Christmas has always been the perfect time to be inventive, get crafty and find new ways to entertain in your space, no matter how big or small it may be. A festive table brimming with colour and texture looks inviting beneath an eye-catching suspended “light fitting” – made by hand from dried branches – while a charming balloon “tree” is a fun alternative to your regular Christmas greenery. Now all that’s needed is the guests!

For an easygoing twist on the traditional tree, let your ideas float freely…

• We suspended a faux leafy garland from a bobbing, helium-filled balloon to make an alternative “tree” that’s sure to be a conversation piece. Make a simple statement with one, or float several around the dining table to create the feel of a magical forest.
• Don’t overlook tree branches that have been trimmed during a pruning session, or left behind by a seasonal storm. Simply prop the dried branch upright in a corner – swathed in fairy lights – for instant appeal, or to create a really dramatic effect, suspend it over your dining table. Hang your favourite Christmas decorations from it, and for an especially personal touch, you could add little messages to friends and family for them to discover and read during the festivities. Electrified with vintage bulbs, your seasonal decoration can even become a year-round lighting statement.

Every festive table should be so inviting that guests are eager to sit down, and ready to fill your home with chatter, laughter and plenty of cheer.

• To avoid a look that feels too precious or “done”, drape your table with natural linen in muted tones of pink and green. Blending the energising power of all things green with the welcome softness of pink, this is a chic and contemporary colour combo.
• Play with textures: deep-pile-velvet chairs in a rich jewel green combined with a table “runner” made from layering up pine tree branches with delicate flowers, all on a base of beautiful raw linen, creates an effortless decorative feel that is genuinely easy to put together.
• Floral touches can be dried or fresh favourites, simply displayed in pretty bowls or bottles filled with water so they last throughout the holidays.
• Add a bold contrast to the softer elements using chunky black candle holders – and don’t forget a splash of bling, which is easily provided by bright gold-toned cutlery.
• Each place setting here is a blend of mismatched crockery pieces. Pull out every item of china, ceramics, and serveware you’ve collected over the years and enjoy spending time planning a unique setting for each of your guests.
• Top the individual plates with treasures from nature to keep things homespun, then add special Christmas decorations and tealight candles for sparkle.

If you simply don’t have the space for a tree, or just want to do something completely different this year, here are a few super quick and easy festive decor suggestions.

• Hang fragrant pine cuttings from string or ribbon to add a special feature to a plain wall, above a mantelpiece or even over your bed. Keep it simple as nature intended, or add a few hanging baubles for extra Christmas spirit.
• Fill a vase with festive branches. If they threaten to be top heavy, add some stones at the bottom of the vase to prevent it from tipping over.
• Or, if you prefer, choose faux branches of greenery and fill up the interior of the vase with fir cones for an added decorative touch.
• Bring your colour palette through to your gift-wrapping picks: use a combination of gold, white and pink papers and ribbons, then tuck in a few pieces of festive foliage as a finishing detail.

This time of year is all about togetherness and taking time to relax with loved ones. So, whether your exchange of gifts happens before a Christmas breakfast, after a celebratory lunch or in the evening, consider the space you’ll use for this special time. Will some want to pull up a chair, and others to chill on a fluffy rug? Get the setting just so, then watch the faces of your loved ones light up – and don’t forget to photograph it all as you go!

It’s the details that really complete a space and make everyone feel festive, so ensure you create as many celebratory trimmings as you can among the everyday elements in your home.

• Dress up the stair rail or other minimalist features with garlands made from faux pine-inspired greenery – they are easier to wrangle and less expensive than the real thing, twisting securely into place, with the added bonus that you won’t be picking up pine needles for days.
• Giant paper decorations always add great impact, whether they’re hanging from the ceiling, perched on the stairs or adding a celebratory feel to a windowsill. Plus they fold down neatly too, so can be safely stored away until next Christmas comes around.