With Christmas just around the corner, most of us have now started, or at least thought about, decking the halls with festive decorations.

And while some love nothing more than going nuts with a blow up Santa, flashing coloured lights and bursts of tinsel, others will opt for a more muted colour palette and stick to a particular theme.

But as it turns out, Christmas decor is packed with unlimited design potential - we just need to get a little creative.

To help kick-start your festive inspiration, feast your eyes on these Christmas decorating ideas from the Harrogate district's interior designers.

From pared back style to innovative alternatives to favourite festive staples, here are some top decorating tips to make your spirits merry, bright, and beautiful.

Festive colour palettes, adding festive cheer and igniting the senses

Nommi Fligg, interior designer at Furnish & Fettle, Harrogate, Wetherby and Pocklington:

After 2020's festive season turned out to be a bit of a wash-out, we're only too happy to look ahead, towards what will hopefully be a more 'normal' December, with more family members gathered around the tree and fewer gathered around Zoom.

The question we often get asked as designers is, how do we choose the right colours and accessories to decorate our home in a way that’s sophisticated, yet special for the Christmas season?

Every year there are always new trends and there are different styles of decorations from Nordic, to country to minimalist, however, as we redefine our homes at this time of year, we’re focusing on bringing seasonal elements in that feel both celebratory and natural, incorporating warm winter elements to bring festive feelings into our spaces.

Establishing a seasonal colour palette



When working on our projects, one of the first things we consider is the colour palette. Although decorating for the festive season is different from selecting finishes or furniture, identifying tones you want to incorporate in your seasonal decor always makes for a more cohesive end result. This year, we’re inspired by muted traditional holiday tones that feel wintery, warm, and neutral enough to blend in with our spaces.

Incorporating natural elements



Layering in natural elements can look like anything from incorporating greenery to adding textural materials like wood tones or displaying artwork that displays a wintery feeling. For our clients, we love styling logs by the fireplace, front porch, or even in the mudroom to introduce a seasonal element. Add them to a pretty log holder, pile them in a woven basket, or simply stack them to bring a subtle wintery feeling to your vignette.

Adding festive cheer 



This season, we’re finding new ways to make our homes feel merrier through unexpected celebratory elements.

Decorating for Christmas is about balancing big moments, like your tree, with smaller moments throughout your home, like faux seasonal florals, that you can change up as and when you feel. You could also hang a good-old wreath in your entranceway, or add cheer and little ornaments to your bookshelves.

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A designer top tip would be to switch out your throws and pillows to more seasonal ones can go a long way, but they don’t have to be embroidered with reindeers and Santa Claus to feel festive. Try incorporating velvet, wool, and knit textures to add a pretty, streamlined look.

Igniting the senses



The first thing you can do to start making your home feel seasonal is light a candle.

When designing a space, we like to think about our senses and how they ignite our surroundings. Create a welcoming winter environment by adding ambiance through warm scents, cozy textiles, a calming colour palette, and elevated accents.

We love changing out our scented candles or room diffusers – something as simple as a change in smell can tingle the senses and memory-bank and instantly transport you to the land of Christmas.

Where we can, we enjoy a real fern wreath so we can breathe in the smell of the outdoors whilst tucked up on the sofa.

Another top tip, if your tree isn’t in the sunniest of spaces, glass baubles, as opposed to solid ones, will help to reflect the sun and candlelight around your room and add a warming glow to the atmosphere.

Alongside candles, table lamps are your biggest ally, you can never have too many and they will never let you down on a winters evening, bringing coziness and sparkle to all items placed around them.

Five top tips for creating the perfect dinner table at Christmas

Rachael Webber, design director at Stylesmith Interiors, Harrogate



1.Simple and elegant dressing

Use lots of greenery and candles - nothing glitzy. Use the centrepiece to run down the table, rather than a runner.

2. Consider the size of your centrepiece

Make sure it isn't too tall so that your guests can see each other.

3. Create ambience

Use lots of layered lighting and beautifully-scented candles to add ambience.

4. It's all about the crockery

Use striking dinner plates to create a feast for the eyes.

5. Dig out your best glasses

Use good quality wine and champagne glasses - again keeping things simple and elegant with no bling.

Simplicity is powerful: Top tips for living room Christmas decor 

Joanie Mac, interior designer, Harrogate

My top tips for decorating at Christmas hang around some key ideas: Simplicity is powerful, use what you have, and some wonderful wrapping!

1.Re-think what you already have 



This is three cake stands stacked up with a White Company metal wreath from a couple of years ago and piled high with baubles.



And this is upturned vases and baubles creating a city skyline along the mantelpiece.

2. You can create the spirit of Christmas in the smallest of spots with a bit of imagination



Think about different heights of objects, some foliage, pine cones and berries collected on your walk through the woods and create magic.

3. Pared back is so impactful



Here is just a mirror, a wreath and a couple of decorations, but it looks fabulous against the strong blue wall.



And here is another pared back one with a beautiful glass lamp, a vintage light fitting and a crystal bauble all sitting on a vintage trunk.

4. Include presents under the tree



And finally, wrap some presents in beautiful wrapping paper and place them under the tree.