We love seeing how you add a dusting of Christmas cheer to transform your homes for the festive season. We teamed up with interiors influencer, Mrs Roobottom, who gives us a tour of her home and showcases how she styles her Oak Furnitureland pieces beautifully for Christmas. Prepare to be inspired!
‘Here, I have dressed my St. Ives dining table formally for Christmas dinner. I used a crisp white table cloth as a base to set off the tableware and laid out all of the cutlery and glasses which will be used. I placed evergreen branches down the centre of the table to add some colour and baubles which complement those in the Christmas tree. My St. Ives dresser is fully stocked ready for the big day.’
‘During Christmas dinner I will play some carols and light candles to increase the festive atmosphere. We even have a pass the parcel game around the table!’
‘The living room has a winter wonderland theme, complete with my grandmother’s sleigh from when she was a child. The light tones perfectly complement my Chelsea sofas and Jasmine chair. All of the action on Christmas Day happens in this room, as it is where Santa delivers the presents once he has come down the chimney. The chaise end of the Chelsea corner sofa is the perfect spot to put your feet up and relax after dinner and have a snooze.’
‘I have gone with a classic gold and green theme in the hallway as the colours complement the timeless elegance of the Shay range. With the hallway being the first room guests enter, I will light my favourite festive scented candle for full affect.’
My top 5 tips for creating a Christmas atmosphere
1. Light a festive candle
Smells can evoke memories and emotions, and nothing says Christmas more than cinnamon, clove, fig and chestnut.
2. Play Christmas music
Whether it’s carols, or a 70s classics, putting some Christmas tunes is guaranteed to make you feel as festive as possible.
3. Watch a Christmas film
My favourite is Miracle on 34th Street – I have always wanted a sign in my window saying ‘this house believes’.
4. Enjoy time with your family
Lazy days, pyjama days, baking days – use the Christmas break to make memories with those you love.
5. Have fun decorating your tree
Whether real or faux, themed or not, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree twinkling away.
Favourite thing about Christmas
Spending the time with my loved ones. We lead such busy lives it’s nice to have the time to bake, play games, watch a film, go for a walk.
Favourite Christmas bake: Gingerbread men
Ingredients
225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
½ tsp salt
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 heaped tsp ground ginger
½ tsp cinnamon
50g unsalted butter
100g soft brown sugar
100g golden syrup
Method
STEP 1
Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Sieve the flour, salt, bicarb, ginger and cinnamon into a large bowl. Heat the butter, sugar and syrup until dissolved. Leave the sugar mixture to cool slightly, then mix into the dry ingredients to form a dough. Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 mins.
STEP 2
On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out the dough to a ¼-inch thickness. Stamp out the gingerbread men shapes with a cutter, then re-roll any off-cuts and repeat. Place your gingerbread shapes on the lined trays, allowing space for them to spread. Cook for 10-15 mins, then remove from the oven and leave to cool.
Favourite Christmas song
For me it has to be ‘All I Want for Christmas‘ by Mariah Carey.
We’d love to see how you style your homes for Christmas. Tag us at #OakFurnitureland on Instagram.
And if you want to shop the Oak Furnitureland pieces from Mrs Roobottom‘s home, check out our Shay range, our Jasmine chair and our selection of chaise sofas.
