Original article featured in Velvet magazine November 2011. Photography courtesy of Cox and Cox and The White Company.

Dressing your home for Christmas should be about buying decorations that don’t get thrown away as soon as the New Year arrives. If you invest in your Christmas and in your home you will get a much more stylish result, and some of the benefits of your effort will be enjoyed all year round. Victoria Harrison of Angel + Blume shows you how to spruce up your home for the holidays.

First things first; if you know what your style is this will help you to choose decorations and ensure you get a festive look that suits you and your family. For example, if you love all things traditional, choose decorations in rich shades of red and gold or invest in some classic glass baubles to complement your existing décor and enhance your home.

Or if your style is more cool and contemporary choose minimal style decorations that will create a festive statement whilst still acting as a true reflection of your personality. This way Christmas becomes a chance to add an extra intensity and sparkle to your own style rather than masking your home with layers of glitzy decorations.

Knowing what you are looking for before you set out for the shops will also make the whole experience a much happier one and you have more chance of finding what you want rather than returning with a bag full of mismatched decorations. You don’t have to spend a fortune to dress your home for Christmas though; why not start by looking at what’s already in your garden. Holly, Ivy and Evergreen are easily available and look wonderfully festive in a large vase or draped across a mantelpiece.

The dining table is usually the centerpiece of the day and it is lovely to dress this festively. But rather than spending time and money on a themed table that will only be seen and appreciated once a year why not see it as an opportunity to invest in tablewear that can also be used from January onwards. Update your crockery or splash out on some new table linen that you know you will use all year, then simply dress it up with a festive centre-piece for the big day.

Likewise with the rest of your decorations, choosing items that can be used year round will ensure you get much more use out of them. Strings of fairy lights and good quality candles for example, will look magical at Christmas time but can also lend a party atmosphere to summer gatherings or birthday parties.

Finally make sure your home is looking its best for guests; tidy up the hallway to make a good first impression then ensure guest bedrooms are warm and inviting. Leaving out a few things to make visitors feel at home is always appreciated and a cosy pair of slippers, plenty of fresh towels and an extra blanket or two will make your guests feel pampered and well looked after. After all this hard work, all that remains is to do a quick sweep of the main rooms to tidy away clutter and ensure they look bright and welcoming…and enjoy!