A note for December from Hiltingbury Interiors
Hello
Christmas is fast approaching, and we’re already looking forward to celebrating the season with friends and family. Whether you’re hosting a bustling Christmas Day or simply anticipating cosy evenings at home, now is the perfect time to consider your festive decor. I’m already excited to put up my Christmas tree with my family - sherry in hand and Love Actually on in the background! But as always, there’s a gentle balancing act: creating a warm, inviting atmosphere without compromising the tasteful style of your home.
Festive home decoration
Decorating your home with festive accessories and ornaments is a wonderful way to elevate the seasonal spirit. If you are buying new decor, opt for simple, timeless pieces that you can reuse each year, and buy slightly more than you think you’ll need to avoid areas ending up sparse. Before heading out to browse the irresistibly tempting Christmas displays, take stock of what you already own. Everyday bowls, platters and trays can often be beautifully repurposed for lovely festive displays. It can also help to create an “everything goes’ zone, such as a sideboard, mantlepiece or even an extra tree. This provides a dedicated spot for children's crafts, homemade treasures and sentimental pieces, creating a heartfelt festive moment without disrupting your overall design scheme.
Top tips for tree dressing
Now we turn to the heart of any home at Christmas - the Christmas tree! Here are a few of our favourite tips and tricks for decking out this seasonal staple:
If space is limited, consider slimline trees.
Pre-lit trees are fantastic for a perfectly shaped, glowing look year after year.
If adding your own lights, aim for around 30 lights per foot of tree height.
If the traditional deep-green look feels too bold, opt for a tree with snowy branches for a softer effect.
Use a variety of bauble sizes to create depth and balance, keep larger decorations at the bottom and smaller ones towards the top.
Choose either a full rainbow of bauble colours or stick to three core shades. Both maximalist and refined schemes work beautifully, but straddling the middle can leave the tree looking overdone - or oddly empty.
And finally: always buy more baubles than you think you’ll need!
Local festive fun
If you’re on the hunt for festive decor, home furnishing or thoughtful gifts, look no further than our studio. We have a curated selection of beautiful pieces that will elevate your displays and shelves - and they make equally lovely presents. From stylish candles and matchsticks, to elegant candle holders, vases, and even faux berries and trailing ivy, there's plenty to help you bring a touch of festive charm into your home.
On the note of seasonal decorating, make sure you don’t miss this upcoming festive table-styling evening!
Hosted at The Kitchen@ Winchester Golf Academy, SO22 6RG
Thursday the 18th of December
6:30 - 8:30pm
Our wonderful social media manager, Rachel, will be co-leading the workshop through her illustrative business, Stripeyhead, alongside our friends at Stem & Green. It’s set to be a fantastic event, and you’ll be sure to impress your guests with your hand-crafted table centrepiece and beautifully brush-lettered place cards. More details and tickets are available here.
We hope you're all enjoying the start of the festive season, and that your tree decorating is a great success. To help get myself in the Christmas spirit, I'm off to the Winchester Christmas market tomorrow, which will set the perfect tone for the weeks ahead. As always, please feel free to pop into the shop with any questions or to have a browse of our festive stock.
Best wishes
Becci x
P.S. Know someone who'd love these design insights? Please share – we love welcoming new friends to our design community!