Innehållsförteckning för December 2023 från Your Home

Whether you can't get enough of Christmas, or you're looking for quick fixes to help you make the season a success, you're in the right place! This bumper issue is bursting with festive tips and fabulous tricks! Are your decs feeling tired? Turn to page 30 for a timeless yuletide scheme and then onto page 48 for three magical looks to inspire (I think the Enchanted Woodland is my favourite, but it's hard to choose!). We've also got hundreds of ways to cut costs this Christmas, without sacrificing any of the spirit. Find advice to save on your big shop (p20), affordable gifts for everyone on your list (p23) and festive switches for every room (p54) – there are bargains to be had from under £3! We also have a trio of…

HOW TO… cut Christmas stress Christmas can be an overwhelming time for many – so much to do, and so little time! If you feel anxious about all those little jobs left on your list, read on for our top tips to beat the festive stress. • Christmas is a marathon, not a sprint, so don't panic and rush to buy all your gifts before the big day – prioritise those you'll be seeing first. Often you might not see some friends or family until New Year, when you can make the most of the sales and grab a bargain. • Make sure you're not the only one carrying the festive load, by delegating some of the household chores. Schedule in an hour or two each week when the family…

CONSUMER NEWS Frequently asked questions… When is the best time to shop? To avoid the crowds, go to the supermarket on a weekday evening. Wait until the week of Christmas if possible, as there should be plenty of discounts and yellow sticker items available, especially if you take the risk of shopping as late as Christmas Eve, when the shops are due to close for a few days so need to get rid of stock. If you're happy to take what's on offer, this is a great way to save £££s. Can I buy a discounted turkey and freeze it for next Christmas? You can find amazing discounts on fresh and frozen turkeys the nearer you get to Christmas Day. Both can safely be kept in the freezer for a…

Anyday ‘Amour d'Ete’ framed print, £25, John Lewis & Partners National History Museum x Dunelm Emperor moth cushion, £22, Dunelm Stacey Solomon White beaded nibble bowl, £4 for 2, George Mushroom trinket tray, £2, B&M Woodland Walk napkins, £24 for 2, Emma Britton Two-tone metal table lamp in Gold and Black, £35, Habitat Paddywax Cypress & Fir mug candle duo, £32, Moonpig A MONTHLY TREAT Flowers gift subscription, from £24, Arena Flowers Patterned fleece blanket in Light Beige/Spotted, £9.99, H&M Dual round dinner candle holder, £9.50, M&S…

BEFORE STEP INSIDE… WHO LIVES HERE? Claire Douglas, 39, an interior stylist and DIY content creator at @clairedouglasstyling and clairedouglasstyling.co.uk, my husband, Spencer, 42, an artist, and our two boys aged five and nine. We've lived in our 1960s, threebedroom detached house since 2017. WHAT WAS UPDATED? Using self-taught DIY skills, I updated the worktops, painted the units and added open shelving. WHY THE CHANGE? Our kitchen was dark and gloomy, with a basic layout that was impractical for our family. I was embarrassed about the décor in the room, which didn't reflect my home style. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It was three weeks’ work, which I spread out over three months as I did it all myself. TOTAL COST £504 With tatty units and broken appliances, Claire and…

SAVE Splash Spend ‘I achieved my dream kitchen on a budget with some clever additions’…

Capture the magic ✢ Deep navy and pine-tree greens are the foundations of this luxurious look – update sofas and chairs with cushions and throws in tactile, textural fabrics such as velvet, chenille or faux fur, to set the tone effortlessly. ✢ Bring this look to life with plenty of sparkle – add candlelight with lanterns and tea light holders, ramp up the number of fairy lights on the tree, and go to town with warm-white lights. Adding silvery accents will reflect the sparkle around the room and give the feel of a star-studded sky. ✢ Introduce a playful feel to your scheme by incorporating woodland creatures and motifs. An elegant stag or a wise, white owl, along with feathers and leaf details, will create the magic of a winter…

Top Tip Give your tree the perfect finishing touch by making your own tree skirt. Use a deep red velvet fabric, cut into a circular shape to go around the base of the tree, neatly hiding the metal stand. Let the material gather and puddle on the floor for a lavish touch…

Whether it's mince pies and coffee with the neighbours, or a glitzy do with your nearest and dearest, the festive period is a season of hosting. And the sociable features of your kitchen aren't just for Christmas – they'll lend themselves to gatherings all year round. As well as layout and appliances, it's important to consider storage and the atmosphere you'd like to create. In open-plan kitchens, flexible furniture is a great way to zone the space for get-togethers. Scandi chic ‘A festive table setting can truly elevate the room, and a key trend is a modern twist on Scandinavian Christmas décor. Enhance the theme by decorating the table with greenery from the garden for a natural, organic feel.’ Diana Halim, Brand Marketing Manager at Viners Layer up ‘Layering curtains…

SHOPPING LIST ● Evergreen foliage, such as fir, spruce, conifer or pine (around 45-60 stems, 30cm long) ● secateurs ● 2.5-3m length of rope ● florist's wire ● wire cutters ● decorative ribbon ● scissors ● Command hooks How to… 1 Begin by cutting a selection of evergreen foliage from your garden. You could use conifer, spruce, pine, or fir branches. If you don't have these in your garden, ask your local florist to source some foliage for you. 2 This garland is made by overlapping bunches of foliage to create a seamless appearance. To do this, begin by tightly tying together three to five stems of foliage using florist's wire to create a bunch. How many stems you need will depend on how bushy and dense the foliage is.…

SHOPPING LIST ● Paper ● pencil ● scissors ● 1m of faux fur ● matching thread ● pins ● sewing machine ● 50cm of decorative braid ● 50cm of narrow ribbon ● fabric glue ● stiff card ● craft knife ● coloured wool or embroidery cotton ● ½ m of ribbon or cord ● needle ● safety pin HOW TO… 1 First, draw a stocking pattern on a sheet of paper. It should measure approximately 30cm from heel to toe, 23cm across the width of the leg section and 50cm long from the heel to the top of the leg. Look at images online to get an idea of the shape, and use a plate or cup to help you on the curved edges. For the cuff pattern, draw a…

SHOPPING LIST ● Thick-nibbed Gold pen ● scrap paper or card ● large roll of matt white paper ● scissors ● rolling pin ● white air-dry clay ● silicone mat (or similar non-slip surface) ● star-shaped cookie cutter ● wooden skewer ● baker's twine in Golden Brown ● wooden beads ● stiff cardboard measuring 12cm × 12cm HOW TO… 1 For the gift wrap, practice drawing stars onto scrap paper with the gold pen. Draw at least four different types so that the pattern won't be repetitive. Once you are confident, move onto your matt white paper. Scatter stars across the paper, mixing up sizes, angles and styles. When you've covered enough paper to wrap up your gift, leave to dry. 2 To make the tags, roll out the clay…

Christmas is a wonderful time to welcome family and friends into your home. When it's chilly and rainy outside, you want your guests to feel right at home the minute they step inside. But it's not just about creating a festive vibe this December. For a cosy interior all year round, think about adding warmth and comfort in key areas, such as the hallway, living spaces and bedrooms. From soothing colour schemes and well-chosen soft furnishings to practical products and little touches of luxury, it's the small things that all add up to a warm and welcoming interior. Here are seven steps to make everyone feel at home this Christmas… I MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION Adorn your front door and porch with plenty of festive foliage, lights and decorations.…

Mike Coke Biomass products manager at stovax.com Rob Nezard Managing director of ukradiators.com Tom Edmunds General manager at wundagroup.com Martyn Bridges Director of technical services at worcester-bosch.co.uk What type of wood is best for a wood-burning stove? Mike Coke, biomass products manager for Stovax Heating, says… It's essential to only burn good-quality, dry wood. If the wood is wet or high in moisture content, such as freshly felled timber, much of the energy created by the fire is wasted on boiling the water within the wood, rather than heating the room. Burning wet wood results in poor combustion, increased emissions, and the production of tar deposits, which can damage a flue and increase the risk of chimney fires. Pallet, painted wood or timber that has been in any way chemically…

LET'S Party…

VonShef 4 pan buffet server, £54.99, VonHaus This 65×38cm unit felt extremely large but was surprisingly slim and lightweight, so it was easy to pick up and store after use. When used with the included trays it has a whopping 6.5L capacity. The two large trays (2.5L) are a great size for main dishes and the smaller trays (1.25L) are perfect for sides. It has a manual dial to control the temperature with an output of 300w. The trays and tray rack are removable so you can use it to keep plates warm if you're short on oven space. It's a plug-in unit so will keep food warm for as long as you need but, it's not recommended for use over 8 hours. The metal trays are dishwasher safe, but…

• Before putting your tree up to decorate it, saw half an inch off the bottom of the trunk. You can either ask the Christmas tree seller to do this for you, or do it at home if you have the tools. A good trim will get rid of any hardened sap, helping the trunk to absorb plenty of water. • Christmas trees can get very thirsty and can absorb up to three pints of water a day. Ideally, keep your tree in a pot that is easily accessed so that you can check the water level daily and keep it topped up with a watering can. The trunk should be well submerged in the water. • Locate your Christmas tree away from radiators and other heat sources. Its natural…

Gifts for FAMILY TIME Gather round your nearest and dearest and treat them to memory-making kitchen discos, games nights, baking afternoons and more! THE PERFECT NiGHT iN…

GROW YOUR OWN…

SAVE Black ceramic vase, £8, B&M Spend Splash ‘My approach to decorating is to do bespoke on a budget’…

STEP INSIDE… WHO LIVES HERE? Kate Campbell, 46, a creativity coach and interior designer at thecreativitycurator.co.uk, my husband Andy, 57, a drugaddiction therapist, and our two children Esther, 15, and Ivy, 13, along with Otis the cavapoo. We've lived in our semi-detached, four-bedroom 1980s house in Wakefield since 2007. WHAT WAS UPDATED? We added an extension on the ground floor to create an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, which I decorated in a bold style with homely touches. WHY THE CHANGE? We needed more room for our growing family to entertain and cook in, and I wanted to really stamp my style on the place. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took around eight months for the building work to be done and the decorative touches to be added.…

Top Tip Create your own garland using foraged foliage to drape off a shelf or along a mantelpiece. Make it work for this trend by adding silver sprays and navy baubles for a magical, midnight feel Capture the magic ✢ A pre-lit, snow-covered tree is ideal for achieving this trend. Personalise the look by adding feathers and sprigs of faux foliage in white and pale gold, then fill with whimsical hanging decorations – think nutcrackers, ballerinas and mice, topped with a magical fairy for the perfect storybook finish. ✢ Create little corners of detail in the hallway, on a sideboard or a window sill, by adding festive decorations to welcome the season. A collection of candle holders, nutcracker ornaments and gifts wrapped in this soft palette of colours will create…

£30 & UNDER Step into the season with these great-value festive accessories ADD TEXTURE AND FESTIVE MOTIFS TO A NEUTRAL SCHEME £50 & UNDER Unique and luxurious finds to elevate your Christmas scheme LAYER UP THE BED WITH COSY CUSHIONS AND THROWS €10 & UNDER Create a magical interior with easy updates that won't break the bank Four Calling Birds Christmas tray, £9.95, Annabel James TRANSFORM YOUR HOME WITH SEASONAL SCENTS…

LUXE LAYERS Layering is the key to creating a polished dinnerparty look – for each guest, stack a charger, dinner plate and side plate, then top with a folded napkin and bauble…

SEASONAL SWAPS Switch out some of your usual items for festive ones – like Clare, try seasonal duvet covers and cushions, or pack away your usual ornaments and replace with a village of tea light holder houses…

BLANK CANVAS A monochrome colour palette like Charlotte's makes it easy to refresh your home with the seasons. The rich rusts, ochres and teals she's chosen for this year's celebrations feel super luxurious against crisp white walls and furniture…

With the right table, you can make a big statement in your dining room or kitchen. A table with a herringbone top is an eye-catching choice, with its characteristic zigzag pattern that feels both irregular and uniform at the same time. Due to the labour involved in making a herringbone table, they tend to be pricey, but you can craft your own at a fraction of the cost. This project is made using pallet wood – you can often pick up pallets for free or next-to-nothing, and their rustic nature makes for a really distinctive finish. One of the great things about making your own herringbone table – aside from economy and the pattern's unique appeal – is that you can make it in a custom size to fit your…

Smoked salmon pâté YOU WILL NEED ✔ 150g smoked salmon, cut into pieces ✔ 180g cream cheese ✔ 2 tbsp crème fraîche ✔ zest and juice of 1 lemon ✔ small handful of dill, plus extra to serve ✔ small handful of chives ✔ 1 tbsp capers, drained and rinsed ✔ 1 tsp smoked Maldon salt ✔ black pepper ✔ rye bread and lemon wedges, to serve DIRECTIONS ■ Put all of the ingredients, except the bread and lemon wedges, into a mixing bowl. ■ Mix together so everything is combined, and serve with rye bread, lemon wedges and an extra sprinkle of dill. PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes SERVES 4 Garlic butter mushroom ‘scallops’ YOU WILL NEED ✔ 400g king oyster mushrooms ✔ 4 tbsp vegan butter ✔ 4 tsp…

LET'S toast…

Top tables I really wanted a new dining suite, but decided to update the one I already had. I bought this pine table set for £20 second hand 10 years ago. Since then, it's been white, grey and now, navy blue! We're super pleased with it and it looks much better in our dining room! Emilie Harris, Bristol Mel, Editor, says: This just goes to show how buying quality furniture pays off in the long run – even second hand! I hope it lasts you another 10 years. A new leaf Reading your magazine for the first time, I was inspired by the letters page. My bedroom had plain painted walls that showed every mark and imperfection, so I papered a feature wall and re-covered the red headboard to match…

Wipe up spills and tidy up faces with these pretty napkins. They're made from FSC certified paper and have a Nordic Swan ecolabel, one of the hardest environmental certifications to achieve. Paper napkins, £1.22 for 20, Søstrene Grene Treat yourself to extra helpings using these elegant serving spoons. They're made from rustresistant, dishwasher-safe, 18.0 stainless steel that's polished to a glossy, mirror finish. Select serving spoons, £13.50 for 2, Viners These pretty pot holders are made from cotton with a felted polyester lining for good heat insulation. Check out the matching oven glove, and coordinating tea towels and apron too! Inamaria pot holder, £3 for 2, IKEA…

CONSUMER NEWS Get on the PROPERTY LADDER A little helping hand for first-time buyers Now that the government's Help to Buy scheme has ended, a new plan has been launched called Home Reach Flex, which is currently partnered with major housebuilders including Vistry and Keepmoat. Similar to Shared Ownership but with more flexibility, it allows first-time buyers to purchase a share of a newly built home and pay a monthly rent on the rest. Your budget determines the size of the share rather than the size of the home, as you can initially buy up to 65%. You don't need a large deposit or high household income, and the rent part is paid to Heylo with a 999-year lease at 3.25% of the share of the property that you haven't…

UNDER £5…

STYLE FILE SPOTLIGHT ON Relax into effortless chic this Christmas by sticking to a scheme of warm, cashmere tinted whites and soft, snowy details. This look is brilliant for rooms where you've already embraced the trend for creamy neutrals – all you need is a little fluffy texture and some foliage elements to set your scene for the season. The restricted palette instantly creates a feeling of easy elegance, while natural materials and playful motifs keep the atmosphere laid-back. Create a calm atmosphere with a toneon-tone effect – it makes even the grandest of spaces feel relaxed. Choose a shade of white you love, then look for matching shades that feel a little stronger, all the way up to rich espresso brown or deep stormy grey. Mix and match these…

STEP INSIDE… WHO LIVES HERE? I'm Claire Champion, 47, a university administrator, and I live here with my husband John, 56, a business consultant. Our home is an extended three-bedroom 1950s dormer bungalow in Chester, Cheshire, which John bought in June 2013. I share my decorating ideas on Instagram @charnwoodtowers. WHAT WAS UPDATED? We gave the glossy kitchen cabinets an update, added panelling and a wallpaper feature wall. WHY THE CHANGE? We wanted to add personality and colour without investing in a whole new kitchen. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? The original building work and kitchen install took a month, and then this makeover took about six weeks during the weekends and evenings. TOTAL COST £966 When Claire moved in to her partner John's home, which he previously bought from…

SAVE Splash Spend ‘I love creating a cosy and inviting space to relax in’…

Top Tip Update last year's baubles to fit this trend by painting them in golds and soft pinks instead of buying new. They will help to bulk out the décor on the tree so you'll only need a few new additions to complete the look Capture the magic ✢ A real tree, or an ultra-realistic artificial one, is the best choice for this look. Let the tree take centre stage by opting for faux clip-on candles to bring a more traditional glow to the festivities. Large velvet bows teamed with brilliant red poinsettia flowers offer an elegant finish. ✢ Fill your home with lots of natural greenery – think garlands wrapped around the stair banister, a wreath on the door (both inside and out!), swags along the mantelpiece, and candle…

Putting up the tree and decorating the house with foliage and twinkly fairy lights is one of the best bits about Christmas – they add that all-important link to nature as well as a touch of magic, but with everything else going on it can sometimes feel like a big job. If you're looking for a way to decorate that doesn't take as long but still brings that festive sparkle, look no further. Pre-lit decorations, where the lights are an integral part of the foliage, will halve the time it takes to get the house looking merry and bright, and there are some beautiful options out there on the high street. From classic Christmas trees, to wreaths and garlands for doors and mantlepieces, we'll show you how to bring a…

Step inside Michelle Marbie Davies’ South-East London apartment in the run up to Christmas and you're met with an array of festive scents: fig and amber candles, eucalyptus and grapefruit, and the fresh smell of pine from flower market garlands. ‘Christmas is such a special time for me – a chance to spend time with loved ones,’ says Michelle, who has worked to create the perfect setting for entertaining. The table is laid with clusters of hydrangeas, white crockery, and sparkling glassware, garlands are draped from console tables and mirrors, and wreaths adorn her open-plan kitchen, tied in place with lengths of velvet ribbon. She goes the extra mile to make sure holiday guests always feel welcome. ‘I like to scent my bathroom towels with essential oils for an inviting,…

Clare and Steven moved into their duplex in 2017 from a smaller period property nearby. ‘We loved the feeling of space and the sense of community in the development,’ Clare shares. The couple also liked its layout, with the bedrooms on the ground floor, and the stairs leading up to a fabulously light-filled, open-plan living room, with a separate kitchen and a study area. ‘Having a study was a godsend during lockdown, when my husband was working from home and we were home-schooling our eldest two and had a toddler,’ Clare says. When they first moved, in the décor was completely neutral, so Clare knew she wanted to personalise it quickly. ‘I am very instinctive when it comes to interiors. I don't over-think, I just get on with it,’ she…

After spending three years transforming a dated semi into a modern masterpiece, Charlotte and James Lawrence are looking forward to spending the festive season in their finished home. ‘This year is going to be extra special because it will be our daughter's first Christmas,’ Charlotte explains. ‘It's going to be a very different experience to our first Christmas in this house, because it was very much a work-in-progress then!’ The couple decided to make the move to Brighton after renting in London for eight years. ‘We wanted to live on the Sussex coast to be closer to our family,’ says Charlotte, who admits they had a very specific idea of what they wanted to buy. Luckily, this house ticked all the boxes. ‘As soon as we walked through the door…

DRESSING UP Make your dressing room dreams a reality with a walk-in wardrobe design. Wren has launched a new Walk-in collection that can be made to your exact requirements and fitted with a whole host of handy internal configurations, from pullout shoe racks to luxuriously lined jewellery drawers. Prices for the style pictured start from £3,146. Our expert says… ‘To create a warm welcome, incorporate features that pull you into a space. Use of texture and pattern, and raw materials such as wood and foliage, can really help draw people in. Colour also plays a huge part – warm hues and neutral tones prevent a space from seeming overwhelming. A room becomes enticing when it looks cosy – features such as fireplaces, low-level lighting and throws all work together to…

PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes + 20 minutes chilling COOKING TIME 12-15 minutes MAKES 12 GIFT IDEA Treat your neighbours or loved ones to a few of your festive bakes – wrapped in paper and tied with ribbon, they make a thoughtful gift Apricot mince pies YOU WILL NEED ✔ 200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting ✔ 100g unsalted butter, at room temperature and cubed, plus extra for greasing ✔ 1 tsp ground mixed spice ✔ 1 tbsp caster sugar ✔ 6 tsp Bonne Maman apricot conserve ✔ 6 tsp mincemeat ✔ 1 beaten egg, to glaze ✔ icing sugar, to dust DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6. Grease a 12-hole cake tin. ■ Put the flour into a mixing bowl, add the butter and rub…

Something to sip… TOP TIP If the sloe gin you're using is quite spiced, skip the cinnamon stick. For an extra festive twist, stud the clementine wedge with cloves How to make ■ PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes + cooling ■ SERVES 1 YOU WILL NEED ✔ 100g golden caster sugar ✔ 100ml water ✔ 50g frozen fruits, such as Asda Frozen Black Forest or Summer Fruits ✔ cinnamon stick (optional) ✔ 25ml sloe gin, such as Asda The Distiller Sloe Gin ✔ 75ml Prosecco ✔ 50ml soda water ✔ clementine wedge, to garnish DIRECTIONS ■ Put the caster sugar, water, frozen fruits and cinnamon stick (if using) in a saucepan. Heat gently until simmering, allowing the fruit to defrost and the sugar to dissolve. Leave to cool, then strain. This…

SAVE Spend Splash TOP TIP Avoid decorations with dates on and choose long-lasting styles to celebrate every new year…