Decorating your modern home for Christmas can be a balancing act of trying not to lose your sense of style and stripping the decorations so far back you’re not sure it’s December at all.
Some of the most stylish homes you see in glossy magazines and on social media over the festive periods, however, are those that have taken a leaf out of the Scandinavian’s book. Sometimes, less is more.
With that said, we’ve put together five ways you can style your contemporary home in time for the festive season – without a single piece of tinsel in sight!
DECORATE THE MANTEL PIECE
Image credit: 100 Layer Cake
Styling your fireplace, whatever time of year it is, allows you to create a focal point in the room away from the television. For a contemporary space, add string lights with a warm hue mixed in with garland and church candles varying in height. The light creates the perfect ambiance, while the greenery gives a nod to the festivities. Natural textures are ideal for adding depth and interest to an otherwise simple vignette, so consider adding pine cones and wooden tea light holders for a more Nordic-inspired finish.
ADD GREEN DÉCOR
One of the biggest trends in Christmas interiors this season is the use of dark green throughout the home. A traditional shade when it comes to decorating, rich greens can brighten up a neutral living space, whether that’s a ceramic vase holding white roses on your coffee table, styling your shelves with marble boxes and ginger jars, or changing up your cushions for the holidays. Why not check out some of our popular pieces of homeware in shades of green to decorate your modern home for Christmas.
PAIR BACK YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE
Image credit: My Scandinavian Home
Regardless of whether you purchase a real or artificial Christmas tree, the key to contemporary styling is the fuller the tree the better. There’s a fine line, however, between minimalism and your tree looking like you ran out of decorations. The key is to step back every third bauble and see how it looks. Choose one or two complementary colours to your existing room scheme and use one style of bauble – this way it doesn’t become fussy and overloaded. Add thin string lights and let the tree do the talking.
USE GREENERY THROUGHOUT
Image credit: Stylizimo Blog
Speaking of greenery, using garland, wreaths and mistletoe throughout your home to give a simple, but effective festive feel. From table centre pieces, to decorating the staircase, there are so many variations of greenery you could utilise. Although pine and cedar are the more popular choices, why not consider magnolia, eucalyptus, juniper, blue spruce or redwood.
CREATE A BAR AREA
Image credit: Style by Emily Henderson
What better time than the lead up to Christmas to host a get-together for friends and family. Having an inhouse bar isn’t something every home has to space (or budget!) for but having a fully stocked bar cart is a pretty good alternative. The key to a successful bar trolley is to have a range of alcohol from vodka to gin, whiskey and more, liquors to spice up after dinner coffees, soft drink options, limes and lemons, a cocktail shaker, glasses to suit different cocktails, and a recipe book so people can have a go at creating their own. Add lights around the bar cart, and a simple sprig of eucalyptus inside an empty glass and you’ve create a chic and contemporary corner of your home for Christmas.
So, tell us, are you more of a modern or traditional style of home when it comes to decorating for Christmas?