Christmas trees three ways
Stylist Pandora Maxton has no less than three Christmas trees every year, so who better to turn to for tips and trends on dressing them.
Christmas trees (we always have at least three!) are very much at the heart of our home. They can be where we put our presents and hang cherished decorations collected over the years. In this blog, I’m going to give you a few tips on how to style your tree, what colour combinations work, and how to make your tree have a real presence in your home, whatever the size.
In my opinion, you can never have too many lights. I have always opted for a warm white, rather than a cool white or blue. Of course, it is a personal choice, but warm lights feel much less severe. On a 7-ft tree, I always add at least three sets. Cluster lights are a great option as they offer lots of little lights en masse, creating a lovely soft glow.
Once your tree is up, and the lights are on, it’s time for the fun bit.
There are two kinds of decorators: those who collect decorations over the years, taking great pride in hanging Great Granny’s 100-year-old bauble, and those who are easily led by fashion, changing their decs each year. I am a little obsessed with mixing things up and experimenting. I see a tree as a work of art, wanting to play around with colour combinations, dried flowers, bows, decoration shapes, and textures. This is, however, part of my job, and I appreciate that not everyone is as enthusiastic as I am when it comes to Christmas. I am going to show you three options I love and use in my own house.
The Red TreeIt’s a fact that red and green are complementary colours, which is why red is a classic Christmas colour. In our house, one tree that is a staple (and the kids insist on) is the red and white tree. I love red gingham and stripes. Over the years, I have collected gingham decorations in all shapes and sizes. Once I have completely filled the tree, I add bows. Sometimes, if I feel the tree isn’t full enough, I add bright red stars or honeycomb pom-poms. These are real statement pieces without costing much.
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The 'Bowtique' Tree
Cleverly named by my daughter.I add lots of large hessian bows followed by velvet bows in purple, lilac, and deep yellow.
I came up with the design for this tree a few years ago when I found my love for the hydrangea - the most wonderful flower both fresh and dried. It only takes a few weeks to dry after being in the vase. They really are an amazing asset at Christmas. I use them over the mantle, in garlands, and now on my tree. Muted tones of pinks, mauves, and browns look so pretty against the dark green of a tree. I try not to throw my flowers away once they start to turn. I find most flowers actually dry really well, taking on another form. It is so rewarding to repurpose flowers. Roses are also easy to dry. I hang mine upside down for a few weeks, and then they are ready to go again - perfect for Christmas styling.
The Bowtique tree has a rustic look. I tend to use a larger string light on this tree, as well as large hessian balls that come in all colours. I opt for off-white shades from Cable & Cotton, but you can choose any colour or mix up colours. I then add the dried hydrangeas. I don’t wire or attach them - I just poke them into the tree. I follow with bunches of dried or fresh heather, which you can leave in their pots and just slot in, as well as roses and dried fruit for an orange colour pop. The soft purples and orange tones complement each other. I love the contrast in texture - it really works. What I love about this tree is that most of the decorations have been foraged, dried, and saved. A lovely looking tree without lots of expense.
The Multicoloured Tree
This tree just makes me happy. It’s bright, vivid, glittery, and full of all kinds of textures - sequins, glass, furry, spiky - you name it, it’s there. We use a delightful mixture of hanging decorations, multi-coloured velvet long bows, and playful felt pom-poms. For lighting, we stick with warm fairy lights to create a cozy glow, but if you wanted to go all out, you could always add multicoloured lights for an extra pop of colour.
Over the years, we’ve carefully saved and collected these decorations, slowly building up a gorgeous, eclectic selection. This tree doesn’t follow any colour scheme or design rules, and that’s part of its charm. It’s a celebration of colour and fun, adding a joyful and whimsical touch to our Christmas that makes everyone smile.
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Discover how to lay a 'wow' Christmas table here.
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