Team Apsley just love Christmas and all the glitzy trimmings that go with it!!! To be honest, we have to hold back from decorating the office and showroom until a time deemed acceptable – October’s okay, isn’t it? There are two culprits who need real self-discipline – and yes, I am going to name and shame - the creatives, Helen (Creative Director/CEO) and Paul (Stylist Extraordinaire!!)
When it comes to dressing your space for Christmas there’s no right or wrong as far as we are concerned, the hardest part is knowing where to start. Hopefully we can help you on your way with a few ideas for inspiration, but the basic underlying message is GO FOR IT. It’s your Christmas so do it your way!
Decide on a colour theme and stick to it
We thought we’d share a few colour palettes with you as there are so many options out there! Whether you want to be bold, retro, traditional or fanciful there should be something here for you
We’ve all become more sustainably aware and feel the need to be in touch with nature. For this theme we’re talking calming colours, raw materials, tactile textures and handmade crafts. Think wooden ornaments, home baked crafts and artisanal wall hangings.
Bring the freshness and beauty of the great outdoors into your home with natural garlands, wreaths and swags. Go for fragrant options like eucalyptus, wattle, rosemary and magnolia. You can create added excitement by adding sustainable homemade decorations.
Still feel the need for some sparkle-factor? Intertwine fairy lights between the foliage for that bit of bling.
Are you desperate to travel to pastures new and escape the four Australian walls you’ve been in for the last 18 months?? Take yourself to Lapland by going traditional with snowy scenes and rich colour tones.
No surprises here, but we’re talking reds, greens, golds and silvers. If you don’t want to go too bright, tacky and predictable, swap out the bright reds for richer plum and raspberry shades. For decoration go for jewelled ornaments, silver sparkles and frosty finishes.
“Blue, for Christmas?” we hear you cry! But trust us, blue is not just for creating tranquil, cool and calming spaces. Choose the right shades, add a few statement pieces and you will be sure to make a majestically festive impact.
A combination of deep tones like midnight blue, royal blue and indigo, lifted with rich gold highlights, creates an opulent, almost regal, feel in your home.
Pretty pastels are perfect! Go for purples, pinks and lilacs highlighted with champagne and rose gold touches. For the decoration - forget your traditional snowmen and Santa hanging decs - we’re talking unicorns, rainbows, cupcakes and fairies. Throw in some brightly coloured paper-crafted pompoms and garlands and you’ve got the perfect fun palace!
A simple but striking option with the impactful contrast of white against black. Add a metallic touch to the mix and you will have created a crisp, bold, contemporary statement
Make your tree personal to you
Real or artificial, you can make a genuine impact by applying our room theming tactics to the decoration of your Christmas tree.
You could go beach-themed with blues and whites, hanging ornamental shells, starfish and seahorses.
How about a memories tree? Hang your children’s homemade decorations, ornaments from your childhood or perhaps pieces you have gathered from your travels. You could clip family photographs to the tree, or even create a memories garland!
Okay, so you’ve decided on your theme but where do you start!?! Here’s a few hints to get you on your way:
- Get in the mood! Play suitably festive tunes and pour yourself a glass of the good stuff
- Always start with the all-important lights. Check the lights work before you do anything! Start with the plugless end at the top of the tree, intertwine the lights both on top of and under the branches. When you reach the bottom, you can hide any extra lights behind the tree
- Before you add the decs, switch the lights on to make sure you’re happy with the tree coverage
- Before you add the decs, switch the lights on to make sure you’re happy with the tree coverage
- Decoration time! Hang one style of ornament at a time so you can spread them evenly
- Don’t forget about the back of your tree, especially if it’s in a window!
- Tree topper time! Traditional or radical the choice is yours, just make sure it is straight and secure!
- Dim the lighting, switch on your tree lights and step back to admire your work
Alternatively, you could be brave, forget hints #Four and #Five and let the kids go wild! You might be surprised with the results!!! Every year my mum let my sister and I do just that – and we loved it. However, in our older years, we discovered every year she rearranged it all once we’d gone to bed!!! Rude!
First impressions matter!
We will ALL be opening our homes to loved ones this Christmas. It’s been a long time coming so let’s make the most of it!
Greet your guests with a fabulously festive entryway. Decorate the front door with a wreath, adorn potted plants with decs and sparkly fairy lights, hang garlands around the porch.
For the pièce de resistance place candles along the driveway, welcoming visitors on their approach to your home
Light it up!
Fairy lights, fairy lights, fairy lights!!! They are so beautiful, adding that all-important sparkle and glitz to your home! They can be draped across the front porch, down the banister, around plants, along shelves. Battery operated lights look amazing in vases and bowls.
Candles, candles, candles!!!! You can’t beat the natural glow of a flickering candle – so calming, welcoming and intoxicating. For the perfect finishing touch to your festive home light a candle (or 10!) and indulge in the ambience and fragrance it creates. Heighten the ‘Christmas feels’ with authentic Christmas scents, pine would be perfect, especially if you have an artificial tree.
It’s all in the detail
It’s Christmas, so let’s go all out!!! Spoil yourselves - pull out the cutlery and crockery you don’t ever use, Dress the table with fresh greenery, perhaps picked from your own garden. Add a few ornaments to complement your themed home. Welcome your guests to their seats with a name card and small gift (perhaps homemade bakes, floral posies, handcrafted crackers and bon bons). Light a few taper candles or tea lights, pop open the wine and enjoy!
