katie.lacy@letsgetcoffee.co.uk, Author at Modish Living

Fresh home interior trends in 2022 for you

Our home interior continues to be more important to us than ever as we move into 2022. With our homes now a multifunctional space providing a place to live, work, relax and retreat, home improvements and fresh new decor is a high on our to-do list. We look at what we think will be the big interior trends in your homes for 2022.

1. Natural & sustainable materials

Caring for the environment is never far from our minds these days and many of us will be making New Year’s resolutions to go that extra bit further. Natural wood always gives a room warmth but reclaimed wood furniture brings with it character, as well as warmth. Of course, this is also a more eco-friendly way to purchase furniture – reusing wood and saving it from being burnt or going to landfill.

Mango wood furniture is another material that we will be using more of in our homes. The natural golden variation in the wood make it an instantly attractive choice aesthetically and coupled with its naturally sustainable credentials, it is sure to grow in popularity. In addition to wood, natural stone like travertine is a great way to bring rustic and eco-friendly materials into your home. Travertine is a form of marble with which you can cover floors and sustainably decorate walls. Once they are sealed they won’t absorb chemicals or dust and you are left with a sophisticated looking and bacteria-free environment.

2. Interiors that have longevity and timelessness

In an effort to be more environmentally conscious, we are looking at longer-lasting pieces to furnish our homes. In 2022 we will continue to move away from fast-moving, trend-only furniture solutions and instead choose quality pieces that will stand the test of time. A solid rustic dining table crafted in aged reclaimed wood not only makes a timeless statement, but is the type of furniture that improves the more it is used, becoming almost heirlooms, handed down generations.

3. Black accents

Add depth and a bold statement to your room by using black accents and hardware. An industrial dining table in the dining room with black metal legs and a faux leather dining chair with dark steel legs will look fresh and modern, especially in a neutral or white room. Other black accents you can incorporate is adding table lamps or swapping handles on existing furniture such as wooden sideboards and a rustic coffee table with black metal ones.

4. Versatile spaces

In 2022 we will continue to seek a home that is versatile. We will be looking to get the most out of the space we call home and buy furniture that is multifunctional; a dining table that can also be used as a work desk or a wooden dressing table in a child’s bedroom with plenty of storage that can be used as a desk for school work.

5. Biophilia is going nowhere

Our rediscovered love of nature is definitely here to stay – bring the outdoors in wherever possible. If you are building an extension then include big windows and fully glazed doors, even a skylight – all allow an extra connection to nature. Dulux’s colour for the year 2022 is called Bright Skies™ which is definitely an excellent choice when you want a bright and airy feel for your home, plus reclaimed wood furniture looks absolutely gorgeous against this peaceful pale blue. Houseplants are still very much in so be sure to make them a big part of your habitat, if you’re not too confident looking after houseplants there are plenty of varieties that are easy to care for or choose one of the many imitation plants that can look as good as real.

Our 2021 best selling rustic furniture of the year

As we come to the end of 2021, it’s time to reflect over the past year before we start anew. To ensure we are offering you the type of rustic furniture and reclaimed wood furniture you most covet, we look back at your most popular pieces of the year. From industrial dining tables to bedroom furniture let’s see just what your homes are proudly wearing.

Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table

Dining Tables

Dining tables are once again our top sellers. The popularity of the Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table continues to rise – it looks as good as a contrast piece in a modern urban home as it does in a loft or rustic cottage. The Farringdon reclaimed wood extendable trestle table is particularly popular with families who are seeking a chunky solid wooden extendable dining table. This table looks especially great with the matching wooden dining bench – a practical choice if you like to entertain with room to fit more guests around the table. Another wooden table with bench that needs a mention is the Lansdowne Industrial. With plenty of other pieces in the collection including a wooden sideboard, with just these items you have set a stylish foundation for your dining room theme.

Standford Brown Leather Dining Chairs

Dining Chairs

When you are looking for seating for your dining room then the classic soft tan leather Standford is your top choice. These leather dining room chairs combine comfort with an industrial style that will complement many different interior styles and colour schemes. Perfect if you’re looking for a more rustic look the Allegro chairs were another top pick for the stylish dining room. Those of you who were looking for a vegan option fell head over heels with our Cleo faux leather seating collection – with benches and bar stools available as well as the faux leather dining chairs, all offered in tan or grey – we weren’t at all surprised to see this at the top of the list.

Dulwich Reclaimed Wood collection

Bedroom Furniture

The Dulwich reclaimed wood solid bed frame is a classic rustic bed that continues to be the popular choice. Many different styles are available but all feature a solid wooden headboard that has been handcrafted right here in the UK from reclaimed beams, which are often over 100 years old. As well as the Dulwich range our Winchester and Chelwood reclaimed wood collections also proved to be a bedroom essential in your homes. A reclaimed wood table at your bedside was your bedroom furniture piece of choice, adding not just essential storage, but warmth and character than only reclaimed wood can.

Chelwood Reclaimed Wood TV Stand

Living room furniture

Along with the ever-popular industrial dining table from the Standford collection many of you have decided to opt for an industrial look in the living room too. Our wooden sideboard from the Standford Industrial collection as well as the industrial coffee table have been popular choices throughout the year. Industrial furniture is so versatile – it can blend into any interior scheme and can be softened to create a warm inviting living space. A modern country scheme has also proved desirable this year, with our Chelwood reclaimed wood TV unit being one of our best selling living room furniture picks this year.

We’ve brought you are best sellers, now take a look at what our most read blogs of 2021 were. If you missed them, see our inspiration and ideas to discover some great tips and advice.

How to plan the perfect New Year’s Eve dinner party

Whether you’re hosting a small dinner party for four or a larger group of friends, make it the event of the year with our tips on how to host the best dinner party this new year’s eve…

Send invites

This should have been done by now, but sending out written invites is always a good idea, even if you have already verbally invited guests. If you send out invitations you can let everyone know what time to attend – add bring a bottle and make your theme known. You can also give a hint about the food you will be serving and ask them to RSVP so you definitely know how many you will be catering for.

Plan ahead

As ever, good organisation is key to a successful party – don’t leave everything to the last minute! You’ve got a few days left to check your New Year’s Eve invite list, finalise the menu (remember to double check on any specific dietary requirements), get decorations and props ready and purchase anything that is missing, especially important if you are having a themed party.

Dining table decor

It’s a New Years Eve party, so go all out and create a fabulous tablescape. Even if you are not having an actual theme for your dinner party have a theme in mind for your table setting. Create a stunning centrepiece for a rustic dining table with flowers and candles. Get all your crockery and cutlery washed and polished in advance so they sparkle on the table. To save any awkwardness for your guests you can organise a seating plan and leave a little gift on the table for each of your guests.

reclaimed wood dining table with dark blue styling

Prepare a welcome cocktail

Offer your guests a warm welcome with a prepared cocktail. Chances are you will be kept busy greeting guests as they arrive, having a cocktail ready for them left on a rustic console table in the hallway will leave you free to greet guests still arriving or add the finishing touches to the food. You can try something completely new or go for a classic such as a margarita. If you can, choose something that can be prepared the night before. Of course, not everyone will be drinking so have an alcohol free alternative, especially important for designated drivers.

Create a music playlist

Music is a great way to set the tone for your dinner party, you’ll want a good range of tunes to play throughout the evening. Consider the mood you want to set as your guests are arriving, you can dial the music down to a background level while you are sitting down to eat and crank it up a notch for after dinner dancing. Make sure you have a solid wood dining table if you foresee any dancing on the tables!

Be prepared

Some of your guests may unexpectedly end up wanting to (or needing to) stay the night. Have the guest bedroom ready and prepared for this possibility. Make sure you have clean sheets on the spare small double wooden bed and extra pillows and blankets at the ready. It may also be a good idea to leave a stylish jug of water on a wooden bedside table to help guests rehydrate throughout the night!

Our top 10 blogs in 2021 voted by you!

our top 10 blogs of 2021 as voted for by you

Looking back at our blogs over 2021 it’s obvious to us that you like a mixture of tips and ideas as well as inspiration from interior experts and nosing around other peoples homes. As the year comes to a close, we take a look back at the blogs you most enjoyed reading in 2021.

Our top 10 most read blogs

1. Arthty Ragupathy of @av.home gave out some super tips on how to add character to a new build. In this blog, she explained how wood is your best friend when trying to make your new build home feel rustic and traditional. Along with our Soho Extending Reclaimed Wood Dining Table, she uses different textures and neutral tones to create a contemporary interior with a warm, homely and lived-in feel.

Credit: @av.home

2. Dining room furniture ideas are still the top item of interest with industrial dining tables being as popular as ever…. of course with that comes additional decisions for you when choosing dining chairs as well as the must-have wooden dining bench. Getting the right dining table is very important to you and we are often asked Which wood is best for a dining table? To answer this we had a look at numerous popular rustic dining table options from oak to a reclaimed wood dining table and looked at the pros and characteristics of the most popular choices.

3. Our blog looking at how to Style a rustic dining table with leather seating was another hugely popular read. We didn’t only look at leather seating we considered faux leather dining chairs too as an eco-friendly alternative – like us, our readers care about the planet and want their homes to reflect that.

4. We shared our top tips when it comes to How to style chairs with your industrial dining table and it was clear you were asking the same question. Our blog covered not just the typical black metal legged industrial tables we all love, but also a more glamorous option, the Oldham Oak Dining Table.

5. The breakfast counter is another area that you’ve been wanting to improve. Choosing the right bar stools for your kitchen can be tricky, so we looked at practical ways to help you decide what style of kitchen island stools would work well for you and the members of your household, whilst looking super stylish, of course.

6. Using eco-friendly products throughout the home is something that many of you are interested in and our blog Using colour with The Little Greene Paint Company made it into our top ten. Their water-based paints carry the industry’s lowest eco-rating, meaning its VOC content is almost zero – great for your home and for the environment.

Credit: Little Greene Paint Company

7. After an unprecedented year, it’s no surprise that our focus has been on home decor and the useability of indoor and outdoor space, so it will come as no surprise that so many of you enjoyed reading our 3 colours that complement a brown leather sofa blog. A brown leather sofa is a perennial favourite in the home and sits comfortably with pretty much any colour, but we picked three modern hues that clearly inspired you.

8. Sticking with advice to make your home your favourite place, our tips to get a family friendly living room also made it into our top 10. We showed how you can create a stylish sophisticated space that works for everyone in the household.

9. Working from home became a norm for most us throughout the year and a focus on improving our work space was hugely popular. We’ve been with you all the way with plenty of ideas to create a comfortable home office – whether you have a separate study or have had to combine it with a room that has, until recently, only been used for something else. We’ve looked at everything from office storage, to choosing the best desk chair right through to Ways to give your workspace a creative edge.

10. We added to our range of popular British handcrafted Onslow Reclaimed Wood Bed frames and took the opportunity to look at ways to make the most of the space in your bedroom, which we were glad our readers enjoyed. From what to consider when purchasing a reclaimed solid wood chest of drawers to ideas on how to style the foot of your bed, including adding a wooden blanket box or even a wooden bench for a wonderful rustic look.

What were your favourite reads from our inspiration and ideas this year? We’d love to hear what you enjoy, so we can bring more of it to you next year. Leave a comment below to let us know.

Take the stress away with our last-minute checklist

With only a few days left to get ready, you won’t be alone if you still have much to do before the big day. To help you stay calm and organised, making a checklist is a great way to make sure all those little jobs get done in time. Once you’re all done you can sit back, put your feet up and relax wit a festive drink under your twinkling decorations. Here we have put together a list of things that you don’t want to forget!

Last-minute Christmas check-list

1. Have a tidy up

There is nothing quite like sitting down with a sparkling festive drink in a sparkling clean house, knowing it’s all done. Now is the time to tackle the housework and give your house a thorough clean.

Clear away as many things that you can, it’s amazing how quickly a room can get filled when you have even a few guests around – all those gifts and that wrapping paper, not to mention cups, glasses and nibbles dishes! Clear your rustic coffee table, put the remotes away in your industrial tv stand and move a wooden side table so it is more useable for your guests to put their drinks on. Make full use of an industrial sideboard if you have one in your living room – put as much away as you can in there and also put some coasters on the top so this can also be used as a surface by any visitors. The hallway is another place that soon gets cluttered, who wants to be tripping over shoes? Clear some room for your guest’s shoes in the shoe storage bench and make sure you have thought of where to put their bulky winter coats.

2. Prepare the guest room for overnight visitors

Be ready for planned and unplanned overnight guests by tidying and cleaning the spare room. Have some fresh bedding on the bed and put a couple of towels out for guests to use; you can even make some space in a wooden chest of drawers for their overnight belongings. It will make your them feel more comfortable if they do end up staying the night, as they’ll not feel that they have put you out in any way.

3. Think about seating

A wooden dining table with bench is a great investment for your dining room and even better if it’s a wooden extendable dining table. Check around to see if you have enough seating available – not just for the dining room but in the living room too. Do you have an office desk chair that can be bought down for Christmas dinner? A wooden blanket box will also make a great temporary seat for the living room or dining room.

4. Do you have everything for the table?

Get out and wash any serving dishes you plan on using, whether for the Christmas dinner or for nibbles. Put them on a shelf in your wooden sideboard so you know exactly where everything is. This is also a good time to write a timeline for getting Christmas dinner cooked, check you have everything in that you need, you can also prep and pop things in the freezer so you have more time to spend with your nearest and dearest. Just remember to get them out to defrost in time! If you don’t plan on using the dining room in the next few days – then go ahead and set the table, not only is this another job off the list but it will also look lovely every time you walk past the room!

5. Last-minute household essentials

The little things make all the difference – avoid last-minute stressing and dashes to the shops! Check now that you have everything you need. Some of the most forgotten items are – batteries, milk, bread, wrapping paper, sellotape and tinfoil!

6. Treats to offer any unexpected guests

Do you have enough drinks and snacks to offer to any unexpected or last-minute guests? Keep some extra mince pies, sweets, nibbles and soft drinks in the back of the cupboard, just in case……if they don’t get used then you can eat them all yourself!!

Easy ways to make your guests feel extra welcome

This year we are all looking forward to a Christmas with friends and family – we hope! A time to enjoy spending time with people we maybe don’t see often. If you have guests travelling from afar then you will want to make them feel warmly welcomed and at home in your home. Of course, you can get the living room ready for extra guests – maybe move the furniture around a little, bring in an extra small armchair or even buy a new wooden side table for your living room – but you might also want to consider giving other areas of your home some attention to get it guest ready, including the guest bedroom. We have put some ideas together of easy ways to give your guest bedroom a homely and Christmassy feel for your special guests.

Declutter

A change of bedding, quick dust and vacuum will give a room an instant refresh, but to make guests feel extra welcome, you may need to give it a good declutter. If you don’t use the guest room that much chances are that there are things in there that aren’t supposed to be. Now is the time to have a sort out and find permanent homes for these items. Maybe you need some extra storage in there like a solid wood chest of drawers or a wooden blanket box to place at the foot of the bed to help things stay tidy and organised. When you have decluttered it will be much easier to give the room a good clean, including the windows and under the bed. If you have time take the curtains down and wash them – the room will have a lovely fresh laundry smell for your guests.

Double up

If the guest room is small or is sometimes used as a home office then consider multifunctional furniture. You can put a reclaimed wood desk in your spare room for guests to use as a dressing table with storage with a dressing table chair that can double as a study chair. If you don’t have space for a bedside table move a chest of drawers or wooden chest closer to the bed. You could even take a wood small table from the living room to use as a temporary nightstand for your guests to put their drink on as well as a bedside lamp.

Make room for their belongings

No one likes living out of a suitcase, so you want to make sure you provide space where your guests can unpack and not feel like they’re in the way. Clear out a drawer or portion of your wooden wardrobe to allow plenty of room for their belongings.

Create some comfort

Just because it is the spare room and your guests won’t be spending much time in it, it does not mean it needs to be purely functional. Make it a cosy and homely place for your guests to be. A warm solid wood bed frame is the perfect centrepiece for the spare bedroom, dress this up with sumptuous throws and plump cushions to recline into. Even if the floor is carpeted you can add a rug for an extra warm feeling as your guests get out of bed.

Provide essentials and special extras

You will want to leave out the obvious items guests need throughout their stay on the bed, such as towels, face cloth and maybe an extra pillow or blanket, but to make them feel extra welcome, add some other special items to pamper to their needs. Lay out a few toiletries in a basket in case guests have forgotten anything – go through your travel toiletry bag and see if you have any nice hotel toiletries from your last trip that you can use – as well as a couple of bottles of water at their bedside.

Festive finishing touches

Why not? Give the room a festive feel by adding a Christmas display on the top of a wooden chest of drawers or add a Christmas themed cushion on the bed. Another idea is to stand some small decorations on the bedroom side tables or a Christmas wreath on the back of the door to give the room a wonderful festive feel for your guests.

How to style a Christmas rustic dining table

Discover how to dress your rustic Christmas dinner table with style. We chatted with one of our favourite Instagrammers, Rachel Hitchcock @at_home_with_the_hitchcocks, to take us through how she transformed her rustic dining table with a show-stopping nature-inspired Christmas display.

Christmas table styling with Rachel

I absolutely love the hanging Christmas arrangements that have gained popularity over the last few Christmases and knew that I wanted our lovely Derby Reclaimed Wood Extending Dining Table to have this type of feature this Christmas. However, I didn’t feel comfortable drilling holes into the ceiling – it’s the sort of thing I would do badly, so I set about finding how I could create the same look without the drill. I came across a table hanging rail which clamps onto the table, which was perfect. I decorated it with some pine cones, Christmas garlands and faux eucalyptus, berries and other foliage and had an instant eye-catching display that framed the dining table.

Decorating your Christmas dining table

In terms of decorating the table, I wanted to dress it as opposed to cover it. I have previously used a tablecloth when decorating my table for Christmas but now we have our beautiful reclaimed wood dining table and I didn’t want to hide it behind a tablecloth, I wanted to dress the table and still have the natural beauty of the reclaimed wood very much on display.

My usual dining table styling features a statement vase and flowers that suit the season, however, it’s not always the most practical as it can block the view of the person sitting across the table – not really what you want over Christmas dinner. Instead, I chose a traditional long and low arrangement using another pine Christmas garland and a faux eucalyptus garland intertwined.

Styling Tip: I placed the garland on a linen table runner, but I think for the day I’ll use a gold sparkly runner and a few fairy lights to make it even more festive.

I now had an arrangement along the middle of the table and an arrangement in parallel above the table. I wanted to make them cohesive so I played around with heights to bring them together. I added a mixture of tall, medium and small matching black candlestick holders along the table to create varying levels of height and interest. I then hung clear glass tea light holders and baubles from the hanging rail at varying heights so they would dangle elegantly between the candlestick holders. This helped the entire arrangement come together as one display rather than two different segments parallel to one another.

Styling Tip: Add some fairy lights interwoven into the hanging rail garland to give a little extra sparkle to the overall look. This is something I will do ahead of decorating for Christmas Day dinner.

I added little sprigs of faux eucalyptus, berries and other foliage into the centerpiece along the length of the dining table and I popped some pine cones and little miniature scented votive candles on the table runner and into gaps amongst the garland to fill it out.

Styling Tip: use clear empty glass candle jars with mistletoe or other festive flowers, branches or berries on your table, together with some fresh florals to add more interest and height to your table decor. This is another addition I’ll be making to my table on Christmas Day.

The best tableware and crockery

This year I’ve purchased some Christmas crockery with a discreet mistletoe pattern, but plain white works equally as well with this look. When I think of Christmas velvet always springs to mind, it brings an instant touch of luxury to the table. I found these lovely green velvet napkins and added black velvet bows for added extravagance. Once glasses and cutlery were added my Christmas table was finished! On the day, as well as fresh festive flowers, I’ll add Christmas crackers to complete the look.

Styling Tip: Add a sprig of holly with berries to place settings with a name card. You can even buy personalised velvet ribbon to tie your napkins.

For more Christmas home styling inspiration check out our ideas to impress guests this Christmas along with Rachel’s posts on @at_home_with_the_hitchcocks.

All images @at_home_with_the_hitchcocks

8 Best Christmas Decorations 2021 for a rustic home

Are you feeling festive yet? We know we are! If you’re looking to elevate your Christmas decor game this year, we’ve pulled together an edit of some of the best Christmas decorations to adorn your home with. From mini Christmas trees for your reclaimed wood dining table to gold stars hanging above a wooden sideboard, check-out our fabulous festive finds and diy ideas to give your home some yuletide joy.

Best Christmas Decorations to buy 2021

1. Alternative DIY Paper Christmas Tree Decor

We love this simple, but classically stylish idea from Lights4fun. Pages from old note pads or books, naturally yellowed and worn with a string of fairy lights entwined with the paper and a twinkling star on top – it would look perfect hanging over a rustic sideboard in a room. Dress up the top of your sideboard with candles, garlands or wreaths to make a beautiful festive display.

Photo credit: Lights4fun

2. Illuminated Gold Osby Stars

These gorgeous stars would look wonderful absolutely anywhere. Rest on a wooden sideboard, a solid wood chest of drawers, on a mantlepiece or hang from ceiling and doors. We like the minimalist simplicity of this pair of illuminated stars – simple, sparkly and stylish.

Photo credit: Lights4fun

3. Table Top Christmas Trees

These are just fabulous for a festive farmhouse dining table display. One at each end of the table with a garland or natural green foliage, fairy lights or candles and pine cones in between. The natural colour scheme will blend in perfectly with a room featuring rustic furniture and a neutral colour scheme.

Photo credit: Lights4fun

4. Totem Wooden Candle Holder

These gorgeous candlesticks from Dutch company, 5mm paper, are crafted from sustainable Beechwood – a lovely eco-friendly choice that can be used on their own or part of a larger seasonal display. They are not just for Christmas and will look great wherever you stand them, all year round. We love how they combine a minimalist design with a warm and feminine touch, especially when combined with warm and rustic coloured candles as pictured here.

Photo credit: 5mm Paper

5. Snowberry Christmas Heart

A wreath is a Christmas must-have and a perennial favourite, it was hard to choose a favourite….until we spotted this chunky “knit” one! Bright bold warm red with festive foliage embellishment – lovely for a warm inviting farmhouse kitchen. This is a really cute gift to give a friend or family member during the run-up to Christmas, if you can bare to give it away, that is!

Photo credit: Chunky Couture

6. Quirky Christmas Baubles

When it comes to baubles we like to have a bit of fun. We think this black cab and David Bowie bauble from Red Candy are just perfect for a funky, slightly retro and irreverent interior scheme!

Photo credit: Red Candy

7. Rustic Supersize Coffee Bauble

Bring elements of nature into your Christmas display with this unusual coffee bean bauble from The Urban Botanist. This impressive 20cm supersize bauble on rustic rope features a gorgeous large Arabica coffee plant planted on a bed of fragrant coffee beans – perfect all you coffee lovers out there.

Photo credit: The Urban Botanist

8. Rustic Christmas Bough on Dining Chair

If you like to go all out with your decorations then this hanging Christmas bough will add even more festivity to your dining space. Perfect for the back of a wooden dining chair, the mix of faux eucalyptus and velvet ribbon is oh, so stylish. If you fancy having a go at making your own you will need lots of faux or real pine tree branches and twigs, along with berries, ribbon and other decorations that match the colour scheme of your room. Another idea is to hang small festive wreaths on the back of dining chairs – another great way to dress up your dining space.

Photo credit: Lights4fun

For more Christmas inspiration check out our guides for holiday decor ideas and entertaining tips, together with practical solutions such as seating to fit everyone around the dining table.

How to help your Christmas tree last longer

Many of us are itching to get the tree up… if it’s not up already! A real Christmas tree will blend beautifully into a home with reclaimed wood furniture, continuing the rustic theme. But if you’re planning on a real Christmas tree it’s a little harder to judge exactly when it is the right time to put it up. You don’t want to miss out on the magical build-up to Christmas but at the same time, you don’t want it to be bare, dropping needles all over the floor and your rustic furniture by Christmas eve. In this blog, we look at how best to treat your tree so it lasts as long as possible over the festive period.

Choose the right tree

A healthy fresh-cut tree should last around four to five weeks. Many trees available to buy are ones that are described as needle retaining – but how long they will last depends on when it was cut. If at all possible you should buy your tree from a place that cuts it down as you’re there – of course, this is not always possible and you will only have the sellers word for when it was cut.

Tips to help you know if your tree is fresh

Gently pull your hand along a branch – only the odd needle should fall.
Tap the entire tree on the ground to see how many needles fall off.
The needles of a fresh tree should snap in half and should not be pliable.
The tree should have a fresh and fragrant scent.

Before you take the tree into your home, cut off 2.5cms from the bottom of the trunk as this will allow it to take up more water. The tree should ideally be placed in a leak-proof stand – it can drink 1-2 litres of water a day!

The best position for your Christmas tree

Ideally, you want to avoid placing your Christmas tree in direct sunlight or near an open fire or radiator. Whilst a real tree next to a roaring open fireplace feels festive and cosy, it will really shorten the tree’s life.

If your tree is a bit tall then cut some off from the bottom – you may be able to use any offcuts to make a festive display down the middle of your rustic dining table, as part of a table setting or on an industrial sideboard.

It may be worth moving your furniture around to get the tree in just the right position, maybe you have the ideal spot but a wooden side table or small armchair is in the way. A small piece of furniture can easily be moved out of the room temporarily to make room.

When Christmas is over and it’s time to take it down, look at responsible ways to dispose of it. Your local council will be able to help with this, or see our blog How your Christmas tree can live on after the holidays for some other great and eco-friendly suggestions.

What side of the fence to you sit on when it comes to real or imitation Christmas trees? We’d love to hear what you prefer. Leave a comment below to start the conversation!