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christmas decor

It is difficult to even imagine winter without a fireplace warming up the living room and presenting a focal point and invitation for get-togethers. The typical cold outdoor setting is calling for a warm room enriched with a sizzling fire. Incorporating a fireplace into a living room shouldn’t be very difficult, but it does require some consideration when it comes to the design of the entire room, the very piece, and its surroundings. So, here’s everything you need to know about adding a cozy ambiance to your home by designing a beautiful living room fireplace for the warmest winter ever.

The focal point

When a fireplace is in the room, all eyes are looking at it. It is the area where you will place your seating arrangement, and where you will direct your décor efforts. However, a fireplace can share the spotlight with another feature, such as a big-screen television, an antique Argentine mirror, or an artwork. Also, a fireplace can serve to divide an open concept space into the living and the cooking/eating area. Various styles of fireplaces can fit into various interior design styles.

The modern room fireplace

We usually associate these decor pieces with nostalgia and vintage-looking rooms. However, there are plenty of styles that can be incorporated into a highly-modern room. For example, you can go for a fireplace surrounded by sleek heat-resistant tiles with a matte finish. As for the rest of the room, stick with the minimalist look. The mantel should remain clear of clutter, but you can hang a simple artwork above the fireplace.

Fireplace extravaganza 

Another option that goes oddly well with modern and minimalist rooms is a statement-making fireplace. They can’t be designed without the help of professional designers. These fireplaces do not fit into the traditional rectangular or square shape norm and they use different materials and colors. Since they are a statement on their own, they don’t require additional decorative elements.

Chimney in the first plan

Chimney breasts are a nice thing to add if you are designing a room from scratch. However, you have to think about how the chimney breast will integrate with the fireplace and with the walls. It can be set in the corner or in the middle of the room, and the décor and color of the chimney should be a different tone from the rest of the room.

Rustic charm

If you are in for a traditional fireplace appearance, you can choose to build a stone or brick fireplace with a wooden mantle. Not only will a fireplace like this emit true warmth, but it will also bring visual warmth into space. Rustic, vintage, and organic design styles fit in well with such a fireplace. Wooden furniture and warm neutrals on the wall will blend in well with such an interior and provide an irresistibly cozy feel.

Plain, white, and beautiful

The most classic fireplaces are simple, minimalistic, and complemented with plain white corbels and matching lintels. They are simply calling for some charming Christmas décor and precious family time. The mantel can be traditionally decorated with family photographs, candles, and other details. For decorating the surroundings of the fireplace, search for beautiful pots online and plant houseplants that can stand the heat, such as aloe vera, areca palm, and Boston fern.

On the beach all year long

There is nothing warmer than the sun warming up the picturesque white stretch of sand while the waves are hitting it. Translate that ambiance into your cold winter home by designing a coastal-style room with a fireplace decorated with noticeable pieces of shells. Other design elements to include are sun-bleached woods, sisal, oceanic blues and sandy shades. 

Winter is often cold and harsh, and all we want to do is cover ourselves with a soft blanket, have a cup of hot chocolate, read a good book and listen to the wood crackling in the fire. Choose the style of your fireplace and make your winter days a warm dream instead of a cold nightmare.

Christmas is around the corner, which means it’s time to start organizing celebrations, meals, gifts and, of course, our homes. Decorating your space to mirror the festive atmosphere is one of the best aspects of Christmas, especially if you can share the decorating duties with your loved ones. There’s nothing more fairytale-like than bringing magic into your home during the holidays season, so as a result, here are some helpful tips that will help you decorate your place and feel great this Christmas:

Feel free to go overboard 

Golden, silver, sequins and all things shiny are the perfect Christmas decoration, so if you truly want to make your apartment pop, then feel free to go overboard this year. Add as many decorations as you like, if that makes you feel happy. If you want a Christmas tree in every room, then make it happen, because your home should be your own little haven, and you should be able to decorate it as you wish.

Fairy-tale Christmas: Tips For Bringing Magic Into Your Apartment

Play with different colors and shapes

If you prefer whimsy details and colorful atmosphere, then you can get out of your comfort zone and incorporate slightly different details such as pink, purple and blue small Christmas trees that you can place on the window sill or a bookshelf. Utilizing your shelves is a great way to get some extra room, so feel free to use them to hang garlands of lights or to proudly display your Christmas cards.  Aside from that, fun new patterns, pastel-colored bunts, crochet, and embroidery textures are all interesting alternatives to traditional Christmas decorations.

Don’t be afraid to go minimalist

Just because you prefer minimalism, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge yourself with decorating your home this year. Adding one big Christmas tree with fairy lights and string paper wrapping is a great solution for those who live in a tiny apartment or live on a restricted budget. For some extra flair, you can add a few simple candles or metallic green and silver bunt over your door, because chances are, your place will look wonderful with a bit of monochromatic festive decoration.

Fairy-tale Christmas: Tips For Bringing Magic Into Your Apartment

Use fairytales as a source of inspiration

Fairytales are all around us, especially at this time of year: Frozen and Beauty and the Beast are only some of the beloved tales adored by adults and children alike. Going DIY this holiday season is a great way to practice your creative skills and save some money, so if you have children, feel free to create a Beauty and the Beast-inspired rose or add confetti-like those seen in Frozen. Christmas is the perfect time to revisit your favorite movies such as the Harry Potter series, so feel free to add some Hogwarts magic to your home while drinking some butterbeer and eating Bertie Botts every flavor beans!

Keep those lights on

There’s no Christmas without some lights on, so aside from candles, you can also hang string lights on your window or around the fireplace. If you have less room, then you can place them in vases on your table or thread them through the wreath. Still, the best way to add place festive lights is to put them on the Christmas tree as that will create a unique festive feeling in your apartment.

These tips will surely bring some Christmas magic to your place, but for some extra feel, add some fuzzy pillows and don’t forget to hang the stockings near the fireplace. Red, gold, silver and green are ultimate festive colors, but if you like, you can also experiment with pink, blue and yellow. Also, keep in mind that festive decorations should always be followed by great mood and tasty snacks, so this year, feel free to make your own mulled wine and gingerbread cookies as well, so you could fully enjoy the magical festive season.

Tis the season to be jolly and decorate your home. But sometimes, we know you don’t just want to do the same as last year. Sometimes, it’s fun to try something different.

If you’re feeling the need to try a new trend, or begin a fresh family Christmas tradition for your home, we’ve got five of the latest decorative styles to hit the UK this 2017. Take a look and see if you see anything that could really give your home that extra Christmassy something you’ve been searching for!

“Christmas is a great time to add some sophistication to your home with the perfect Christmas decorative display,” said Pimlico estate agent, Andrew Reeves. “Or, if you want to be a little more playful, then you could go down that décor route, if you prefer. Pretty much anything goes, as long as it makes you happy and helps your Christmas a special one.”

A Peruvian twist

Add some Peruvian flair to your Christmas décor this year, with lots of animals and bright colours, pom poms and fun. It might be a little different from your typical colour co-ordinated tree and matching ornaments. But, there’s just something really fun about just choosing your favourite colours and animals to change up your usual Christmas theme.
peruvian decor

Light it up

Few of us are strangers to Christmas lights. But, how about adding some light in a slightly different way? Instead of the typical string lights with different shaped bulbs, you could opt to light up a favourite scene or corner with some hidden lighting. Illuminate favourite Christmas ornaments with some discreet lighting behind them. Light and shadow boxes are different options, too.

“Lights are always popular at Christmas, so add a new element to your lights display this year,” said Fulham estate agent, Lawsons & Daughters. “Illuminations are a traditional part of Christmas, but by presenting it in a different way, you’re sure to add some lovely touches to your home”.
decor and lights

Have a retro Christmas?

Christmas in the 70s and 80s was a shiny experience, full of tinsel. If there’s no such thing as too much tinsel for you, then you’ll be pleased to hear its making a big come back! Go tinsel crazy and drape that shiny stuff everywhere! Your nod to nostalgia will be fun for you and your family too!
retro christmas decor

Metallic magic

If you love the metallic trend that’s current interior design favourite, you’ll be pleased to hear tis ready to make an appearance at Christmas too. Metallic colours and Christmas decorations abound in 2017, so why not use it as an excuse to buy even more fabulous new decorative items? From different metallic shades for baubles, to some show stopping lighting options, you can have a very on trend Christmas with this theme.
metallic ornaments

Rustic and ribbons

For those of you who prefer something a little more rustic, there’s plenty out there for you, too. Dress your real Christmas tree up with lots of natural wooden ornaments in the shapes of hearts and stars. Then, top it all of with some bows made from gingham ribbon! It’s a lovely look that suits every kind of home regardless of the styling elsewhere.
wooden ornaments

“Whether decorating for Christmas is done with military precision or a dash of anything goes, it’s a time of year to be happy and enjoy your home,” said Proskips. “So, choose items and colours you love to ensure you love the finished Christmas decorative article, this year.”

It’s time to decorate your home for Christmas! Check out Amy’s tips for Christmas décor and enjoy the holidays!

1. Incorporate lanterns into your design

 Christmas lanterns

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Lanterns  are a bit old-fashioned themselves, but their use as Christmas décor is very diverse. You can buy readymade lanterns or make some yourself. All you need are some empty jars. Put Christmas ornaments and lights inside the jars to get real holiday-like lanterns. You can also put candles inside for a cosier and warmer feel. Lanterns can also be made of metal, wood, or non-flammable paper. They can be used both outside in the yard or inside your house fro Christmas décor. Using a bucket, you can even make cool outdoor ice lanterns. Put some berries or acorns into the ice to get an amazing effect. You can never have too much lanterns, so place them throughout your home, even in bathroom.

2. Embrace different colour schemes

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It does not have to be all red and green. Experiment with some new trendy colours, or make your own unique combination. Metallic colours, such as gold, silver, bronze, or copper are very popular this Christmas. Their advantage is that they can be easily combined with each other, so you can even go for a three-colour mix. Add some clear lights to your metallic combination and you will have a real star cluster in your living room. Lime ornaments are one of the newest trends. They combine well with light blue. Another funky choice is pink. But if you are really bold, do a more-than-three-colours tree. Try out more combinations to see which one agrees with your personality, or let your kids do all the work.

3. Try an alternative Christmas tree

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Are you allergic to pine (or to the idea of pine), or your place is too small for a real Christmas tree? Try some alternative Christmas tree options. Make a tree-like formation of your personal library. Gather all the books with green covers that you have. First make a wider base and then stack the books on top of each other, slowly narrowing it. Or, stack the books on your bookshelf to resemble a pine tree. If you have some lights left, make the outline of a tree on your wall and tack it so it would not move. Hang a Christmas tree fabric on the wall, or draw a tree on a chalkboard. You can even cut out paper ornaments, colour them and tape them onto the chalkboard tree. Hang your photos, frames, and memorabilia on the wall in the shape of a tree.

4. Add natural elements to your design

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Incorporate unusual natural elements into your holiday décor for a modern twist. Put feathers into glass ornaments, or scatter them around the house. Make wreaths and table centrepieces from living succulents. They can survive even after Christmas.

5. Get crafty with the kids

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Letting your kids help you out with decorating will make them happy and you will spend some quality time together. Let them make soft balls from leftover fabric and hang them on the tree, or give them your old shoe rack to re-purpose it and turn it into an advent calendar.

Have you got any other ideas for Christmas décor ?