It’s almost that time of year where you climb into the loft and pull out the box of Christmas decorations ready for the Interiors Christmas countdown. If you’re anything like me you’ll have a great collection that you’ve been adding to for years and years and you’ve probably gone through a few trend changes too. I remember about 5 years ago I decided to have pink and black tree decorations! {what was I thinking} The year after I hated them! Then I’ve been through the traditional red and white phase, then gold then silver! A few years ago I decided to have a big cull and just keep the ones that I really loved or had sentimental value. I think baubles are overlooked as gifts. A lovely bauble is something that you re use year after year so I think it’s such a thoughtful gift, you can spend as little or as much and you like … great as a little teacher present too! Every time they come to hang it on the tree they will think of you.

It’s easy to see all the beautifully styled Instagram and Pinterest photo’s and feel totally overwhelmed when it comes to decorating your house for Christmas but it really should be a fun thing to do. My biggest tip is to be prepared and start adding things gradually so that you can take a step back and see what else you feel needs to be added or bought.

So first of all when do you start?? Now’s that’s the big question! Tradition is 12 days before which I guess is a good guide if you’re buying a real tree, but other than that Christmas only happens once a year so I think it’s ok to start trimming up a little bit earlier than that. The timeline to my interiors Christmas countdown looks something like this:

Anytime now

 Foliage –  a little bit of festive greenery is perfect to get things started. Huge bunches of eucalyptus are my favourite at this time of year and it smells divine. If you don’t want to pay the price or struggle to find real eucalyptus then click here for a great faux alternative, minus the scent unfortunately! Other winter foliage which is perfect for decorating your home include branches of holly, stems of red berries and snowberries. If you live in the country I recommend gathering your own decorations in the hedgerows. Bare winter branches have a delicate look that is more modern than evergreen plants such as holly.

Top right image – Cox & Cox. All other images – Kerry Lockwood

Fairy lights – If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know that in my home fairy lights are not just for Christmas! So even though I have them around the house all year round I still like to add more at Christmas time and now is the perfect time to start doing this. Here are a few of my festive favourites:

House lights – The White Company. Bottle lights – Lights4fun Star bauble lights – Lights4fun Starburst light – Primrose & Plum.

Christmas scents – One of my favourite things about this time of year is the gorgeous Christmassy smells. Mulled wine and warm mince pies, a wood burning fire, zesty oranges studded with cloves. My all time favourite still has to be The White Company Winter candle. As soon as I light it I feel all festive and it is such a mood lifter! I love filling bowls with pine cones sprinkled with essential oils like cinnamon, clove or peppermint. Have you ever made pomanders? They are a wonderful addition to holiday decorating. They are natural, rustic and nostalgic and best of all they are so simple to do, inexpensive to make and the kids love helping and getting involved. They are perfect to put out now because they don’t scream Christmas at you. Here is a great how to guide that I’ve been using for a few years.

Image – Simple Bites

Image – Kerry Lockwood

Beginning of December

I say the beginning of December very loosely as I know everyone has a different opinion on this but as soon as the 1st of December strikes it’s Christmas countdown, the beginning of advent. The kids are super excited to open that little square door every morning, even the dog has his own advent calendar and gets an early morning treat. So for me it’s the perfect time to pull down that box of Christmas decorations from the loft and remember the “safe” place that I’ve stashed any new ones I’ve bought and then start getting my house Christmas ready! This time of year is a great opportunity to enhance your living space with added color and shine. Once again I add things gradually as I don’t want it looking like Santa’s grotto. So I start with the bigger things like garlands on the stairs and Mantles, paper decorations hung from the ceiling and then a few on tables and shelves.

Don’t forget the dog!

12 days before Christmas.

 Now it’s time for the star of the show! Do you have a real or a faux Christmas tree? I absolutely love having a real Christmas tree, from spending hours perusing a yard of gorgeous trees to finally making a decision on which beauty we’re taking home and trying to squeeze it into the car to the smell of beautiful pine each morning. Even the pine needles scattered on the floor, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you prefer faux then they’re are so many amazing ones out there on the market. Christmas is all about memories. Building new ones and reminiscing about Christmas’ past. We always make sure we have a clear day to go and choose our Christmas tree together then we come home, turn on the Christmas tunes, make hot chocolates for the kids and mulled wine for us. There’s no rule book when it comes to trimming up the tree and it’s better not to be too OCD about it, especially if you have kids and a crazy dog! How many times have you redecorated the tree once the kids are in bed?! I always find it’s better to start with the lights, then any garland, tinsel, ribbon or beads you might be using then hang all the ornaments. Try to keep to some kind of colour scheme so there’s not too much going on. Then finally we place the star or fairy to the top. The kids always fight over who’s turn it is so my Husband always tries to pick them both up together so they can both do it. Now they’re 9 and 12 this is no easy task and I pray for the safety of my Christmas tree each year… and the kids of course! We them hunker down with a Christmas movie and the twinkling of the fairy lights in the background.

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2015

Do you have a real or faux tree? Have you got any Christmas traditions in your family. Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear them.