HOW TO DECORATE THE HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS
Are you looking for ideas or ideas on how to decorate your home for Christmas? You've come to the right place: we've created this short guide just for you! Discover it now!
Christmas, when it draws near, brings with it a magical, relaxed atmosphere: loved by adults and eagerly awaited by children, it brings an enchanted, warm and festive look to the home as well.
Before thinking about how to decorate the house at Christmas, perhaps you need to ask yourself "when do I do it"?
Some people already look forward to decorating their homes in perfect Christmas style in November, others are traditionalists who wait until 8 December (Immaculate Conception Day), and others who take a bit of a wait-and-see approach and decorate their homes in the run-up to the festivities.
So, while some people rush to wrap presents for the tree in early December, others take their time and do not unroll a ribbon until 24 December.
However, decorating the house for Christmas in advance seems to have a not inconsiderable effect on people's moods. This was reported by the newspaper la Repubblica, which headlined: Have you already taken out the tree and are you ready to decorate your house with Christmas lights? You're not weird, you're just a person happy.
British psychologist Steve McKeown says that immersing oneself in the atmosphere of Christmas keeps in touch with the child in us, making the responsibilities and problems of adult life seem more distant and that in a world full of stress and anxiety people associate what is related to Christmas with happiness, evoking strong feelings related to childhood.
This is confirmed by the words of American psychotherapist Amy Morin, who adds: the holidays bring the mind back to the good old days.
How to decorate the Christmas tree
The undisputed star is always the Christmas tree.
When it comes to "putting up a tree", the possibilities are truly endless, but one has to make reasoned choices.
The style one chooses for its decoration will also influence the style of all the other decorations.
While in the past the tree was always a lush green fir tree, today one can find trees in an infinite variety of colours in homes thanks to the use of more practical and durable artificial plants. And so the way is clear for white, black, blue and even all-pink Christmas trees, as well as less natural and unusual shapes.
Those who do not want to buy a tree (whether real or artificial) but are looking for a more practical, innovative and perhaps low-cost solution, can opt for stylised floor or wall decorations or opt for reuse: wooden ladders, transparent vases, lanterns, fruit boxes... as long as they are lit!
It must be said, however, that the most used, common and beloved solution is still the classic Christmas tree, green and chubby.
Adorned with different sets of balls, large fabric bows and warm lights. Speaking of Christmas balls, in addition to the classic balls, you can find hanging objects of every type, material and size on the market today: stars, hearts, keys, gift packages, angels, you name it. Decorations in wood, glass, fabric, resin, glossy, matt, shiny...what we recommend is to hang whatever you are passionate about, but with a bit of aesthetic balance.
If you really want your tree to radiate emotion, why not hang cards for the people you love, your children's crafts or sweets to eat together on Christmas morning! There is no more beautiful tree than the one that can make you experience an unforgettable moment... and it doesn't matter how many presents are at its feet, does it?
Another essential detail for a 'self-respecting' Christmas tree is the under-tree carpet.
The Christmas under-tree mats not only help you decorate in a fuller and more complete way from an aesthetic point of view, but also serve as a base where you can put your presents or sit on Christmas morning while unwrapping them.
They act as thermal insulation and also as protection for the floor (especially if it is made of wood) in case yours is an artificial tree with iron feet.
Here are some ideas for beautiful, cheap and useful Christmas mats:
How to decorate the house at Christmas: the entrance hall
Christmas welcomes you and your guests right from the doorstep. The entrance is in fact meant to welcome visitors and, unintentionally, already gives an idea of the style and atmosphere inside.
So, before you even start thinking about the interior, start with the exterior decoration of the door and the entrance (or hallway). Whether you live in a house with a garden or a flat, you can decorate the outside and the first few square metres of the house. Make everything hyper-Christmasy with colours, materials, decorations and suggestions that you can combine with other interior decorations.
Do you have little space or time to decorate the entrance? Don't worry, all you need is two things: a garland and a Christmas wreath.
The Christmas wreath is the perfect entrance accessory for those who want to celebrate tradition from the first to the last decoration, or for those who want to focus on a single detail.
You can buy it ready-made or create it by hand using pine cones, holly, mistletoe, rosehips or other plants you can find at the florist or in your garden. Traditional colours are dark green, silver, gold and the red of winter berries, but we recommend giving it a personal touch by decorating it as you wish with pine cones, bows and balls.
As for the doormat, you can conveniently find doormats online in different shapes: in natural coconut suitable for both outdoor and indoor use, or made of synthetic fibres and more suitable for covered areas. Here are some super Christmas examples.
How to decorate the house at Christmas: the living room
In order to understand how to decorate the house at Christmas, it is also necessary to think about the living room, one of the most lived-in rooms in the house. This applies to those who have an open-plan living area as well as to those who have a separate living area: in most cases it is in this room that the house tree is placed.
The tree itself is already a conspicuous decoration, in all its possible forms. Therefore, be careful not to overfill the room with decorations! You would risk falling into kitsch and weighing down the room. That's why, especially in the living room, decorating your home for Christmas is all about textiles.
Begin with the colour of your sofa and match it with blankets and cushions, preferring soft, warm or faux-fur fabrics. Green, white and red are the must-have colours, ideal to evoke the typical Christmas palette. They will give a feeling of warmth that will be particularly appreciated during the Christmas season.
Do you still feel like something is missing?
Of course! Because in order to complete this warm and magical textile picture, you also need to think about carpets!
You can temporarily replace the living room carpet by choosing a light-coloured long-pile carpet or a more classic one to match the other textiles mentioned above, or add additional Christmas carpets to be placed under or near the tree, near the fireplace, in front of a French window, at the foot of an armchair, and so on.
This way you can add an extra Christmas touch to your living room without disrupting the décor, at a very low cost and with a durable object to show off year after year during the winter holidays.
How to decorate the kitchen and table in Christmas style
The family Christmas highlights? As well as planning a menu to suit the occasion, if you are the hostess, you can't overlook the mise en place: a well-set table can make the time spent together even more enjoyable!
The most traditional of all Christmas table decorations is the Advent wreath: a classic and easy-to-assemble centrepiece using fir branches and candles. If you opt for this decoration, you can use twigs to create matching and personalised place cards: just add a ribbon with the name of each guest.
As for the table textiles, we suggest you go for the wow effect by combining the right colour palette: you can use a bright tablecloth in light tones and add darker placemats or runners that will give a modern and sophisticated look to your Christmas table. A few golden or silver details here and there...and you're done.
The rule less is more also applies to the Christmas table.
And if the arduous task of cooking is up to you this year, we leave you with a link to many practical Christmas recipes.
Happy Holidays!
