Take it easy with the decorations

I’m just back from a short break in Stockholm where Christmas is in full swing. It was incredibly Christmassy without being over the top. I love this time of year but find the frenzy and sensory overload a bit too much. Christmas should be all about down time, taking a well-deserved break and being able to spend time with family and friends.

What's great about Sweden is that rather than being hectic, the atmosphere was really quite relaxing. The lighting even in shopping malls is kept low and as soon as the sun starts to dip in the sky, lanterns and candles are brought out creating the most wonderfully soothing atmosphere. This gentle approach is reflected in the decorations too, with the focus very much on lighting and colour palettes kept very simple. The result is that you don't get the same visual chaos that we often experience here.

We tend to be a bit bombarded with everything Christmassy and the temptation is to buy more and more each year so that our homes are positively brimming with festivity. So this year I’m keeping it simple.

Fairy lights are always lovely and there are amazing arrays of battery operated lights available now. Wrap them around a fireplace or large picture over a mantle, or use them to decorate a house plant for some instant and soothing Christmas atmosphere. There are some really good solar powered versions too which can be wound around trunks and branches of trees outside to create a festive scene to look out at.

Dim the lights and use candles to create a gorgeous atmosphere in your home. Decorate trays with tea lights in glass jars and plenty of foliage from the garden. Introduce cinnamon sticks and other festive spices to create a gorgeous scented arrangement.

Buying the Christmas tree has become a family occasion in our house. There are some wonderful fake trees around but I prefer the real thing – the fun of going to choose one with the boys and the gorgeous scent in the house from the moment it’s unwrapped instantly fills the house with Christmas cheer. When it comes to decorating, try to have a theme that you can stick to and resist the temptation to hang every decoration you own on the tree.

You don’t have to be traditional with your colour scheme. For example, we have decorated the tree in the office yellow and purple to co-ordinate with our boardroom’s colour scheme. If like me you have an eclectic collection of very brightly coloured decorations, try using ribbons in one colour to hang them, to pull everything together. I tie orange bows on each of the decorations, which works well with the colour scheme of my room and helps to unify everything.

Creating a welcoming atmosphere is really important and hanging a wreath on your front door is the perfect way to do this. I have found a fabulous fake version which I have dressed up with natural foliage, dried flowers and red berries.

Finally, scent is such an important part of Christmas and what better way to drum up instant atmosphere than to bake a Christmas cake.