Very merry deco: Christmas interior design

Looking to turn your house into a winter wonderland this festive season? Interior stylist Melañio Gomez gives tips on how to decorate your home for the holidays – without going overboard.

What are the common mistakes people make when decorating their home for the holidays?

People should avoid overkill at all cost. In their attempt to create a wonderland atmosphere, many householders end up producing something akin to a department store or Disneyland. Remember scale and proportion: decorations should enhance your space, not drown it. Enough’s enough when it’s hard to see the tree because there’s too much on it, and/or when the branches beginto sag under the weight of what’s on them. There are two categories of tree decorations: fillers, which are often coloured bulbs, to provide depth and background; and ornaments to add dazzle. If you overload your tree, the eye does not know where to look.

Are there any safety or practical matters to be taken into account?

Be mindful of children and pets. If you have young kids around, it’s better to buy plastic decorations – many of which look wonderful and convincingly like glass ones – as they are much safer. Low-hanging ornaments that a dog can brush up against should also be avoided. Never place your tree near radiators and fireplaces.

Can Christmas decorations be trendy without being tacky, or is Christmas best kept traditional?

It’s all a matter of taste. A single colour scheme can look great: I’ve seen monochromatic silver, golden and crystal trees, and plain white ones with black decorations that looked elegantly Art Deco. New DeWolf is a treasure trove for decorations and has themed trees: some with a sea theme, full of shells and sea urchins; others with a woodland theme featuring gnomes, mushrooms and snails; or a natural theme, with wood decorations and pine cones.

Decorations from different eras: is it best to mix or segregate?

I always like a mix of old and new. Vintage decorations have a lovely patina that new ones don’t, and old decorations often hold memories from when they were bought. Personally, I think mingling them with modern ones is alright. People’s taste often attracts them to similar colours: if you like jewel tones, like emerald greens, ruby reds and sapphire blues, you’re probably going to buy decorations in that scheme. If you have decorations that are very different, you can always have a tabletop tree and a larger tree to accommodate the differing looks.

Which decorations can people make themselves?

I have two nephews coming for Christmas, so I went to the Bozar gift shop (below), which sells origami paper with instructions on how to fold doves of peace, cranes and other figures. The easy ones to make yourself are the traditional garland of popcorn or cranberries, and the paperlink chain for the tree. You could also bake cookies and turn them into ornaments. Embellish them with glue glitter and jewel stickers from stores like Schleiper Art Supplies, for example. For more labour-intensive but easy-to-do deco ideas, websites like www.countryliving.com, www.realsimple.com and www.cottageliving.com are good resources.

Which trees do you find look good and maintain their needles well?

Trees sold in Belgium tend to be less dense than in the US because people here like to hang candles on them, which is safer when branches are farther apart. The Nordmann fir (or abies nordmanniana) is popular. It’s a magnificent tree and its cultivation exploded here about 15 years ago. Today Nordmann firs account for some 60 percent of all the Christmas trees grown.

Real or fake: which is the better tree?

This is the biggest question of the holiday season. There are certainly artificial trees that look as good as any real tree – plus, their branches are stronger. Also, if you’re going to be away for Christmas and no one will be around to water the tree, a fake tree has its advantages. From an ecological standpoint, there are arguments for both. Visit www.christmastree.org to find out more.

What makes an attractive centrepiece for a table?

If your home is full of decorations, keep it simple at the table. Pine cones, paperwhite flowers, poinsettias or a row of candles are elegant. In Bruges, there are several shops selling white doilies that resemble snowflakes for €2 or €3: these look great on a table. Buy several sizes and scatter them about. Use a starch spray to make them stiff.  

If you don’t want a tree in your home, what would you suggest makes a good alternative centrepiece?

Most homes have fireplaces, which are perfect spots on which to hang bunting. You can also place branches on the mantelpiece. You can light candles inside a bowl in place of a roaring fire. Seasonal items like amaryllis flowers, pine cones, snowmen, snowflakes, and poinsettias also make pretty touches and are more about the time of year than religion.

What would you suggest in terms of window decorations?

Many supermarket chains sell ice crystals sprays that give windows a frosty look – not to be confused with snow spray, which looks more like graffiti. Candles, holiday swags and fairy lights are good, as are fake icicles and snowflake motifs. Wreaths always look great.

And, finally, how long is it okay tokeep up decorations after Christmas?

Some people like to take them down as soon as Christmas or New Year is over, but I think it’s okay to keep them up until Epiphany, also known as the Three Kings, which is on January 6. 

www.melaniogomez.com