By Kate Baxter
Last year we challenged award-winning interiors and lifestyle blogger Kate Baxter @fabricofmylife to style one of our apartments at New Maker Yards. We’re revisiting her festive makeover and decoration tips, to help you get your home ready for the holiday season. Deck the halls!
For me, Christmas should start in the bedroom. If you think back to your childhood, when it comes to the big day itself it’s all about waking up and discovering your stocking. It’s all about rekindling some of that magic of Christmas morning!
The main bedroom in the New Maker Yards apartment is furnished in a lovely array of soft taupes and greys, so I adopted a silver scheme. This beautiful yet subtle bedding set features a reversible festive tree design in white and grey, evoking the charm of a snowy winter wonderland. I’ve paired it with grey teddy fleece pillowcases to bring an extra layer of tactility to the bed. In other words, I want to encourage plenty of lazy mornings spent reading, playing board games and eating chocolate.
For an instant impact, try some gorgeous Snowflakes window stickers. No worries, you can peel them right off. Use Command Strip hooks for hanging lightweight decorations from walls or window-frames. Good news is, they hold strongly and remove cleanly – no bother. These will only work on smooth surfaces, don’t use on wallpapered walls.
The headboard, bedspread, jewel-blue cushion and thick grey curtains are part of the New Maker Yards’ ‘Premium Collection’ décor scheme. When you rent with Get Living, you can choose an apartment décor style to suit your own taste, from contemporary bold colours of the ‘Design Collection’ to the luxurious ‘Premium Collection’. Moreover, you can opt for the blank canvas of the ‘Signature Collection’ and make the place completely your own.
I accessorised the headboard with a silver foliage garland, and dressed the bedside table with a glass jar full of baubles and fairy lights. Fairy lights are a renter’s best friend when it comes to creating a cosy, festive atmosphere. In fact, they don’t need to be strung around a tree to be effective. This stylish light jar on the nightstand serves as a decoration and reading light.
A stylish towel ladder – like the birch VILTO from IKEA, is a great to string lights from too. Additionally, it can serve a purpose in the bathroom or bedroom long after the holidays are done and dusted. For interiors to keep your warm all season, read about this winter’s interior design trends.
Colourful paper trees are a stunning alternative to a real tree. Even better, they can be easily folded back down for storage year-after-year. Altrincham-based Rose & Grey have a great selection of varying sizes and colours to choose from. I’ve scattered Next’s shatterproof baubles in shades of red and brown around the place. Afterward, I played around and positioned some more fairy lights beneath the sofa for a touch of atmospheric light. Although, this not advisable if you have furry friends.
Giant hanging foil decorations in colourful metallic shades are one of my lasting memories from Christmas in the 80s. While I’m not about to embrace such a retro look this year, these decorative hanging snowflake fans feel like a suitable contemporary update on a childhood tradition. Paper crafting is a brilliant mindful activity too, so why not try making paper snowflakes of your own.
For soft furnishings, a pop of red velvet is Christmas, and I couldn’t resist the Happy Holidays printed cushion cover.
Advent calendars are back with a bang and it seems us adults can get involved in the fun. Gone are the days of chocolate calendars now beauty advent calendars have stormed the charge.
Since we’re all on heightened countdown to the holiday season, give yourself a creative challenge and make your own advent calendar. Didn’t get sent the Louis Vuitton advent calendar this year? No worries. You can fill up a DIY calendar with whatever takes your fancy – trinkets, letters, booze miniatures. The choices are endless.
The best part of the holiday season though – the food. I was so impressed by the kitchen and dining space at New Maker Yards – a perfect place to entertain. Firstly, a statement tablecloth. This Holly & Ivy tablecloth I found at H&M Home gave me all the Christmas feels.
I’ve created a beautiful centre piece for the table with candles and seasonal green foliage, pine-cones and red berries. It’s a traditional centre piece that still leaves plenty of space for a turkey-and-trimmings, cheeses, mince-pies – and then some.
Have fun adding some festive sparkle to your own home. Merry Christmas everyone.
Get Living’s spacious homes make decorating a treat – and not just around Christmas! Enjoy the freedom the decorate to truly make your home your own. Find available homes across London at East Village and Elephant Central, and Manchester at New Maker Yards.
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