How to Create a Traditional Christmas Interior

Christmas is a time for family, friends and celebration and creating a home that is full of festive cheer and warming colours and textures. Traditional Christmas decor provides a natural and rich finish that is reminiscent of the classic Victorian festive home.

Rich colours, traditional decorations and handmade finishing touches create a welcoming ambiance that is perfect for sharing a glass of egg nog around the fire with your nearest and dearest this Christmas.

Trees

Traditional Christmas trees represent the beauty of nature and elegant handmade detailing that looks opulent and refined. Natural decor such as sprigs of holly, berries, mistletoe and ivy and food based decor like oranges, cinnamon sticks and gingerbread create a rich and textured finish that is cheap to create and showcases the elegance of handcrafted decorations. Ribbons should be tied in bows to the ends of the branches in complimentary traditional Christmas colours such as red and green and gold and baubles should be shaped like bells, stars, birds and candles for a period style charm that is complemented by simple white lights and an angel tree topper.

Traditional wreaths

In period style Christmas interiors, classic wreaths were crafted from natural materials such as wicker, twigs and sacking and decorated with traditional natural elements that were gathered from the surrounding landscape. Acorns, cinnamon, berries and leaves should be entwined into the circular formation and complimented by a selection of green, red or gold bows or crocheted shapes and motifs. Wreaths are traditionally hung above the main fireplace in the home or attached to the front door as a welcoming greeting to Christmas visitors. Matching garlands can be woven through staircases and along a mantelpiece to create a complimentary focal point that is festive and cosy.

Stockings

Hanging up your stocking on the fireplace on Christmas Eve was a family tradition that created an air of excitement and glee amongst the younger family members and added to the luxurious and colourful finish of traditional Christmas interiors. To recreate this look select stockings that are crafted from traditional felt, velvet or sacking or rustic fabrics such as tartan and plaid. The top of each stocking can be finished in a complimentary fabric in classic red, green and gold colour tones or topped with white faux fur for an authentic festive look. Arrange your stockings in order of age (left to right) and hang in a linear formation along the edge of the fireplace or down the stairs (oldest member goes highest) for a fun and practical addition to your Christmas interior.

Simple touches,

Traditional Christmas interiors concentrated their decorations into specific zones such as the tree, mantelpiece and table leaving the walls free from decor and embellishments that were obvious and intrusive. Mirrors, picture frames and wall lights should be decorated using a simple sprig of holly or ivy in the very corner of the frame and a sprig of mistletoe can be hung above an archway or door way in the hope of some Christmas romance. Bundles of pomanders (oranges decorated with cloves) dangled from ribbons can be hung from stairwells and bed frames or arranged in bowls on a sideboard or dresser to give a splash of colour and a festive scent that will fill your home with Christmas cheer.

Table decor

The dining table was the centre of all social events in traditional Christmas interiors and was a place where the decadence and family warmth shone through in the decor and place settings. Classic colour schemes such as red and gold are a staple feature of Victorian table decor and can be complimented with elegant cut crystal glasses and festive patterned plates featuring a classic winter’s scene or seasonal foliage such as ivy and holly bushes. Table cloths should be crafted from simple cream cotton or red velvet or for a more countrified look a tartan and plaid pattern in classic red and green shades that adds a cosy ambiance that is warm and welcoming. Napkins can be tied using rustic twine or a ribbon with a bunch of cinnamon or a sprig of holly sat on top for visual detail. The centrepiece should feature an arrangement of tapered or pillar candles finished with ribbon bows and foliage such as ivy and acorns that create a naturally beautiful focal point in which to entertain.

For more ideas on creating a warm and inviting, traditional Christmas interior, take a look at our latest Pinterest board - Pinterest - Traditional Christmas Interiors