A Beautifully Relaxed Christmas: How to Style Your Home with Natural, Sustainable Elegance

Photo credit: Jeswin Williams

There’s something magical about this time of year — the early evenings, the soft glow of lamps, the anticipation of people gathering. But if there’s one thing I always remind my clients, it’s this: Christmas decorating doesn’t have to mean plastic foliage, glitter overload or filling your home with things that get shoved into a loft come January. Nor does it mean changing up your decorations for the latest theme each year. Build memories with your decorations and add with meaning to what you display. There are so many simple ways to decorate your home for the holidays. In fact, the most beautiful and memorable festive homes are the ones that feel effortless. Natural. Considered. And full of personal touches.

Photo credit: DEN LIFE interiors

This year, I’m leaning into a slower, more soulful approach to Christmas decorating — one rooted in nature, craftsmanship and gentle luxury. Think foraged foliage, hand-tied wreaths, warm candlelight, freshly baked treats, beautiful wrapping, and pieces that feel part of your home rather than an addition to it.

If you’re hosting this season and want your home to feel both welcoming and thoughtfully styled, here’s how to create a Christmas look that’s elegant, sustainable and unmistakably you. And will even get you venturing out into nature for a foraging walk or two!

Photo credit: Element5Digital

Start with the Mood, Not the Décor

Before you pull anything out of a box or buy a single bauble, pause for a moment.

How do you want your home to feel this Christmas?

Calm but cosy? Warm but sleek? Sociable and sparkly? Paired-back and beautifully quiet?

Once you know the mood, everything becomes easier. You’ll naturally choose pieces that support the atmosphere you want — whether that’s layers of candlelight, fragrant greenery or simple touches of seasonal warmth in your textiles.

And I find, the biggest shift often comes from removing rather than adding - or is that just too Grinch? Clearing surfaces, freshening up your hallway, and rearranging the living room always sets a better foundation than buying new décor.

Photo credit: Home Talk, Design Improvise, DEN LIFE interiors

Use Nature as Your Starting Point

Nothing elevates a festive home like natural greenery — and it’s one of the most sustainable choices you can make.

Foraged foliage, simple branches, eucalyptus, and fresh herbs instantly bring texture, scent and softness.

Try layering:

• Sprigs of rosemary or thyme on napkins

• Bundles of eucalyptus and pine along your dining table

• A simple, asymmetric wreath on your door

• Branches in a tall vase, left unadorned

• Bowls of winter citrus on the island for scent and colour

You don’t need glitter or tinsel. Nature already gives you depth, movement and fragrance — all while feeling calm and timeless.

Photo credit: DEN LIFE interiors

Let Your Lighting Do the Heavy Lifting

Soft lighting is the secret to a beautiful Christmas home.

This is where your layered lighting comes into its own — floor lamps, table lamps, wall lights, and candles all play their role.

A few designer-approved tricks:

• Swap one or two bulbs to a warm 2700K for a cosy golden glow

• Cluster candles at different heights (safely!)

• Add fairy lights to indoor plants instead of overloading the room

• Highlight a garland or wreath with a subtle warm spotlight

When your lighting is right, everything else feels intentional — even the simplest décor.

Photo Credits with thanks to: Country Living, Jane at Home, Sloely

Lay Simple, Thoughtful Tables

You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect table to make your home feel special. What matters is atmosphere, not perfection.

Try layering:

• A soft linen tablecloth or runner

• Mismatched ceramics (it looks more personal than a showroom set)

• Sprigs of foliage tucked into place settings

• Brass, wood or ceramic candleholders for warmth

• A few bowls of figs, nuts or clementines

It’s beautifully simple — and because you’re using your everyday pieces with seasonal additions, it’s sustainable too.

Photo Credits with thanks to: Masud Allahverdizade, Valeria Boltneva. Karola G

Style with What You Already Own

Before you shop, shop your home.

A neutral bowl becomes a centrepiece with pinecones and foliage. A woven basket becomes the perfect holder for folded blankets. Candlesticks on the dining table grouped together to give a beautiful light.

Sustainability isn’t about deprivation — it’s about thoughtful design choices that feel just as luxurious.

Photo credit: Green Children, Cox & Cox, Willow Manor

Beautiful, Sustainable Gift Wrapping

This is a favourite of mine — because gift wrapping is such an underestimated design detail. It's setting up the whole excitement of the present, building anticipation, showing it's a thoughtful gift.

Why not try:

• Brown kraft paper

• Reusable fabric wraps (loving this although it's not helping my hoarding fabrics habit)

• Velvet ribbons in deep greens, rust, or warm neutrals

• Wax seals or sprigs of greenery tucked under the bow

It feels refined, intentional, and completely aligned with a more natural Christmas palette.

And yes — your gifts can become part of your décor. A few beautifully wrapped presents on a console table make the whole space feel festive.

Photo Credits with thanks to: Etsy UK

Bring in Scent the Natural Way

Scent shapes the mood of your home more than anything else at Christmas. Opening your front door and stepping into the warm with delicious smells greeting you? Much better than the damp, cold outdoors. Instead of strong synthetic fragrances, try:

• Clove-studded oranges

• Mulled spices warming on the hob

• A simmer pot with citrus, cinnamon and rosemary

• Beeswax candles — soft, warm, and wonderfully nostalgic

These create atmosphere without overpowering your space.

Photo Credits with thanks to: Katarina Bolovstova

Bake Something — it changes everything

A home that smells of baking instantly feels like somewhere you want to linger.

Whether it’s homemade biscuits, an orange loaf or your favourite mince pies, baking is one of the most natural and joyful ways to prepare your home for guests. And you can style them beautifully on a board as an edible centrepiece, if they last long enough. Or if you are lucky to have a daughter who says she 'procrasta-bakes' like me then just make sure you have a store cupboard full of ingredients at the ready and enjoy the smell all season long!

Photo Credits with thanks to: Tima Miroshnichenko

Simple, Sustainable Christmas

What I love about this style of festive decorating is that nothing feels forced. It doesn’t overwhelm your home or hide the interior you’ve worked so hard on — it enhances it.

It’s calm. It’s thoughtful. It’s beautiful without trying too hard. And it’s kinder to the planet.

If you’d like help creating a home that feels effortlessly warm this winter — whether for hosting or for your own quiet moments — I’d love to guide you.

Just drop me a message, or explore my design services to get started.

Photo Credits with thanks to: Etsy, Not on the High Street, Happy Crackers