘less is more approach’ when decorating the Christmas Tree, although a luxury full tree showing little greenery is still a firm favourite. Many people opt for fuller decadent designs, laden with a range of stand-out baubles, ribbons and decorations, which can look sensational is simple spacious room. When choosing your decorations, ensure you opt for a range of sizes, shapes and styles to keep the overall look interesting and add some eye-catching pieces to the mix. Go for decorations which have the same colour theme and ones which match the decorative style of your room. When it comes to placing baubles on the tree, make sure that you give each decoration plenty of space on the branches. When you look at the tree, you should see no horizontal lines of baubles and each decoration should be placed a different height.
This will make your tree look fuller and give it a professional touch, while giving each decoration room to be appreciated.
6. Trends
This year has seen a shift in trends and vintage looking trees, full of mismatched baubles, blended colour palettes and glass baubles, are very popular and remind people of Christmases gone by. There has also been a rise in demand for ‘Ombre Trees’ with bold colours at the base of the tree fading to lighter more muted tones from the same colour palette up the tree. Scandi or minimalist styles are also popular, where it is all about an organic look and the quality of the bauble, not about how much is put on the tree. Luxury cream, gold and silver trees never seem to go out of fashion and family fun trees and themed trees are also popular. Living in a city which has two football teams currently fighting it out at the top of the Premier League, we are also seeing more requests for Red and Blue trees this year.
7. External Decoration
No matter how large or compact your home is, adding a touch of festive cheer to the outside can turn a simple dwelling into a magical space. External festive doorways, wreaths and garland can look pretty and inviting against the dark winter nights. Sparkling lights can transform a space with the flick of a switch and turn a dark night into a winter wonderland. We have seen an increase in requests to decorate garden trees, full tree wraps and provide sparkling garden orbs as well this year. Some clients have told us that spending more time in their garden in the summer has reminded them how beautiful it is and they have included the garden in their overall festive makeover plans. Whether you have a window box or a sprawling garden, nothing says Christmas quite like a twinkly welcome before you reach your front door.
If, on the other hand, you wish to leave it to the experts, the team at The Festive Group say that they’d be delighted to help.
The Festive Group
Tel: 0151 329 3356
Email: info@thefestivegroup.com
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