We’re all feeling December. The way days roll into nights within seconds, and every piece of clothing you own inevitably ends up layered on your body, as you fruitlessly attempt to prevent the ever-looming 6-month long cold. But perhaps the most felt effect of December is the sudden slimming of one’s wallet. As Christmas gifts begin to be crossed of your list, the holiday slowly creeps up on you, and then you realize – “I still need to decorate my house and my Christmas table!”. Like we said, we’re all feeling December.
To resolve this pressing issue, we’ve reached out to interior stylist extraordinaire Emma Robinson, founder of the styling team Oh I love that, for DIY decorating ideas that won’t break the bank – and, oh how we love the tips and tricks she’s got up her sleeve!
Why is Christmas the perfect DIY holiday?
"It’s the perfect time for the whole family to get involved and there is something for everyone, no matter where your skills lie. If you’re a baker, baking some cookies instead of place card holders or tree decorations will never be disappointing. Perhaps you love to sew - adding initials to napkins or stockings is a wonderful touch – and there is no end to the crafts that children can get involved with from decorating placemats to adding special touches to a wreath."
What are your top 3 Christmas interior decoration tips?
1. Christmas sparkle
"There isn’t another time of year when it is acceptable to throw glitter all over your dining table, so make the most of it, and add further sparkle with candles and fairy lights."
2. Winter florals
"Bring a little of the outside indoors, with fresh eucalyptus, Hydrangeas, pine tree branches and pine cones. Their beautiful scent really sets the scene for Christmas."
3. Try to stick to 2 or 3 colours
"It makes decorating much easier and instantly sophisticated. You really can’t have too many decorations if you stick to a colour palette.
But most importantly have fun! It really is the most wonderful time of the year and your home doesn’t have to be perfect to enjoy it."
Have you spotted any special Christmas decoration trends this year?
"We seem to be heading back to the traditional this year with lots of gold (which I am always pleased about) as well as rustic Scandinavian-style decoration. The desire for alternative Christmas trees seems to be growing - it’s great to see all of the new and interesting designs out there!"
Walk us through the steps to create your amazing DIY advent calendar..
"If you want to escape the chocolate windows of supermarket advent calendars you can try this DIY advent calendar."
Time:
"1 hour to 1 hour and a half
You’ll need:
Small presents, wrapping paper (try using one or two complementary deigns), ribbon (to complement your wrapping paper), double sided tape or a hot glue gun.
Key steps:
Wrap all of your small presents in the wrapping paper. Secure the ribbon around the present using double sided tape, hot glue or a beautiful bow. Secure the other end of the ribbon to the object to want to display it on using a similar method. We display ours in the hallway and use the bannister to attach the gifts but you could you a branch, a noticeboard, the back of a chair - whatever works for you.
If you want to go the extra mile you might choose to number the presents. As well as the gift you could also add in a note for each day with a kind deed to be done for the day!"
The Christmas Table…
Using nothing but plastic cutlery, and some gold spray paint, Emma gives her table a luxurious touch without breaking the bank.
Time
About 2 to 3 hours.
You'll need:
Plastic cutlery (knife, fork, spoon etc.), gold spray paint, a decorative bow.
Key Steps:
Make sure to allocate 3 pieces of cutlery per person. Lay the cutlery on a plastic sheet and spray with the gold paint until every piece and every side is coated. Then, let the cutlery dry for a couple of hours. Once the cutlery is dry to the touch, wrap the a small piece of ribbon and separate the cutlery as shown above. For an extra Christmasy vibe - add a small piece of pine!
So there you have it, super easy Chrsitmas DIY decorations! If you want to know more about Emma, visit her webite here and follow her on social media @ohilovethat!