With the holiday season now in full swing, the Country Home Ideas office is looking a little festive.
Margaret, our Editor, has bought herself a beautiful living Christmas tree: a sweet Adenanthos Silver Silk to grace her office, while Assistant Editor Lauren has settled for a bright orange paper tree made by our super-creative stylist Greg. I’ve decked out my desk with a gold tinsel tree with plum and deep blue baubles (a fabulous colour scheme if you are looking for something alternative to the traditional choices), a tall wooden trumpeter figurine and pearl beaded lights.
Decorating a small office can be tricky, and it reminded me that there are plenty of ways to make good use of small nooks in the home that need a festive treatment. Here are a few quick ideas for you to try out:
• Make a gingerbread house. Fun for the kids and adults alike, this is a great edible decoration for the kitchen counter. Add your favorite lollies for colour, and sprinkle with icing sugar to make it look like it snowed. You can’t go wrong.
• If you don’t have space for a tree but have a beautiful collection of decorations, string some of your baubles onto a piece of twine or sturdy ribbon and tie across a bookcase, window frame or mantelpiece. Try groupings of glass or plastic baubles, or a theme like angels or musical instruments. A glass bowl filled with baubles is also a fantastic look.
• Create a simple card hanger with ribbon and plain pegs. Tie one end of the ribbon to a curtain hook, banister or even a door hook and peg the cards to it. This is simple and adds instant cheer.
• Arrange a vase of Christmas Bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum) and white flowers like roses or hydrangeas for a festive nod to the season that won’t break the bank.
• Want a shiny display without having to buy too many decorations? Get out your good silver pieces (think candlesticks, teapots and even the sugar bowl), give them a polish, and place them on a mirror with silver baubles as a table centrepiece.
And remember, don’t be afraid of a little kitsch during the holiday season. Sometimes the silliest, brightest pieces can make for the fondest memories. From all of us here at Country Home Ideas, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Ellen Driscoll, Location Co-ordinator
Images: Shutterstock