Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 i HomeStyle

This Christmas, more than ever, we’re looking forward to celebrating and spending time with loved ones, so we’ve filled this issue with dazzling ideas to help you give your home a fabulous festive glow up. You’ll find this season’s hottest Christmas trends on page 60, and over on page 71 we show you how to turn each of these schemes into a wow-factor table setting to impress your guests! If you’re styling a small space or fancy a fresh, modern look, you’ll find original ideas for alternative Christmas trees on page 82, plus we have some simple tips for making your Christmas a little greener on page 76. For a unique touch, there’s nothing like a handmade decoration. Our stunning festive chandelier (page 86) is so impressive yet surprisingly easy…

1 Let this look grow and grow! When it comes to greenery, more is more. As well as a traditional tree, you could layer up your home with rich foliage, such as wreaths and garlands. 2 Match your decorations so that they’re in keeping with your natural theme and go for dried flower bouquets, woodland-themed baubles and botanical scented candles. 1 This Christmas trend is all about making a statement, so don’t hold back. Mix metallic textures with bright, sparkly colours and work on the principle, ‘If it’s kitsch, it fits!’ 2 Transform a sideboard or table into a cocktail station with a marble or gold tray, some sparkly lights, and your favourite Martini glasses.…

It takes time to create a home. Not many people have all the money to do everything at once, but that’s okay. A house is a long-term investment so there’s no hurry. Sometimes practicalities and what works best for our family are more important than the décor. A quality shower was essential, so I had to work around that and be savvy with my bathroom shopping. It’s actually not that hard to be really creative on a budget. A piece of furniture left out on the street and a £3 tester pot is all you really need. See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Helen Lawson, 36, a social media manager at The Open University. I live with my husband, Craig, an engineer at Red Bull Racing, and our two daughters Ottilie, five, and Pippa, seven, plus our cairn terrier, Alf, and five hens. WHERE I LIVE Our home is a four-bedroom house in Mursley, Buckinghamshire. I post interior updates on my Instagram @cedar.tree.house. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE When we bought this house, it was a two-bedroom bungalow. We wanted a larger home with plenty of space for the whole family. There wasn’t much to like about the old house when we moved in, but the location and the garden more than made up for that. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We extended the building to give…

Style idea Give this look an extra special touch by adding in your own handmade pieces…

Always go with your gut instinct. There have been a few times where I’ve picked a colour, chickened out and then ended up changing it back to what I originally wanted. Think differently to create a better use of space. When I first suggested the idea of making part of the living room a new kitchen, nobody thought it was a good idea. Your Christmas decorations are only there for a few weeks, so just go for it! There are so many fantastic ideas on Pinterest that can be adapted to suit your home. See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes…

Hands-free Sonos One smart speaker, around £199, Sonos This powerful smart speaker is a great choice for music lovers as it offers fantastic room-filling sound that can be controlled with your voice. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are built in, so you can check the news, ask questions and set alarms in an instant. Its sleek, compact design is available in black or white and will fit right in with your décor. We love: The option to pair two Sonos Ones together for stereo separation – perfect home cinema surround sound for those festive films and parties. Wake me up Smart clock 2, £59.99, Lenovo This brand new voice-controlled speaker and clock features a 10cm touch-screen colour display, which can be customised with different clock faces and even family photos.…

STYLE EDIT NORDIC WINTER Layer up serveware in stunning greys and gentle taupe tones for a soft, snowy scheme that will enhance the look of your festive menu. Bring in flashes of forest green with tablemats, runners or cushions. Try foraged foliage garlands or wreaths on the table too – they look beautiful when arranged as centrepieces. Sprinkle a little festive magic with satin-finish metallic touches and plenty of glowing candles. Choose silver for a cool, frosty effect, or warm things up a little with brass and gold. NEW NOSTALGIA Serve up a slice of Christmas past with this playful look. Make room at the table for colourful characters, jolly snowmen and chubby robins – and have fun creating a unique colour scheme that suits your home. Start with the…

1 Chic teak For a modern, eco alternative to a traditional pine we love this teak wood tree by Sklum. At 159cm (h) x 90cm (w) with a 30cm base there’s plenty of space to add your stamp with your choice of decorations and it’s still compact enough to slot into a cosy corner. This tree will last for years and you could use it at other times of the year too – it would look great hung with Easter decorations. 2 Going for gold Gold adds elegance and glamour and it’s a classic choice for Christmas as it blends well with lots of festive colours. This gold metal tree measures 41cm (h) x 16.5cm (w) and could take centre stage on a mantelpiece, console table or a festive dinner…

These striking candlesticks are so easy to make and are a perfect project for upcycling beginners. They look great grouped together, so make a few in different heights for an impactful display in a colour scheme to match your décor. You will need Stair spindle Ruler or tape measure Pencil Saw Sanding block Grab adhesive Square deck post cap Small terracotta plant saucer Mini tart tin, £10.99 for four, Lakeland Artisan metal primer, £9.50 for 400ml, Craig & Rose Matt emulsion paint – we used Damson Dream 1, Sapphire Springs 1 and Paradise Green 1, all £2.02 for 30ml, Dulux Frensheen mineral powder in Gorgeous Gold, £9.95, Frenchic Clear Wax, £14.95 for 400ml, Frenchic 1 Use a pencil and ruler to measure and mark your desired candlestick length on the…

Easy installation We are big fans of beautiful designs that also makes life a little easier, which is why the new DFS Boxit collection has caught our eye. The range features two sofas and four beds, including the Cosmos Blue double, shown below. Each piece is boxed up compactly to fit through any doorway and all you need for assembly is an Allen key. Bedframes cost £499 and sofas £699 from dfs . co.uk Old veg? Put floppy carrots in a Tupperware of water overnight and they’ll taste fresh and crunchy in the morning! Glow up Achieving a polished look can be a tad tricky on dark winter mornings, but luckily a new mirror gadget is here to save the day when the light outside is murky. The Halo make-up…

SIMPLE IS SAVVY ‘We had a large space to work with so when we started talking to kitchen designers, we found the amount of choice available was almost overwhelming. We were shown various complicated layouts and design features that just weren’t what we wanted. It’s important to keep focused on what you actually need and will use, rather than getting distracted with gadgets and unnecessary extras, especially if you want to keep control of your spending.’ MAXIMISE STORAGE OPTIONS ‘Although I wanted to avoid high-level wall units as they can make the room feel enclosed, I didn’t want to sacrifice storage. The solution was to build one side of the island from standard wall cupboards, and then fit the oak surface on top. I keep items I don’t use as…

Go au naturel Look to nature for festive décor. Sprigs of holly, kitchen herbs, pinecones and festive fruit, such as clementines, can all make a lovely centrepiece for the table. Timeless appeal For a look that won’t date anytime soon, stick to a pared-back neutral colour scheme. At this time of year, a bit of classic red and green is always welcome for an instant Christmas hit that will work year after year. Festive feels How you feel in your kitchen is just as important as how it looks. Cosy up your space with fairy lights and candles, mulled wine warming on the stove, soft textures to snuggle up to and some carols playing gently in the background.…

• For a similar sofa, try the three-seater Purple Chesterfield sofa, £689.99, Beliani • Zebra patterned rug, £34.99, H&M Home • Vintage-style Palm Tree floor lamp, £350; Midas bar stools, £185, both Rockett St George • Large Sketched Female Figure velvet wall hanging, £150, Hilary and Flo • For a similar mirror, try the Gold Hexagon wall mirror, £36.45, Melody Maison • Pink Floral print, from £10, @lovesprint • Walls painted in Farrow & Ball Blue Hague, £49.50 for 2.5L, B&Q • For a similar cushion, try the Boho Floral Blue and Gold fringe cushion, £29, My Vintage Home • Attitude art print by Marta Hutt, from £35, Lush Eclectic • Large multicolour lip print, £38, House Of Neon • Life Is Short Neon print, from £13, Ink & Drop…

A Absolutely Fabrics facebook.com/ absolutelyfabricsuk Acumen acumencollection.co.uk Amazon amazon.co.uk Annabel James annabeljames.co.uk Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Anthropologie anthropologie.com AO.com ao.com A Place For Everything aplaceforeverything.co.uk Appliances Direct appliancesdirect.co.uk Argos argos.co.uk Artisan Homeware artisanhomeware.co.uk Asda asda.com Assembli Shop assemblishop.com Audenza audenza.com B B&M bmstores.co.uk B&Q diy.com Baker Ross bakerross.co.uk Barker & Stonehouse barkerandstonehouse. co.uk Beards & Daisies beardsanddaisies.co.uk Beaumonde beaumonde.co.uk Beliani beliani.co.uk Belvoir belvoir.co.uk Benjamin Moore benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Best Heating bestheating.com BHS bhs.com Bloom bloom.uk.com Bloom & Wild bloomandwild.com C Calendar Club calendarclub.co.uk Carpetright carpetright.co.uk Cartwright & Butler cartwrightandbutler.co.uk Cass Art cassart.co.uk COAT Paints coatpaints.com Codu coduhome.co.uk Cole & Son cole-and-son.com Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk Craig & Rose craigandrose.com Creed Revival creedrevival.com Crown Paints crownpaints.co.uk Cuckooland cuckooland.com Cult Furniture cultfurniture.com Curating Cambridge curatingcambridge.co.uk Currys PC World currys.co.uk D Daisy Park daisypark.co.uk Dar Leone…

Support smaller makers with these customised gifts The festive season is the ultimate time of year to show your loved ones how important they are to you, so we’re always looking for ways to make gifts more meaningful. Personalised decorations are a great way to show a thoughtful touch and will become treasured keepsakes for many future festive celebrations…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Rachel Verney and I work for Citizens Advice. I live with my partner, Jon Stroud, an oven cleaner, and our two children, Rudi, seven, and Arlo, four. I like to share my renovation journey on Instagram@the_shoestring_home. WHERE I LIVE Our home is a three-bedroom 1950s ex-council house in Reigate, Surrey. We moved here in September 2018. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE The whole house needed updating. In classic 1980s style everything was lime green, orange and brown with fake-wood cladding and floral wallpaper everywhere you looked. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We did a full renovation of the kitchen and bathroom, choosing classic white for both. Then I started filling each room with preloved, upcycled furniture that was either free or a bargain second-hand…

You will need • A3 frame • Pink, red and white paper • Ruler • Alphabet stencil • Pencil • Scissors • Glue stick 1 Remove the backing board from the frame and use it to measure and cut out a piece of pink paper to fit inside. 2 Next, take the alphabet stencil and draw out your chosen slogan on the sheets of red and white paper. 3 Neatly cut out the letters, and then arrange them as you wish on the sheet of pink paper, with the red overlapping the white. Leave some edges of the white letters showing so that they look like highlights. 4 When you’re happy with the layout, stick the letters in place with glue. Place the slogan art inside…

Incorporate lots of different materials to add warmth to your space. A mix of linen, sheepskin and chunky knits alongside wood, wicker and rattan will add interest and make the space feel cosier. You can almost never have enough textures. Head to the high street for expensive-looking but budget-friendly accessories. H&M Home and Zara Home are great for linen bedding, cushions and throws in pared-back colours for a good price. Use darker tones to highlight architectural features in your home, such as chimney breasts, alcoves and window frames. If you’ve got kids, think about how you can make the look family friendly. Going for darker neutrals, instead of all-whites, is more practical and you’ll probably worry less about grubby fingerprints or muddy shoes. Add to the look’s calming effect with…

You will need • 1m of unvarnished wood • Sandpaper • Dry cloth • Wood stain • Paintbrushes • Pencil • White and grey paint • Stars and numbers stencils • Cup • Ruler or tape measure • Black marker pen 1 Sand down any rough edges on the length of wood. Dust with a cloth, and apply wood stain with a brush. Allow to dry. 2 Next, draw mountain shapes with snowcaps on the bottom half of the length of wood. Draw around a cup at the top to create a moon, and use a stencil to add some different-sized stars. 3 Paint the mountains in different shades of grey, and add white snowcaps. Paint the moon and stars in white. Leave to dry. 4…

A BIT ABOUT ME I’m Ami Wootton, owner of interiors shop, Glebe House Vintage@life_behind_glebehousevintage. I live with my husband, Paul, a painter and decorator, children, Archie, 13, and Kitty, seven, plus our family dog, Naughty George. WHERE I LIVE Our home is a three-bedroom 1940s house in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland. WHAT I WANTED TO CHANGE An old couple had lived here for years so we had to remove layers of woodchip and painted blown vinyl, as well as ripping up all the 1960s carpets. HOW I MADE IT MY OWN We moved an internal wall to make the kitchen-diner bigger and fitted a new bathroom. I love a rustic French look, so there are lots of pieces with imperfections and contrasting textures, such as wood and velvet. MY FAVOURITE PART Our…

Style idea Blush pink and dusty apricot tones will create a sophisticated scheme…

Natural wax candles are more sustainable and better for our health 1 CHOOSE REUSABLE WRAPPING The average UK household gets through around four rolls of wrapping paper at Christmas, much of which inevitably ends up in the bin. You can find plenty of inspiration for sustainable gift wrapping in Zero Waste Gift Wrap by Christine Leech. This gorgeous book includes ideas such as tsutsumu – the traditional Japanese wrapping technique using furoshiki cloths, so you can give a gift and the piece of fabric that it’s wrapped in! Turn to page 80 for a tutorial. If you do choose paper wrap, check the label to make sure that it’s recyclable, and remember that any plastic-based sticky tape should be removed before recycling. 2 USE ECO TAPE Most sticky tape is…

STARBURST You will need Wooden stars, £4.95 for 180, Baker Ross 6mm organdie ribbon, £1.60 for 8m; Silver berry picks, £3 for 81; 15mm grosgrain ribbon in Grey, £3.40 for 5m, Hobbycraft Acrylic paint in White Iridescent biodegradable glitter Glue gun 3 fir branches 3 holly sprigs 5 lengths of ivy Florist wire 1 Begin by making your frosted stars. Paint wooden stars with white acrylic paint and, while the paint is still wet, sprinkle them on both sides with iridescent glitter and leave to dry. Once dried, use a glue gun to attach the stars to three lengths of organdie ribbon. 2 Cluster together three fir branches with the longest one in the centre. Bind the tops of the stems together using florist wire. Add the lengths of ivy,…

Christmas sticky toffee pudding Prep time 30 mins Cook time 1 hr 15 mins Serves 8 INGREDIENTS • 75g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing • 150g stoned dates, chopped • 55ml brandy • 100g light soft brown sugar • ½ tsp vanilla extract • 1½ tbsp clear honey • 2 clementines, zest and juice • 2 eggs • 130g self-raising flour • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 1 tsp mixed spice • ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg • 1 apple, peeled, cored and grated • Double cream or ice cream, to serve For the sauce • 175g golden caster sugar • 2 clementines, segmented • 100g butter • 50ml double cream • ¼ tsp sea salt • 1 tbsp brandy METHOD 1 Preheat oven to 160ºC/140ºC/Gas Mark…

CHEF APPROVED You can’t go wrong with your veg using this tough, heat-resistant steamer set Professional stainless steel steamer set, £89, ProCook STEAM IN STYLE This pan can fry, boil, sear, braise, sauté and steam, all while looking fabulous! Always Pan with stackable steamers, from £125, Our Place HOB-FREE Keep an eye on your veg with a faff-free translucent electric counter-top steamer Russell Hobbs 21140 electric steamer, £30, AO…

• Fairford kitchen units in Dove Grey and Slate Grey, £8,000; Lamona Belfast sink, £177; Lamona Breggia Chrome mixer tap, £59; Square-Edge Solid Oak worktops, £1,040, all Howdens • Silver White Glitter quartz worktop, £1,300, L&S Granite • Rangemaster Classic Deluxe cooker, £2,299, AO.com • Smeg canopy cooker hood, £180, Appliances Direct • Metro Brick Flat White tiles, £10 per sq m, Tiles Direct • Weathered Oak counter stool, £250 each, Cox & Cox • Rustic shelf with lipped brackets, £58 each, Acumen Collection • Milano Anthracite vertical radiator, £344.95 each, Best Heating • Fatouh rug, £136.50, La Redoute • Modern Farmhouse extending dining table, £579; Modern Farmhouse bench, £229; Modern Farmhouse dining chairs, £280 for two, all InsideOut Living • COZZY Vintage ceiling pendant light fittings, £15.99 each,…

‘A mix of table lamps, candles and neon lights gives an after-hours feel’…

Laura Ashley WOODLAND WONDERS Bring nature indoors this festive season with on-trend dried florals and foliage Dunelm KEEP YOUR COOL Forgo glitz and opt for pared-back chic with understated style HomeSense SPARKLE SEASON Be loud, be proud and embrace colour with the maximalist trend Debenhams WRAPPING UP Keep the cold out with these snuggly homewares…

Attach a fir garland to the mantelpiece using wire twisted around Command hooks. This will prevent long-term marks when you take your decoration down. You’ll need two hooks on the mantel and two on the wall either side of your surround; two going up and two going down, so that you can firmly attach your garland and accessories. If necessary, attach another Command hook so that you can use more wire. Weave in fairy lights first, and make sure you leave enough cord to plug them in. Add in individual branches of eucalyptus and sprayed gold leaves, using wire to hold them in place. Stand back to check you have a balanced look. Push some faux peacock feathers through the garland to add height. These are long and light so…

Location was key for us. Being surrounded by a lovely garden was important and we knew that we could then transform the bungalow into the perfect home. Take your time thinking about how you want to live in your home. We asked a few architects for ideas and stuck all the designs on the walls and mulled them over for a while until we worked out which aspects we liked and put them all together for the final design. It’s really important to consider practical materials with children and pets. The vinyl flooring looks like wood but it’s much easier to mop and keep clean. See yourhomestyle.uk for more great real homes…

Put up a sample first, as you would with paint. The effect can look different from below, so make sure you’re happy with your choice. If you’ve decided to be bold with your ceiling wallpaper, keep the walls quite plain in either white or a colour that picks out a hue from the overhead pattern. If you’re feeling particularly brave, you could use the same wallpaper on the walls and ceiling. It’s a dramatic look that has a cosy effect and works particularly well in a small space, such as a bathroom or in a room with sloping ceilings. If your ceiling hasn’t been freshly plastered, fill any holes or cracks. Then apply a coat of 50/50 PVA glue and water to size it. The semi-glossy surface makes it easier…

You will need • Gin glasses • Size adhesive • Gold leaf • Paintbrushes • Dishwasher-safe varnish 1 First ensure that the glasses are completely clean, dry and free of any dirt or grease. 2 Apply a thin layer of size adhesive to the bottom section of the glasses, and leave to go tacky and clear in appearance. 3 Carefully lay a sheet of gold leaf over the tacky areas, and use a soft dry brush to press it in place and also rub off any excess leaf. 4 Work around the glasses, completely covering the tacky areas, and then leave to dry. 5 Apply a coat of dishwasher-safe varnish to protect the gold leaf before using. Top tip Dishwasher-safe varnish will protect the gold…

The Japanese technique of wrapping gifts in lightweight, re-usable fabric squares called furoshiki uses simple knots and folds to secure the gift inside. There are many different knotting patterns but this basic technique can be used to wrap all sorts of gifts from books to balls and bottles. You just need to size up your wraps depending on the size and shape of your gift. You can buy furoshiki-style wrapping cloths online – Etsy has a huge selection – make your own from left-over fabric scraps or use vintage scarves. In this tutorial we’ll show you how to tie a Katakake Bukuro (translating as ‘carry wrap’), which works brilliantly for all kinds of gifts, as long as they aren’t too heavy. This is an edited extract from Zero Waste Gift…

Save space on your Christmas dinner table and create an impact by elevating a traditional centrepiece and creating this dramatic hanging chandelier instead. It’s so quick and easy to make and it can be reused time and again at different times of the year, whether you choose to use faux foliage, as we have, or fresh. You will need 45cm willow wreath, £10, Hobbycraft 4 x Holland ivy garland, £4.99 each, Hobbycraft 3 x English ivy garland, £5.99 each, Hobbycraft Selection of red berry picks, from £2 each, Hobbycraft Ginger Ray foliage string lights, £9, Hobbycraft Florist wire 2m chain Wire cutters 4 x 25mm S hooks 4mm carabiner snap hook 10 TruGlow® Christmas tree candle lights, £49.99, Lights4fun 1 Begin by winding lengths of faux green ivy around the…

Cauliflower cheese pithivier Prep time 5 mins Cook time 1 hr 5 mins Serves 8 INGREDIENTS • ½ tbsp olive oil • 2 red onions, sliced • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar • 1 tsp dark brown sugar • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves • 600g cauliflower, broken into florets • 40g unsalted butter • 1 tbsp flour, plus extra for dusting • 300ml milk • 100g strong Cheddar, grated • 375g (about 3) leeks, trimmed and sliced • 2 x 375g packs ready-rolled light puff pastry • 1 egg, beaten METHOD 1 Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry the onions for 8-10 minutes until soft. Add the vinegar, sugar and thyme, and cook for 12-15 minutes until starting to caramelise. Meanwhile, cook the…

SWEET AS CANDY The folks at Waitrose have pulled out all the stops for Christmas with a banquet of delicious new festive recipes to cater for pre- and post- C Day parties, Christmas lunch and Boxing Day. Whetting our appetite in particular are a trio of Xmas desserts: the No.1 Chocolate & Salted Caramel Melt In the Middle Pudding (£6), the Vegan Winter Pudding (£5) and a party show-stopper, Heston’s Giant Cracking Penny (£20). Inspired by childhood memories, this super-sized coin serves 10 and is made of a Belgian chocolate shell surrounding rich chocolate mousse with hazelnut ganache. How many sleeps until Xmas? Available from Waitrose nationwide. VIVA LA COCKTAIL Independent cocktail brand Tom Savano has released an exciting new flavour for Christmas. The Finnish Liberation Cosmopolitan (£27, 500ml) tips…

DELICIOUSLY DARK ‘Going dark seemed like the natural choice for us as we wanted our home to feel cosy and welcoming. Low level lighting was an absolute must too, because there’s nothing better than a warm glow to make you want to hunker down in the evening. We added interest and a touch of opulence to the whole room by hanging chandeliers, throwing in plush velvet throws, cushions and quirky gold accents. We have 14 lamps in this room, but the standard lamp with its tasselled shade is my absolute favourite and finishes off this corner perfectly.’ @itsonlytaken10years SMOKE & MIRRORS ‘The living room was the hardest to style as, like most new builds, it had a long featureless flat wall. We made a false chimney breast with a space…

CUSTOMISE FESTIVE BARGAINS Decorating for Christmas doesn’t have to cost a fortune. An easy, budget-friendly way to transform a room is to fill a fireplace with loads of colourful paper pom poms and lanterns. Pick up a cardboard star for under £5 from Hobbycraft and spray it gold, then add a disco ball, oversized baubles, candles and finish off with glam gold accessories. SWEEP THE SUPERMARKET Sarah loves to showcase her good-looking glassware. ‘I love a retro cocktail shaker or a vintage coupe glass,’ she says, ‘but I also keep my eye out in supermarkets and high-street shops. They’ve really upped their game in terms of homeware, and I often find stylish glassware from places like George Home and John Lewis & Partners that are really affordable.’ BUY FURNITURE THAT…

Warm welcome Make guests feel at home. Leave out an open bottle of bubbly they can pour, crackers to pull and bitesize snacks they can easily help themselves to. Mix it up Give your set-up character with an eclectic selection of glassware. Different-sized glasses and accessories from various eras adds interest – mix an antique decanter with the latest trends from your fave high-street shop. Improvise If you don’t have space for a cocktail cart, display your bottles on a stylish tray, or on the lower level of a side table.…