See how THE GLOSS team decorate their Christmas trees – and their homes – this festive season. 

I got a favourite tree decorating idea from a magazine about 20 years ago – hot red chillies. They look great on the dark green branches – though they do shrivel up a bit by the end of the season. Since our dog eats everything in sight, I won’t be attempting that this year, though. Far longer-lasting and with great impact are the giant paper decorations from Re-Found Objects, a favourite store in the north of England – the wonderful owners Simon and Jenny have an unerring eye for great finds, and a mass of these affordable (and recyclable) paper shapes, from balls to lanterns and stars, are a quick and easy way to decorate.

We always used to hang loads of individual baubles from the ceiling on transparent twine, which looks great, but it’s not easy to pin them up or get them down (oh, the swearing and the wobbly stepladders), so they used to stay up until at least May. I’m also asking my mother-in-law for lots of greenery from her lovely garden to pile on mantelpieces and the table, to go with a ton of candles. The only other decoration I really love is a painted reindeer made in clay by my (now 6ft) son when he was small, reminding me of when he played the grumpiest reindeer ever in his school nativity, stomping around in a headband of horns.

One of my favourite Christmas evenings is the one spent decorating the tree. I have to restrain myself from doing it too early in the month so that the branches aren’t drooping by Christmas Eve, but I always have it up by mid-December. I’m one of those people with a strict colour scheme on my tree – no flashing lights or multi-coloured baubles allowed. I go for white, gold and neutral-coloured decorations with some natural elements, like wood, thrown in. I don’t stray too far from that theme each year. I’ve built up a collection over the last few years but every Christmas I add a couple of new decorations – I love Søstrene Grene and Folkster, as well as Industry & Co. The star on top came from my boyfriend’s mum’s collection who picked it up at a craft fair years ago and passed it on to us. As well as the Christmas tree I have a handmade DIY wreath (with fir, eucalyptus and ferns) and a garland-type arrangement on the shelf behind the sofa which I make using leftover supplies from the wreath.

It took me ages to find my Christmas tree: I drove around to at least six or seven depots (on December 1) before I could find a traditional dark green 6ft Noble Fir, the non-shed (to a point) tree that smells beautifully. They were in short supply this year. It seems everyone wants the perfect looking, super needle-holding Nordmann Fir tree but they come with a price – no scent. I fell for its looks last year but was so disappointed. My favourite outing so far this year was a walk in the Wicklow hills where I foraged lichen-covered branches, holly, ivy and all sorts of finds to decorate the rest of the house.

After a less than satisfying encounter with some tinsel last year (I thought it was ironic. It wasn’t) I had been dying to switch up my decoration game this season. I guess I was craving something a bit more fun. Thankfully, my new favourite ornament – a felt ballerina dinosaur (pictured) from Arket – is bringing a bit of lightness to my tree. 

I commissioned the pink velvet bows from A.Rubenesque (now sadly gone) in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre a few years ago. We had a winter wedding and wanted to mark it with a seasonal gift for our guests. Each guest received a monogrammed bow at their table setting, which now hangs from their own trees at home. Thankfully, I had some extra left over for my Christmas tree, too; they make me smile each year I take them out.

The Liberty print decorations were made by my sister (Instagram @bylulu_29) who is a crafting wizard. I was inspired to make the shell decorations after seeing them on Instagram, so I ordered the shells and got busy with a hot glue gun. Thankfully, the glow of the Christmas lights masks any dodgy craftsmanship! I’d noticed a trend this year for lots of skinny, elongated ribbons on trees so I paid a visit to Søstrene Grene where I nabbed the stripey, grosgrain ribbon and the glitter-trim ribbon, all for under a tenner.