Decorating .. don't know where to start!

[Adollop]

I've moved into a small house and I'd like to make it nice for Christmas. No children living at home, just me and partner.

I'm on a low budget and apparently have no imagination 😫 I'd like it to look classy, not tacky, not over the top. I'll get a real tree and have baubles and lights.

I've got a mantlepiece, I'd like to put something on there but no idea what, also have a large picture leaning on there, as I can't attach it to the wall.

Any suggestions welcome. I've looked on Pinterest, but they all look expensive and over the top. I'm happy to make things, although not very talented.

I'd also like my house to smell really Christmassy, so looking for good scented candles or something. I'll need to order online as live in a tiny town with barely any shops.

Thanks!

I'm not sure how to do it either Adollop. I've got a 70s place with no mantelpiece so no idea where to start! Money is tight here too, though I ordered a tree and a tree holder thing.

So far I used an old felted grey jumper to make some little stars (blanket stitched around the edges in red) to make a kind of garland?!

Op, do you have Wilkinson near you and or tk max home sense?

I don't suppose you want to out yourself but picture of living room would help.

For you.. I'm seeing a real tree, 'warm white' ' v important, fairy lights on it.

Tinsel... One colour and also some Dec's.

Nothing too much because you are starting from scratch.
Drape more fairy lights around the mantle piece, perhaps lovely swag there? Holly ivy type thing?
Have some Xmas ornaments on the mantle piece... Faux battery small candles.

Pine room spray.

If you have cental light fitting in living room hang some baubles off that too.

Low cosy lighting.

I have a mantelpiece and I have a brown twig and red berry garland. I then put some little berry lights in it. Primark have an almost identical one this year.

I think the best decorations start with holly and ivy. We go out and collect loads then mingle lights and a few sparkles with it. If you put damp scrunched up silver foil on the holy stems it lasts longer.

Thanks. I'll post a pic.

No wilkos or tkmaxx or Primark here. I can look online though. There's a B&Q nearby.

The stars sounds nice Mood

Not keen on pine spray, I like a cinnamon sort of scent. Any you'd recommend?

I've seen holly on a park nearby, will I be in trouble if I cut some? I've ivy in the garden. However I've 2 cats, so it will need to be out of reach from them.

You might be able to buy a cheap garland and add extra baubles etc to it and drape across mantel piece? This is what I do.

A cheap big box of baubles and a few more interesting ones.

Soft lights.

I like to hang stockings as a decoration throughout Dec. These can bought cheaply or made if you are crafty?

You could make biscuits to hang on tree?

Here's a photo.

Get a nice Garland for your mantelpiece and maybe a wreath if you have a porch door. I think that would like nice along with the team. You dont need much for it to be classy and festive. Also check out Wilkinsons and studio for some reasonably priced decorations 😊

Yes yes to a real tree with warm white lights. I'm not keen on tinsel, but will try and get lametta (used to live abroad and love the stuff!)

I'm never sure how to drape the fairy lights. I need some battery ones I think.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/dec/13/make-own-christmas-wreath-vase-garland

Homemade garlands are easy. Some ideas here. You do have to keep greenery outside until closer to the day or be prepared to freshen it up.

Aldi do a cinnamon candle for £2.99

www.aldi.co.uk/sugared-cinnamon-candle-jar/p/021639321391400

B&m pomegranate candle gets good reviews too

www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/money-news/cheap-candles-9903

If you google Christmas essential oil blend you’ll get loads.
I got one on amazon that had cinnamon, stains and cedar wood, in our pound d St hop you can get diffusers for £1.

Stains? I’m sure I typed satsuma.

Normal fairy lights with plug for tree.

Battery for mantle piece. You have a lovely mantle price and fireplace to dress.

Put some of Xmas figures there, Holly ivy, greenery real or fake. What about the range... But

Definitely look at Scandi inspired Christmas decorations for classy, not OTT and often easy to make yourself. Use fresh pine and eucalyptus - smells lovely and they stay fresh for a long time if you put them in a vase, change the water and recut the stems every now and then.

For classy you need to remember less is more. Colour is tacky, ok not always but stick to white lights on your tree plus gold beads, gold baubles and wooden tree decorations (build up your collection over the years, just go for a small tree at first). I like a door wreath and some greenery on the mantle piece plus candles but nothing more. I have a crib scene too

Thanks, great ideas. My tree has all sorts of coloured baubles but warm white lights. I don't have Christmas figures, although I do have a small Christmas village with moving train, I'll put on the fireplace.

Fairy lights in a clear glass vase look lovely, in a fireplace maybe or on a low table. Berried stems in a tall vase. Am envious of your Christmas village with train!

I don't have a tree because of space. I have a porch and put tallish thin branches/twigs in a corner decorated with fairy lights.
I put a beautiful garland on the fireplace. Perhaps remove your picture over Christmas so you could put a gorgeous wreath on the fireplace. First thing I do is remove most ornamental stuff sitting about to make room for Christmas stuff so there's no clutter. Over the years I've gathered up long artificial garlands of greenery with berries and put these over Windows poles or along window sills or along the top of a tall unit. Also wired ribbon can make extravagant bows to make cheap decs look more expensive. A cheap plastic wreath can also be bulked out with ivy and cuttings from fir trees and add a bow after perhaps removing a cheap looking bow. Any cards go into a bowl on the coffee table or hearth. I don't put bitzy bits here and there.
Any nice baubles I've been given get placed in a garland. Tuck fairy lights through the garlands.

A wreath on the front door.

Thanks. I like the thought of twigs decorated with fairy lights in a vase, I'll try that.

I don't get many cards these days.

The village with train is 20 odd years old and perhaps a lithe tacky, but I love it so much. It plays music as well but that always gets turned off after the first day

I'll look for a wreath, they just always seem to have plastic flowers on them which I don't like. Also not sure how to attach it .. do those hooks you can biy actually fit on upvc front doors?

I attach my front door wreath to the door knocker. Doesn't have to be on the door could be on the wall beside. Pull off the plastic flowers if they are awful and use something else, even just ivy.

Thanks. No door knocker here, but I'll have a look and see what I can do.