Ros Walshe
Designer (Owner Home of the Year, 2018)

Christmas this year will be a different affair. We normally have an annual bangers and bonfire party in the garden so my time now would be busy getting out invites and buying crackers and prepping for that event. By December 1st I would be wondering WHY have I done this again and frantically decorating the garden with lights, garlands and tinsel. I love tinsel again. 50 years on and it looks very cool.

I grew up in the days of Blue Peter and we made all our Christmas gifts and decorations. There was a family phrase for any unused object of any description “spray it gold and put it on the Christmas tree”. My mother left our Christmas sitting room wreath up all year. It brightened the room but the tinsel got so shabby looking. It was based on a large old large wheel, wrapped in tinsel and plastic balls (didn’t break….what joy) and then suspended from the middle of the sitting room. My memory of Christmas is so much more traditional than my practice. The bonfire party is usually the deadline for the tree and all the interior decorations. Sometimes we hang large illuminated stars from the beams and, just like my Mum used to do, we leave the fairy lights up all year. It all gets a bit more twinkle-y for December and I love all the lights in the dark days and evenings.

All the silver plate candlesticks that are grouped in a window sill will get their annual polish. I quite like tarnish but it feels very traditional to polish the silver for the festive season. I dip the cutlery and do a few longterm jobs to tick them off the list. No one but me would ever notice but these are things that all signify the festive season. My wonderful husband does all the cooking for Christmas and I am in charge of the gifts. He is always AMAZED at how many gifts I give. This year feels different with everything being shut until the first week of December. I really hope that the shops get some good days running up to the 25th. It’s been a tough year.

Christmas stockings are a big favourite in our house and I have done them for the boys every year. Starting with a tangerine in the toe, then chocolate coins and then always topped off with a cracker. I am just now gathering things to send to my son in Scotland who sadly will be unable to join us. The stocking must go on! 2020 will be mostly edible gifts. Pate, chutney or I’ll pot up a few bulbs for some family friends. As always I vow not to spend too much but as December ticks on I get more carefree. It is a time to give but this year for me it is a time for gratitude. All the wonderful things of 2020 need to be celebrated and let’s hope for a happier and healthier year in 2021.

Emer
Interiors lover, @myriverlodge

I live in a Victorian house, a former 1800s hunting lodge, with my husband, our four children and Daisy the dog. I’ve recently been scrolling through hundreds of decorations as I try to buy at least one personalised tree ornament every year in the hopes of giving them to the kids when they have moved out and have their own Christmas trees. We are putting the Christmas tree up this weekend in time for the Late Late Toy Show, a family tradition, and the special festive cushions will take pride of place on the sofa (these ones are the Regal collection velvet cushions from @rockettstgeorge and my lovely new golden-yellow throw is from @very_lt_interiors).

Marie McCabe
Antiques and interiors lover, @antiques_and_interiors

All stocked up with firewood and fire starters. I’m trying to get away from using shop bought fire lighters this year, so I’m using the natural resources from the garden and surrounding countryside. Dried lavender, pine cones, dried leaves, heather and bracken are all being used here in the fires. Much nicer than smelly fire lighters. Our latest door wreath is one we made from acorns … a really easy project for a rainy afternoon.