Home updates to make magical Christmas moments

FOr many, this Christmas will be fraught with special considerations. Careful socialization, protection items and meeting outdoors for brisk, winter walks are still largely on paper for Covid-Wired. From intimate drink receptions with friends to the big day’s routines with extended family, I know I’m not the only one who would seriously feel the lack of some family member. No part of the holiday season, no matter how easily available chocolate and champagne, will beat the sheer excitement of spending time with the ones you love, but as always, there are some important updates you can make to your home to create magical, festive moments no matter what. turnout.

The first consideration for creating unforgettable Christmas moments should be glassware, says Johnny Roxburgh, a well-known royal and party planner. After planning more than 9,000 parties, the self-proclaimed “party architect” has partnered with homeware company Habitat to guide their customers through the festive period in style – party or no party. “Searchs on Google for house cocktails are increasing this time of year,” he says. “To make sure you get the most out of your homemade concoctions, make sure you serve your drinks in the correct glassware. That means tall drinks in a high ball and martini glasses for martini.” He cautions against these hard and fast rules with one exception: sparkling wine and champagne can be served in coupes as well as flutes. And with the resurgence of stained glass and alternative looks from companies like LSA International, Summerhill & Bishop and Campbell Rey X Laguna B, you can put your own twist on family favorites. For Roxburgh, the taste of Christmas morning is his breakfast martini, made with gin, Cointreau, lemonade and thick jam.

Christmas evenings at home with the family require warm and inviting lighting to add festive warmth to your interiors. Layering floor and table lamps to create pockets of warmth, rather than using a single central source of light, will allow you to control the ambiance and create a more interesting thoughtful lighting scheme. Interior designer Matthew Williamson believes setting the mood for a festive evening depends entirely on the lighting you choose. “Forget about one main light source in favor of lighting a few lamps around the room,” he says. “This way, you can be more flexible about what you intend to light. For example, a reading nook could benefit from a stylish swan-shaped wall lamp, while a piece of art would look amazing on the wall between two table lamps on a credenza or sideboard.” The designer’s recent collaboration with lighting company Pooky offers an industry-leading ultra-stylish table lamp to elevate any lighting scheme. The Phileas lamp is rechargeable and completely wireless, which means you don’t have to worry about locating the nearest plug socket, and it can easily light up your Christmas table, kitchen island, or even patio.

Finally, perfuming is a foolproof step towards creating joyful festive moments at home. “I always think about the overall aesthetic and the mood I want to create,” says Michelle Feeney, founder of perfume company Floral Street. For Michelle, it’s olfactory options that prove to enhance your surroundings, complementing your visual efforts with a clean but seasonal candle or diffuser. “Smell is the most powerful trigger for memories and enhances the moment,” she says. “So think about the mood you’d like to make yourself at home. To me, I like to feel like I’ve received a huge bunch of flowers when I get home, so I light a candle in the hallway and set up a matching diffuser.”

The most evocative holiday fragrances combine fir, eucalyptus, sweet orange, clove bud or vanilla and cinnamon. Skincare and fragrance company Malin + Goetz has a decadent aromatic candle called “dark rum” with notes of rum, anise, and vanilla, while the holiday collection Dyptique brings the scents of biscuits and mimosa to the holiday palette. For a more economical approach, Muji Company offers a wide range of scented candles with a warm, streamlined symbolic style associated with its stores. Her “wood fire” tin candle has become a cult thing, with fans claiming it makes their home look like a cabin in the Highlands. I’ll take what they have…