Your Home Dec-22

EDITOR'S LETTER The most wonderful time of the year is here, and we've hundreds of tips and tricks to help you have the best-ever Christmas for less! To get yourself in the festive spirit, begin with Deck the Halls (p44), where we show you how to dress your home on a budget with some DIY floristry forage for the evergreen pieces yourself and you've got free showstoppers! Scan the QR codes to watch the video how-tos, including this suspended centrepiece (below) – making it is easier than you'd think. Start ticking gifts off your list with our round-up of thrifty present ideas on page 23 – there's something for everyone, from just £1.25. Find tips and tricks to keep December stress-free on page 14 and, if you're hosting friends and…

FOR STOCKISTS SEE p126 HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET John Lewis & Partners With a colour palette of candy cane red and brilliant white, the Jolly General Store collection will delight traditionalists as well as trendsetters. Lisa Cherry, Lead Christmas Buyer, says ‘This year's Christmas themes are a celebration of local living, highlighting the importance of community in towns and villages. This theme evokes the local general store, filled with everything from hardware to groceries.’ Prints charming Make a statement and bring joy to your home with DFS's collaboration with quintessential British brand Cath kidston. Choose from a range of well-loved and recognisable prints across sumptuous beds, sofas and armchairs. Cath Kidston Flounce Strawberry Garden double bedframe in Azure Combination, £1,199; Cath Kidston Keep Kind scatter cushion, £45, both DFS…

Every letter featured wins a prize!* Thanks to Mason Cash, our star letter has won bakeware and accessories worth £50, while each runner-up receives a selection of mixing, bowls, trays and utensils worth £25. Find out more about the full Mason Cash range at masoncash.co.uk. On display I thought you might like to see my autumn ‘shelfie’! I love to change my shelves to celebrate each new season – this season is a special favourite of mine with all the lovely colours it brings. Ann Hollis, via email Beth, Deputy Art Editor, says: I love the creativity of this, Ann – small updates can make such a big difference to your décor! Makeover magic I moved into my forever home in April 2021 and I've spent the time since renovating,…

HOW TO… have a more eco-friendly Christmas Amid all the festivities and piles of presents, it's easy to get carried away and forget the environmental impact of our choices – not to mention the cost, too. Here are just a few ways to save money while being a bit more eco-conscious… • According to a 2021 YouGov survey, the average Briton will spend £388 on presents. When it comes to gift giving, consider quality over quantity, and ask yourself whether the person will actually use it. Why not get creative and make some festive baked goods for people? Turn to page 104 for Christmas baking inspiration. Or you could show indie shops some love? Our Shop Small feature highlights some of best independent shops on page 130 – this issue…

Ensure your Christmas lunch prep is as stress-free as possible with our round up of time-saving and handy kitchen gadgets and utensils 1. Keep your worktops and chopping boards tidy with this set of bowls. Dropped sides make it easier to tip prepped ingredients into your pans Uppfylld preparation bowl, £2.50 for 3, IKEA 2. Prevent tears when chopping onions with a manual food chopper – it can also be used for nuts, chocolate and dried fruit for your festive showstoppers Food chopper, £18, ProCook 3. This multitasking tool will make light work of cutting bacon, chicken and even stripping herbs OXO Good Grips kitchen and herb scissors, £16.49, Amazon 4. Avoid awkward fiddling when it comes to slicing garlic and ditch your knife for this chopping tool. The storage…

Christmas advent calendar house, £20, JoJo Maman Bébé This calendar house will delight the little ones, with the fun festive scene sure to brighten up even the darkest morning. The boxes for the 23rd and 24th are larger, but all are big enough to hide chocolates or small toys in. Made from reinforced cardboard, this calendar feels sturdy – although take care letting small children take out the boxes, as it can be a bit top-heavy. Fabric Christmas advent calendar kit, £14.99, Ginger Ray You'll want to hang this calendar in a prime position, thanks to its sweet festive illustrations. Tuck treats into the 24 pockets – though they're a little shallow, so make sure they're not too big as they could fall out. In comparison to other reusable fabric…