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Decorating the tree.

I’m not sure about you, but I feel like November has really crept up on us this year and I just know that Christmas is going to be here before we know it! I don’t feel prepared in the slightest, but I’m not going to panic as everything will come together like it always does! Christmas decorations have been in the shops for months now and I’ve learnt from past years that the best bits get snapped up early. This year I’m working with Cox & Cox who always have an amazing range of Christmas products, I also have a great competition running where you can win £100 to spend there,  you’ll find the details at the end of this post.

Decorating your home for Christmas can feel a little overwhelming as there are so many different styles of decorations out there. I particularly love how Cox & Cox group theirs into trends, it makes it much easier to shop and create a cohesive, pulled together look. I chose a range of decorations from their New Neutral noir range, which is a combination of neutral tones with accents of black and gold. The textures of rattan, geometric patterns and fluffy baubles work really well together in my living room. I’ve been collecting Christmas tree decorations for years and I know it’s not often that someone will buy a whole new collection at once, unless maybe it’s your first house and your own very first Christmas tree. The great thing about this range though is that it will fit in with most themes. If you already have lots of neutral or gold decorations then you can just add to them with some of the black or more textured ones.

Every year it’s become a tradition for the four of us to go and choose a real Christmas tree. I love the smell of pine throughout the house at Christmas but I don’t love the mess from the inside of the car, all the way through the house and then there’s the droop when the baubles start to drop off one by one. Each year I pray that it at least lasts until the turkey is cooked! I’m sure it doesn’t help having the heating on permanently throughout winter and the fire lit most nights, the poor tree really doesn’t stand a chance! It’s never really crossed my mind before to even look at faux options.

So when the Blue mountain spruce tree arrived from Cox & Cox I was expecting to be a little disappointed that I couldn’t use a real tree. My first thoughts were how easy it was to put together, Just 3 parts to connect together and a bit of faffing with the branches and it was up! I couldn’t believe how real it looked, I was delighted that there were no gaps! When you get a real tree, there’s always at least one “gappy” area! It is 7ft tall with frosted tips which I think is what gives it such a realistic appearance. Even my husband is converted.

Once the tree is up, I then add the lights and place them as evenly as possible around the tree. Then the fun part begins! At this point I usually let the kids loose and then make a few “adjustments” once they’re in bed! I find it works better to add them in groups. So start with one decoration that you have the most of, or groups that are similar and space them out around the tree before adding the next batch. There’s really no right or wrong way of doing it but always better with Christmas tunes playing loudly and maybe a festive drink, ours is usually hot chocolate with lashings of cream and marshmallows, then maybe a glass of fizz or two later in the day!

It’s not just about the tree!

We spend a lot of time at Christmas hudled around the fire with hot drinks and the fluffiest socks that we can find, so I always love to give the fireplace a festive makeover too. This indoor Outdoor pre lit garland adds a lovely warm glow. With two excited children, stockings hung by the fire are a must. These black star stocking holders are a perfect addition and look great with the Grey velvet stocking hung from them.

When you have a faux tree, the last thing you want is to have the stand on show as that’s a sure fire giveaway that it’s not real! So a tree ring is the best way to hide it, I’ve never been a huge fan of them in the past but this flat rattan one has totally converted me! Love how it adds a Scandi touch and works so well with the greenery.

That’s a wrap!

I love carefully choosing gifts for friends and family, then spending time wrapping them to make them look beautiful. When placing them under your tree, it makes sense to buy wrapping paper that matches your theme. Cox & Cox have so many gorgeous ones to choose from. They also do a couple of reversible ones which are a total game changer. I love the dot and star reversible paper as it has a gorgeous rustic feel which will match any decor. It reminds me of old fashioned brown paper, which is really simple but can be glammed up with ribbon and gift tags.

Here’s a list the items that I’ve used for styling my Christmas tree and the surrounding area.

Blue Mountain Spruce Christmas Tree

Six Golden wooden stars

Four tree and star hoop decorations

Nine natural pom poms

Twelve copper and white baubles

Six sugar frosted baubles

Embossed hanging tree and star

Six striped glass stars

Six mono striped beaded baubles

Flat rattan tree ring

Three standing rattan stars

Dot and star reversible wrapping paper

Surprise Ribbon 

Rose gold splatter wrapping paper

You are very hard to buy for ribbon

Star stocking holder

Grey velvet stocking

Two frosted brush trees

How long will it be before you start decking the halls?  If you’ve built up a wish list while you’ve been reading this, then I have great news, from today {around 7pm when I post my IGTV video} until midnight on Sunday 17th November I have a giveaway over on my Instagram where you can win £100. Good luck!