NATURAL, RUSTIC CHRISTMAS DECORATING - my festive home decorations
Welcome to the BLOG
Hi, I’m Sandra.
If you're in awe of stunning interiors and crazy about home decor, you’re in the right place. As an interior writer with a background in styling and photography for leading magazines around the globe (see below) as well as an avid home renovator, I am here to help you style and decorate your home with ease and confidence, like a pro.
On this blog, I’ll be sharing insightful articles packed with advice, tips, and ideas for home styling and decoration, along with inspiring tours of beautifully styled spaces. Having styled countless homes with very different interiors, I know it’s the final touches and thoughtful curating that make a space magazine-worthy, regardless of whether it’s an architectural masterpiece or filled with high-end furniture. And, rather than focus on one particular interior look or style, I aim to open your eyes to a wide variety so you feel inspired, not limited. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level. In this week’s blog post, I will take you on a tour of my natural rustic Christmas styling.
FESTIVE STYLING THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE
All photography: Sandra van Aalst
I have always loved decorating my home for the festive season. Inspired by my grandmother, who transformed every corner of her house into a winter wonderland, it has always been my favourite time to style and bring a bit of magic into every room. In this article I am showing you my festive styling and decorating in my last house, which was my self-built Dutch-style old manor house. The overall look I chose throughout was a natural, rustic style with modern touches, which complemented the style and era of the interior and architecture. My staple decorations were a mix of natural greenery, handmade baubles and seasonal plants and flowers, with a few silver sparkles and twinkles from glass and fairy lights. If you want to decorate in a natural rustic way, think greenery, wood, paper, fabric and a touch of glass and sparkle. You may want to introduce metallics, like silver, gold, copper or bronze. In this article, I will show you all the different areas I decorated to inspire you to bring a little extra styling to your own home this festive season, from hallway styling with pine and wrapped gifts, to my Christmas tablescape laid for guests. I will also give you tips to show you how to create your own arrangements, such as cranberry-filled glass lanterns and impactful displays. Pictured here is a real pine Christmas tree, which we placed in the hallway. We had a fake tree for a while, but I prefer the real thing, especially when, like the one here, they are not overly symmetrical and, therefore, look natural. Instead of the usual tree skirt, I raised the tree on a wooden plinth to give it more height. I then piled up chunky logs, which would be used later on the fire, to give it a raw, earthy look. I always wrap a handful of presents in boxes to use as decoration at the base of the tree, which instantly made it feel festive and pulled the look together. Read on to see more rooms and styling ideas.
STYLISH TABLE DECORATION
This festive vignette was one of my favourites, pictured here on my dining table. I used a blackened bronze pedestal dish, which I filled with flowers the rest of the year. I started with sprigs of greenery from two different varieties of pine trees. Once the fir was in place, I added pine cones foraged from the woods nearby. Next, I placed two real candles at the back. In the past, I have also used fake candles, which were less of a worry that the greenery could set alight. The real statement pieces were two oversized copper baubles I bought the previous year from a local interiors shop. I then tucked in an acorn-shaped tree decoration, which I placed amongst the pine cones and threaded twinkly, battery-operated lights through to give it that extra sparkle. I grouped the arrangement together with the large rustic star and cutlery holder, both in similar toned black bronze. Finally, one simple present wrapped in bronze paper and string tied the whole scheme together. To create your own arrangement, you could use a round tray, dish or even a glass cake stand to give it height like the pedestal here. As an alternative, you could add other types of greenery, like ivy and eucalyptus, as well as different coloured baubles and a paper star. Just think of things that feel wintery, festive and textural.
INVITING HOLIDAY BED
Family and friends would often stay in my guest bedroom at some stage over the holiday period, and I loved to surprise them with a few stylish festive touches. I started by adding a faux garland around the canopy frame. With mini pine cones tucked in, it looked like real fir, yet there was no worry about needles dropping. I hung a grey felt stocking with faux fur trim on the cupboard door and placed a winter-scented candle in the little wall niche to bring a subtle festive scent to the room. When it came to styling the bed, it’s all about texture and layering to create that cosy look, so I dressed the bed with a sheepskin throw, fur cushion and a striped pillow in warm flannel to add contrast to the dark linen. I popped a little pot of seasonal hellebores on the bedside table, which I planted in the garden at the end of the holidays. Hellebores are one of my favourite winter flowers, and it’s these small touches that make guests feel pleased to be staying over the festive period.
WHITE CHRISTMAS DECOR
I call this my all-white display. It’s more of a collection than a vignette and, with all the different vessels and the lamp in white, it really creates impact. This all-white Christmas display was styled on an antique wooden cabinet, and I loved the contrast between the pure white and the rich, dark carved wood. I wanted it to feel wintry rather than festive so I could keep the display up for longer than a few weeks and, therefore, I kept everything in white and natural shades. I painted the white branches and have them out all year round in the large white urn. For this display, I also included a couple of white ceramic pots, one filled with pine cones sprayed lightly silver for a frosted look, and the other with white hyacinth bulbs nestled with moss. To keep it feeling fresh, natural and festive, I added sprigs of fir in a cylinder-shaped vase and also laid another sprig casually on the surface. The final additions were candlelight for a Christmas moment in both the lantern and the reindeer head.
TREE DECORATION DETAILS
No matter how natural or rustic your tree scheme is, or what colour baubles you choose, I believe it’s the fairy lights that really give a tree its festive grounding. Once I had wrapped mine around, weaving in and out of the branches, I added a mix of natural paper and wood ornaments to create that Scandi feel, along with silver and hand-crocheted white baubles, sticking loosely to a white, silver and natural-toned palette. Christmas is a nostalgic time, and I like to display decorations that have been gifts or made by the kids. A couple of my favourite glass pieces, given to me by a friend, looked luxurious and really caught the light. I also treasure crocheted baubles and heart decorations handmade by another friend, while the wooden decorations were crafted by my boys in their DT lessons at school. We always put up a second, smaller artificial tree too, which is crammed full of handmade decorations and Christmas toys the boys have made or chosen over the years. It’s a tradition we all love.
COSY CORNERS
During winter and the festive season, I like to create cosy corners in the living room. Each year I bring out my reindeer cushion, which is a styling staple. It’s become a bit of a tradition now and instantly adds a wintry feel to wherever I decide to place it. I have teamed it here with tactile velvet and embroidered cushions, together with a sheepskin throw to give the sofa that extra inviting feel. On my black metal side table, I popped a festive scented candle inside a glass lantern for that warm glow and to bring a subtle festive scent into the room. I like to have some form of foliage or flowers on every surface, so I added my go-to Christmas flowers in a handmade ceramic vase. To complete the look, I placed a few sprigs of eucalyptus mixed with branches, which stand out against the dark wall. I think the overall effect is a welcoming festive corner to relax, read a book or have a drink by the fire.
THE FESTIVE CONSOLE
This was my festive console table in the hallway, where I kept the palette neutral and serene with whites, greys, browns and natural elements. I displayed seasonal plants in concrete pots for a rustic touch, planted with white hyacinths, cyclamen and a succulent. I added a couple of paper Christmas decorations in a neutral brown left over from the tree and paired them with two sculptural silver trees to bring in a bit of height, contrast, and shimmer to the vignette. In a hanging frame, I swapped a photo of the kids for an old Christmas card I’d kept with a message which reads - Joy, Love, Peace, Belief, Christmas. It’s worth keeping special cards, especially ones like this with messages or fun illustrations that could work in a frame. It’s another homemade touch and shows you’ve put thought into your festive styling.
SUBTLE FESTIVE TOUCHES
This is the other side of the console and it continues in the same natural, silver-toned theme with the addition of a bunch of stylish silver baubles hanging from leather string. On this side is the statement piece in the shape of a large glass jar filled with tiny pine cones. It’s such a simple but effective way to bring a natural woodland feel to the table. If you have a glass vase or jar, you could also use larger pine cones. The concrete pots carry on the rustic look with seasonal plants, including the white cyclamen and heather. I am fond of the smaller pot with the white reindeer as it’s such a subtle festive touch. My vintage wooden shoe stretcher may not be festive, but it works well here paired with the brown pine cones. It’s a styling staple and I move it from room to room depending on the display.
CHRISTMAS TABLESCAPE
For my Christmas tablescape, I also opted for a silver, white, and natural theme, which was simple, yet magical when the candles are all lit. As my dining table was crafted from rough-hewn oak, I left the table without a cloth, which gave a rustic grounding to the setting. For the base, I scattered sprigs of pine all along the centre, followed by a string of fairy lights. Then, for the focal point, I used my large glass Christmas tree jar, which comes out every year, filled with silver baubles. You could also use a glass vase or jar and fill it with baubles in a single tone or multi-coloured, depending on your Christmas vibe. Next came a rather eclectic mix of candles, with almost anything I could find in silver, be it candles, candle holders or small lanterns with tea lights. The silver added a hint of glamour, and tiny lights made the whole display twinkle, especially as the sun went down. I carried the theme through to the place settings, where I added small sprigs of pine and a silver pine cone on each beige linen napkin as a little festive detail.
THE CHRISTMAS KITCHEN
I took this photograph in the kitchen after the kids had been busy making gingerbread trees, which made the whole space feel really festive and lived-in. I kept the colours classic in the kitchen, with mainly red and green, which worked well against the soft blue and grey backdrop of the cabinetry and stone countertop. In a large vintage vase by the window, I displayed a couple of fresh white amaryllis stems combined with eucalyptus from the garden. I dressed the white shelves for Christmas with a vase and two glass jars partially filled with fresh cranberries. You will find them in most supermarkets in December. In the open vase, I added a candle in the middle of the cranberries, continuing these on the island. I used a red wooden vintage tray to display my smaller glass with an imitation candle, and a second vase with cranberries and a candle to tie the look together. Dotted amongst the gingerbread are little handmade Christmas characters, which we dot around the home and are treasured decorations that make their appearance each year.
FESTIVE FOLLIAGE
This oversized concrete plinth and planter, filled with foliage, made a real festive statement piece. In previous years, I filled it with large red poinsettias, but this time I wanted a more natural and textural arrangement in keeping with the rest of the scheme. Aside from the amaryllis and pussy willow, the foliage came from the garden and woods where I walk the dogs. I started the arrangement with trailing ivy, then added branches of the two different types of fir branches, which looked gorgeous cascading over the sides of the planter. The ivy gives that lovely trailing effect, while with pussy willow and twigs, I created height and structure. Before placing the flowers, I wove in a set of battery-operated fairy lights to add seasonal sparkle. The overall effect is natural, yet elegant, and it shows how you don’t need anything extravagant to make a festive arrangement.
RUSTIC CHRISTMAS MANTLE
The stone fire surround was actually an original Dutch fireplace we sourced in The Netherlands for our new build, so I wanted to keep the decorations on the mantel natural and timeless. I started with pine cones, then used different types of fir branches, including Scots pine and blue spruce, layering them across the top for that full, draped look. I added fairy lights to give it a soft twinkle, then placed one of my tall glass candle holders with a slim taper for a touch of elegance. I had bought the two oversized hanging pine cones a few years back and was glad that they really were that extra-special addition to the fireplace. Hanging across the mirror is a red garland, handmade by my mother-in-law, which tells the story of the twelve days of Christmas in little stitched panels. I always like to mix in personal touches wherever I can.
PARTY TIME
Rather than place decorations in my bedroom, I set the scene by adding a little sparkle in a rather different way. I took out my favourite party dress which, embellished with beads and gems, was a decorative piece in its own right. I hung it on a padded hanger and added a string of fairy lights and silver tinsel to make it feel really celebratory and put me in the mood for the festive season. Together with the dress, I would also place a wintry scented candle in my bedroom. There are now so many festive candles available, usually with woody notes such as pine, cedarwood, sandalwood, or spicy notes cinnamon, clove, nutmeg which give a festive scent without being too overpowering.
FESTIVE WINTER TERRACE
Even if the weather didn’t allow us to spend as much time as we’d like on the terrace, as it was visible from the house, I was keen to extend my festive decorating to the terrace, making the outdoors feel just as decorative as the house. I started by placing an outdoor imitation candle inside the large metal lantern for that soft flicker as the light fades. I used a handy model with a timer so it would always light up the terrace at dusk. In addition, I placed a small potted Christmas tree, potted hellebores and a simple fir wreath on wooden crates, which we had put together on the terrace as low coffee tables. Finally, with fairy lights on a fir tree and in a large planter, the seating area became a glowing setting. If we sat outside for mulled wine or hot chocolate, I layered up the wooden seating with throws, a reindeer hide, and sheepskins to keep things cosy.
FESTIVE BOOTROOM
Even the most practical spaces can still feel magical at Christmas. As we mostly used the back entrance, the boot room needed a bit of a festive makeover! I made a simple Christmas wreath and perched it on top of the coat rack, which was actually an old piece of driftwood we found on the beach and attached to the wall. I made a few festive glass lanterns out of used glass yoghurt pots, and filled them with cranberries and imitation tea lights with ribbon tied around the pots. I made the handles out of garden wire, then found some festive red and white string at my local garden centre. To complete the festive boot room, I placed a little wooden tree in the window and on the bench I displayed two wrapped boxes to look like presents. I used simple brown packaging paper as well as brown paper with white stars for that natural look and tied them together with a plain brown ribbon and red and white striped string to tie in with the cranberries. Finally, I filled a chrome and wood lantern with cranberries and an imitation candle to add a warm glow.
LET’S SUM UP
So that was a little tour of how I styled my home one Christmas in a natural, rustic style with greenery, personal decorations, fairy lights and touches of sparkle. Whether you’re looking for ideas for your mantelpiece, tree or other surfaces, I hope I have inspired you to bring a little extra styling into your own home this festive season.
