How do you make your home feel and look 'christmassy'??

[QueenofVenus]

Id like some tips on how to make my home feel and look really christmassy!! Obviously we all have the usual christmas tree and decorations but some people manage to make there home feel REALLY festive PLEASE give me some tips please please please

For me its the things the kids create So we always bake cookies and decorate them. Then we hang them on the tree. The kids love doing this.

We always have christmas craft of some sort of the go. Last week we did Snowmen drawings using black paper and chalk which are now up on my wall.

I have pile up baubles on a cake stand in the kitchen. I like to put fairy lights everywhere - thats a job for this weekend

Oh and candles..... followed a thread and have made my own this year....bergamot and orange seriously lovely

Watching this for ideas!

make your own candles!! how on earth do u do that?? And i shall definately be using the firy lights idea - i LOVE fairy lights

Make your own candles is a massive thread on arts and craft. Essentially , you buy soy wax chips, melt in microwave, add fragrance (essential oil or synthetic) then pour into a suitable container to set. You can use glasses, tea cups etc.

It really is a 5-10 min job and looks really impressive

They look great and I use essential oils. The house smells great.

Oh i like that idea! will be doing that real soon thanku!

twigs with pine cones still on them - (larch is pretty) hung on the wall with fishing gut.

Really like the candle-making idea, always thought it was tricky, is it really that easy? And where can you buy the wax?

I have some things that i wind through the banisters, green with cones on and red flowers.....like a wreath but in a long line IYKWIM?

Wreath on front door (have hook from Lakeland for it) and i wind in battery powered fairy lights.

Nativity set - a wooden one bought years ago with fairy lights round it.

Going to let DS1 (3) have some stuff in his room this year too; some dangly red shiny swirls that are good for hanging from lights.

anyone ever bought those cones for the fire that change colour?

Don't forget the smells! It's amazing how Christmassy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, pine cones, mulled wine, berries etc can make you feel.

Mistletoe, putting the presents out under the tree early, advent calendars, even putting red velvet cushions or throws in the room. Anything that makes the house look cosy.

Christmas CD on the stereo......!!!

Advent calendar on the wall in my office. (I'm the only one even vaguely interested in this now!).

Wreath on the front door.

Christmas cards get stuck on the edges of the bookshelves.

Baubles in glass dish on the cupboard.

Miniature Christmas tree on the table in the hall. I have two - one which is a fake tree, one which is a white wooden one from the Pier, with baubles in and little lights in it. Not sure which I'm going to use this year.

Gold tinsel with stars wound through the bannisters up the stairs.

Christmas candle holders on the mantlepiece.

Large spiral gold Christmas trees that hold a candle, on either side of the fire. (Got these from Next years ago and they are beautiful).

Christmas table mats and special tablecloth.

I even have little angels, snowmen and father Christmases on metal sticks that I put in my window boxes! And I tie silver/festive ribbon around the window boxes as well.

I sound mental ...

I try to overeat and drink more than I should. If possible I try to start a fight about some long term grievance or make an unexpected announcement regarding the paternity of one of my children or reveal someone elses affair to their unsuspecting partner.These things always add the perfect finishing touch to christmas day. Plus I always try to go to the same shit pub because where we live no one has any imagination. That does mean that ultimately we all end up having relationships from the same group of people unless someone dies or takes a cab somewhere - which is akin to death in these parts. It is like being part ofthe Royal Family but without any means of transport

I find this is the way to go to get an authentic Chhristmas experince

We took your advice, Pagwatch. Dh and I have necked the Christmas cake between us.

We've started on the Christmas biscuits

You are welcome - any time. I am here all season