Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 i Style At Home

I think it’s fair to say that Christmas is my favourite time of year, when I get to hunker down at home with family and friends. And, this year is especially exciting as it’s our first Christmas for me and my boyfriend Mark, plus I’m in a new home, too. Naturally, I’ll be stocking up on decorations, so am loving the trees (p14) styled by our fabulous Stylists at Home. We’ve got seven stunning looks – from woodland to opulent and traditional to glitzy – there’s sure to be one you’ll love. Dusty pink and gold gets my vote, so I’m drawn to cover star Liana’s living room (p84), while Amber’s natural scheme (p38) with Scandi touches and green foliage has a beautiful feel, too. There’s plenty of time to…

WANT TO TAKE PART NEXT YEAR? SEE PAGE 23 AND FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN OUR STYLISTS AT HOME READER PANEL. THIS COULD BE YOU IN 2017! Every year we host our annual Christmas Tree Challenge, where we invite a select few readers to join us for two days of Christmassy magic (in the middle of August!). This year our lucky ladies created seven unique looks using the latest tree trends for 2016 – from frosty white to opulent gold and dusty pinks to rich blues. For more ideas on creating these styling looks in your own home, head to our blog, cushienumber.co.uk. WIN! ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN A FAB MIX OF DECS! ENTER NOW AT HOUSETOHOME. CO.UK/XMAS  GIVEAWAY Let us know your favourite by…

ALIX SAYS: ‘It felt like Christmas Day opening all the boxes full to the brim with baubles and tree decs. I especially loved the cute mini jumpers.’ Star buys…

EMILY SAYS: ‘I was the envy of the playground when I had a day off mum duties to decorate a tree for Homebase. I love the Nordic theme as it’s what I envisage Christmas should look like and there were so many great decorations to choose from’ Star buys…

The 12 lucky women who we've featured in this issue are all part of our reader panel, Stylists at Home, and you could be, too. Love Style at Home magazine? Got lots of styling ideas to share with other readers? Dream of having your home photographed? Want to help create fantastic features? If you answered yes, then we want to hear from you! It's totally free to be involved, so get in touch now and help us to make Style at Home the best magazine ever. All you need to do is fill in your details at the address below and we'll get straight back to you. housetohome.co.uk/stylistsathome…

FESTIVE FINDS Check out The Contemporary Home’s Christmas decorations to copy Vickie’s striking copper look. CUSHION COMBOS Follow Vickie’s lead and change your cushions with the seasons. The Follow Your Dreams cushion, £9.99, from Dunelm is a cute addition that ties in with the metallic accessories. TAKE A SEAT We love Vickie’s mustard yellow armchair from HomeSense. Pick a similar chair to fill a corner of your living room, such as the Hyde chair in Saffron Yellow, £395, Habitat. HANG IT UP Feature wallpaper creates a statement in the kitchen-diner. Try the Seagulls wallpaper in Blue Grey, £19 per roll, from John Lewis for a similar design. FOR THE KIDS Vickie added fun finishing touches to Kayden and Nyla’s bedrooms. Try Mirrorin at Notonthehighstreet.com for a great selection of wall…

GET CHILDREN INVOLVED IN MAKING DECORATIONS OR EDIBLE BISCUITS TO HANG ON THE TREE,SPRAYING OLD BAUBLES OR MAKING PAPERCHAINS It's the most exciting time of the year for children, so make the lead-up to Christmas as memorable as you can. There’s loads to do to get everyone revved up for the big day – why not bake cookies to leave for Father Christmas, get your kids involved in some Yuletide crafts, or have them help you decorate the tree? Read on to find out how to make this month extra magical for your little elves. The countdown Your children will love to busy themselves personalising their very own advent calendar. This cute mini-stocking bunting calendar comes with 10 wash-off pens so you can make it as colourful as possible. Fill…

HANG IT ALL Tie your wreath to your door with beautiful silk ribbon to create a warm Christmassy impression. Hobbycraft has a huge selection so it’s easy to pick one that complements your colours. DECK THE HALLS Want the same simple Scandi look as Amber? Then hang up pretty paper fan garlands around your home. Talking Tables have fans in every shade under the sun, £14 each. THAT’S A WRAP We love the way that Amber has wrapped her gifts with shiny gold wrapping paper tied up with twine. These little details really make gifts look extra special. Gold paper, £3.49 per sheet, Paperchase. LET THERE BE LIGHT Bring Christmas into your living room with battery-powered fairy lights. Dotcomgiftshop has some sweet little house-shaped ones that are perfect for this…

WHY NOT MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL SACK FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY AS PART OF THEIR CHRISTMAS PRESENT USING DIFFERENT FABRICS FOR EACH PERSON Follow Amber’s lead and have a go at sewing your own present sack, using fun and festive fabric. Our easy-to-follow project requires only basic sewing skills and is the perfect way to keep your gifts organised and give them extra wow-factor this year. Look out for good-value fabrics to help keep the cost down – try Plush Addict, Dunelm or Hobbycraft for plenty of pretty choices. HOW TO TAKES 2 HRS COSTS £13.20 1m Robert Kaufman Swell Noel Trees Winter fabric, £12 per m, Plush Addict Measuring tape Fabric scissors Iron & pins Sewing machine Cotton thread 15mm red grosgrain running stitch ribbon, £1.20 for 4m, Hobbycraft…

STOCK UP ON BATTERIES of different sizes for toy gifts DIG OUT A SCREWDRIVER for opening battery compartments SET ASIDE A LARGE BAG for collecting giftwrap to recycle ENSURE ANY cameras or camcorders are fully charged WORK OUT WHICH FOOD you can prepare in advance MAKE UP a festive music playlist WRITE A LIST of what needs to go in the oven, and when IRON YOUR LINEN and place it ready on the table DECIDE WHICH bakeware items to use for each dish and side ASSIGN EACH FAMILY MEMBER a task they’re responsible for…

USE YOUR HEADBOARD OR SPACE ABOVE THE BED TO ADD A STRING OF LIGHT GARLANDS OR A CLUSTER OF FESTIVE DECORATIONS GREAT IDEA String your Xmas cards up on a curtain of LED lights for a cheery display Continue your hallway decor right the way up to the landing – using garlands around banisters, or hang baubles between spindles. If there’s space, a small potted tree adds a festive feel, not to mention a seasonal scent of fresh pine. Or in a tight spot, utilise doors by hanging a wreath or lightweight paper star on the outside of each one. MAKE IT PERSONAL Upstairs rooms are ideal places to add informal homemade decs. Get little ones involved with crafts such as hanging paper chains made from leftover gift wrap, making…

MY ROOM... ABOUT ME I’m Liana Ransom, 39, a Lexus cars sales specialist and I live with my partner Tim McCombie, 51, an IT manager and my daughter Kyah, 18. We moved into our three-bedroom Victorian terrace house in Twickenham in November 2009 and we’ve decorated it throughout. MY CHALLENGE I couldn’t quite get the right flow in the downstairs area of the house. As the whole floor is open plan, I wanted to give the space a cohesive look. MY WISH LIST I was keen to create a relaxed living area, which felt as spacious as possible so we could unwind there in the evening and entertain, and also achieve an elegantly festive look for Christmas.’ STYLE TIP ‘Fill an empty frame with looking glass for a bespoke mirror…

Wall paint, Blackened estate emulsion, £39.50 per 2.5ltr; shelves in Manor House Gray estate eggshell, £55 per 2.5ltr, both Farrow & Ball. Patisserie Sucre 1 fireplace tiles, £2.99 each, Fired Earth. Shutters, £1,082, Nigel Hare Joinery. RAR Rocking chair, £64.99, Lakeland Furniture. Serengeti rug, £110, Plantation Rug Company. Iris print by Olak Hajek, £40, Magma. Vita Living Silvia pendant shade, £39, Design 55. Jamboree round cushion, £7, George Home. Gypsy cushions, from £30, Little India Boutique. Laluque garlands, £12 each; Tudela mohair blanket, £89, both Urbanara. Large Osby window star light, £14.99; Whistler Forest illuminated dome trio, £12.99, Noel sign, £14.99, all Lights4Fun. Set of two honeycomb balls, £7.50; Rainbow garland, £14; Gentleman hare & deer, £10 each; clip-on bird, £2.50; jewelled decs, from £4, gold wishbone, £6; faux mistletoe,…

WOODEN PALLET TREE Upcycle an unwanted pallet into a quirky focal point TAKES 1HR COST £1.50 Wooden pallet Pencil Long straight edge Electric jigsaw Sandpaper Paper Nails Brass picture pins, £1.50 for 10, Hobbycraft 1 Using a vertical strut of the pallet as the central point, draw diagonal lines down the pallet to form the sides of the tree. Cut along these lines using an electric jigsaw (or hand saw) and remove the excess wood. Sand down any rough edges with sandpaper. 2 Draw a star shape onto a piece of paper and use this as a template to cut it from a piece of wood. Nail the star to the top of the tree and attach picture pins to the wooden tree, from which you can hang decorations. Make…

STARBURST WHITE MINT CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM WREATH TAKES 35 MINS + FREEZING SERVES 16 600ml double cream 100ml Bacardi 1/2tsp mint extract 397g condensed milk 100g amaretti 200g After Eight mints, chopped 225g jar cocktail cherries, drained TO DECORATE 400g white chocolate, cubed 8 white chocolate balls Giant white chocolate stars 2tbsp mini white chocolate star sprinkles Edible silver star sprinkles 1 Whip the cream until softly peaking. Stir in the Bacardi, mint extract and condensed milk. 2 Crumble in the amaretti and stir in the mints and cherries. Spoon into a bundt mould and freeze. 3 Melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Upturn the frozen wreath onto the base of a tart tin. Drizzle over half the melted chocolate. Stick on the…

FOR THE CAKE 3 large eggs 300g plain flour 250g butter, softened 250g light muscovado sugar 1tbsp ground mixed spice Pinch of salt 410g jar of mincemeat 500g dried mixed fruit 4tbsp brandy TO DECORATE 6tbsp sieved apricot jam 750g white marzipan Icing sugar 250g green sugarpaste 350g red sugarpaste 100g skin-colour sugarpaste 1kg white sugarpaste Knob of Trex 150g black sugarpaste 1 Preheat the oven to 140°C/Gas 1 while you mix up the cake. Put the oven shelf just below the centre of the oven. 2 Break the eggs into a bowl and mix in the rest of the ingredients, except for the brandy. Beat until smooth, then spoon into a lined 20cm round cake tin. 3 Bake the cake for 3hrs or until the cake feels firm to…

To-do list A few things to try this month... POST YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS Beat the festive rush and ensure your gifts and greetings arrive in time by heading to royalmail.com to check the last recommended posting dates. Tuesday 20 December is the last day for 2nd Class and Signed For services in the UK, but we recommend getting your post out as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. REFRESH YOUR GUEST ROOM If your home’s going to be full to the brim this season, guarantee that guests have a comfortable stay by sprucing up your spare room. Stow away any accumulated junk, and clear out some drawer space so visitors can unpack. Add a few extra cosy throws and furry cushions to ensure that everyone under your roof is snug…

WORTH £18.47 *JUST PAY £5.65 POSTAGE Peonies make a great feature in borders, providing beautiful blooms from late spring/early summer onwards. Many of these flowers carry fragrant scents and make an exotic cut flower. These hardy varieties are easy to grow – use the high-quality fertiliser where the granules release a constant, controlled supply of nutrients to your plants. WHY NOT ALSO TRY THESE GREAT OFFERS PEONY ‘EDEN’S PERFUME’ Considered the most fragrant peony on Earth, ‘Eden’s Perfume’ is an exceptional border peony with huge presence and stature. Height: 90cm (36”). Buy 1 for £9.99 Was £14.99 VIBURNUM X BODNANTENSE ‘DAWN’ This award-winning variety flowers from October-January. Height: 3m (10’). Spread: 2m (6.5’). Supplied as a 9cm potted plant. Buy 1 for £9.99 Was £10.99 Buy…

Claire Allinson ABOUT ME I’m 25 and I rent a studio flat in a converted Victorian property in Essex. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOP? Gumtree, by far – there’s always a bargain to be had, and some nice quirky and vintage pieces that may be one person’s trash, but become my treasures. It’s a great way to furnish a place on a budget. Katie Hibberts ABOUT ME I’m 36 and I live with my husband Peter, 37, and children, Eleanor, 9, Olivia, 6, and Joseph, 2, plus I’m expecting another baby. Our home is a four-bed manse owned by the church, as Peter is a minister. NEXT HOME PROJECT? I’d like to make some curtains for the kitchen, but I’ve yet to find fabric to match the tiles we inherited with…

TUESDAY, 9.30AM Readers Hayley, Vicky and Lucy meet the Style at Home team for a day of styling with Wilko, M&S and George Home. After a quick brekkie, it’s straight into a wrapping workshop with expert Neelam. 11.30AM Next, the ladies get fully immersed into decorating their trees – sifting through boxes of baubles, reams of ribbons and piles of parcels. Temperatures soar above 30 degrees, but we’re in festive spirit with Michael Bublé crooning in the background! 3PM It’s time to start photographing the ladies and their finished trees. First it’s hair and makeup and a quick dress change before their ‘lights, camera, action’ moment. Everyone looks fab! 6PM We all head to the hotel for a quick recharge and to meet tomorrow’s ladies – Emily, Tania, Claire and…

LUCY SAYS: ‘I had an amazing time using all the decorations from George Home. This experience will always hold a special place in my heart.’ Star buys…

TANIA SAYS: ‘It was a real treat decorating Poundland’s tree, using the beautiful choice of decorations that add lots of glitz. Bring on the sparkle!’ Star buys…

USE SOFT PAPER OR CELLOPHANE TO WRAP BOTTLES AS THEY WILL MOULD MORE EASILY TO THE SHAPE She was on hand during our Style at Home Christmas tree photo shoot to give each of our stylists plenty of expert wrapping ideas that are perfect for the festive season. To discover some more of Neelam’s paper craft ideas for yourself, you can check out her website at giftwrappingcourses.co.uk and follow her on Instagram @giftwrappingacademy Present toppers Give your gifts some homespun charm with these creative DIY ideas that endow a special finishing touch to even the smallest present. Use plain brown parcel wrap to make your topper stand out even more. HOW TO… WRAP A BOTTLE YOU WILL NEED Metallized wrapping film or cellophane Bottle of wine or Champagne Curling string…

ENSURE YOUR PIECES ARE CUT ACCURATELY AND WITH STRAIGHT LINES TO MAKE IT EASIER TO LI IN THEM UP WHEN YOU COME TO ASSEMBLING THEM Looking to add a DIY touch to your Christmas styling? Then try your hand at our simple project and create your own tealight holder in just three easy steps. We’re big fans of air-drying clay – there’s no mess and there’s no baking required, plus it’s the perfect material for smaller projects. Inspired by the above design from The Contemporary Home in Vickie’s house, our version is easy to make yourself at home. Read on for our step-by-step tutorial. HOW TO TAKES 26HRS* COST £9.99 Fimo white air-drying clay, £4.50, Hobbycraft Rolling pin Scalpel Ruler Gorilla Glue, £5.49, Homebase 1 Take a large piece of…

Follow Victoria’s lead and include crackers in your Christmas styling. Choose a set that will coordinate with your decorations and think about the type of prizes you want inside. Splash out a little more for better quality prizes, or select a foodie alternative like the Hotel Chocolat or The Jealous Life crackers for a tasty sweet treat. £4 Bag a bargain and pick up the mini star crackers (pack of eight), GEORGE HOME £10 Offer guests a truffle cracker (set of four) as an after-dinner treat, NEXT £24 Add a luxury touch with this glam purple and gold design (pack of six), DEBENHAMS £36 Make a chocoholic smile with a Rather Large cracker, HOTEL CHOCOLAT £15 Set a traditional table using these tartan crackers (pack of 12), MARKS & SPENCER…

MY HOME... ABOUT ME I’m Sylvia Keen, 30, a part-time science teacher and blogger (Instagram: @sylviakeen). I live with my husband James, 35, who works in the civil service, our son Ayaan, 3, and cat Mittens. MY HOME A three-bedroom 1930s house in Sutton, Surrey, which we bought in April 2014. WHEN I MOVED IN The house had been refurbished by its previous owners and had a lovely big open-plan space and kitchen extension. AND NOW We’ve redecorated the rooms and created a calm and homely feel throughout. STYLE TIP Make moodboards or keep a folder of photos on your phone or computer for inspiration on decor and products you’d like to buy. STYLE TIP ‘Go for a classily minimalist tree with baubles in red, white and silver’ STYLE TIP…

FUN FILLED Stockings are a great place to include a few smaller gifts, such as novelty games or comedy books, which are very personal to the recipient. Set a budget to stick to, though, as the costs of these little extras will soon add up. DIY IDEAS Why not get creative and make handmade gifts for all the family. Try creating DIY scented candles or bake a batch of fun and festive gingerbread men for thrifty ideas that will go down a treat while keeping costs down. THAT’S A WRAP Consider how to creatively wrap the gifts in your stocking – try making a cracker from a cardboard tube, or use patterned papers to make cute origami-style pouches for smaller items such as gift vouchers or jewellery.…

GET CREATIVE WITH SMALL GIFTS TO FIT INSIDE EACH TUBE. AS WELL AS WRAPPED SWEET TREATS, LOOK OUT FOR MINI TOILETRIES OR POCKET-SIZED TOYS Put a creative twist on a festive tradition with this simple project that costs only £5 to make! The tubes from rolls of gift wrap are ideal – so start collecting now! HOW TO TAKES 4 HRS COST £5 Cardboard wrapping paper tubes or toilet rolls Ruler & craft knife Pencil & scissors Brown paper, £2 for 8m, Hobbycraft Helix 3cm stencil kit, £2, Hobbycraft Black felt-tip pin Glue stick & strong glue Cardboard box White self-adhesive felt, £1 for A4 sheet, Hobbycraft White tissue paper 1 Measure and cut the tubes into 24 pieces that are 12cm long. Draw around the end of one tube…

ROOM SERVICE Pull together a hamper of miniature seasonal scented toiletries and leave it on the bed for them to discover when they arrive ADD AN AROMA Fill bedrooms and bathrooms with a festive aroma by lighting a candle with a Christmas scent, or with a vase of fragrant foliage such as eucalyptus CREATE COMFORT Help guests get cosy and comfortable by leaving them a stack of neatly folded towels, clean bathrobes and comfy slippers BE PRACTICAL Place a filled water carafe and a clock radio on bedside tables for a boutique hotel feel LAYER UP Provide extra pillows and warm blankets beside the bed, so visitors who are more prone to feeling the cold can enjoy a cosy night’s sleep. TOASTY TREAT Last thing at night before your guests…

Walls in Oak Apple matt emulsion, £39.50 per 2.5ltr, Fired Earth. Woodburner, £800, Charnwood. For a similar sofa try Hyde, from £495; Herrmann coffee table is a match, from £225, both Habitat. For a similar rug try Adum, £120, Ikea. Tripod lamps, from £149 each; memory domes, from £250; gold leaf picture, £499; black flock rose picture, £600, Luana Hanson Interiors all Luana Hanson. Plain velvet cushions in gold, storm and sulphur, £25 each; gold satin ribbon, £5 per 5m roll; pearlised bauble, £2; Sketch snowflake bauble, £4.50; Helsinki clear bauble, £3; Snowshill bauble, £3.50, all John Lewis. Christmas flowers, £40, The Real Flower Company. Nutcracker biscuits, £35, Biscuiteers. Try the Newton storage unit, £499, Dwell. Arris teapot, £125; plates, from £22.50; sugar box and milk jug, £95, all Wedgwood.…

Opulent gold Go for a dazzling display with accessories that shine in glimmering gold. Simple to put together, this look works with any existing scheme. Dress the walls with garlands and hang honeycomb decorations from the backs of chairs. For added wow factor, place your cake central on the table, and don’t forget the fairy lights! Classic red A traditional colour scheme need not feel uninspired or boring – this look is cheerful, wonderfully adaptable, perfect for all the family, and oozes Christmas charm. Add playful touches with character cushions that give a nod to childhood days, and go for tartan accessories for a grown-up feel. Frosty white For a modern take, choose crisp white-and-silver mercury accessories, but add some flair with pretty pastel pinks and natural foliage – eucalyptus,…

THREE-ONION SOUP WITH PARMESAN & THYME CRISPS TAKES 1 HR 40 MINS SERVES 6 40g butter 1kg onions, sliced 250g shallots, sliced Pinch of celery salt 2tbsp plain flour 175ml white wine 750ml veg stock 700ml milk 1 bouquet garni 1tsp thyme 50g Parmesan, grated 1tbsp oil 3 red onions, sliced and fried 1 Melt the butter in a pan, add the onion, shallots and salt. Add 1tbsp sugar. Cook for 5 mins. 2 Stir in the flour, cook for 3 mins and mix in the wine. Add the stock, milk and bouquet garni. Simmer for 30 mins, remove the herbs. Whizz until smooth. 3 Preheat oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Mix the thyme and Parmesan, divide into 12 on a lined baking tray. Bake for 4 mins. Serve with the…

Citrus & apple spritz TAKES 5 MINS MAKES 6 Mix the juice of 3 limes, 1 lemon and 1 orange with 200ml cloudy apple juice and 200ml gin in a jug. Half-fill 6 glasses with some crushed ice, pour over the juice and top up with cava and garnish with a slice of apple. Cranberry vodka spritz TAKES 5 MINS MAKES 8 Mix 150ml vodka, 1tsp rosewater, Juice of 1/2 a lemon, 300ml chilled cranberry juice, 2 bottles of chilled Prosecco in a jug. Pour into glasses and add a few frozen cranberries and strips of orange peel. Negroni spumante TAKES 5 MINS MAKES 1 Fill a wine glass with some ice cubes, pour over 25ml each of dry gin, Campari and Martini Rosso, and stir well. Then pour over…

Kenwood Chef Sense, £449.95, JOHN LEWIS I’m a sucker for a pretty appliance, so I fell in love with this pastel-hued mixer at first sight. It’s easy to wonder whether something with such good looks can live up to the job, but luckily this model can. It’s more powerful than others, with a 1100W motor, so it whizzes cold butter straight from the fridge in seconds. It comes with all the usual tools, with the option to buy over 20 more. Laurie Davidson, Homes Editor THIS MINI MIXER IS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR A SMALLER KITCHEN KitchenAid Mini £449.95, JOHN LEWIS As baking queen of the office, I was really excited to test the mini version of one of the most iconic food mixers and I wasn’t disappointed!…

#askSAH Q I’d like to add Christmas decs to other rooms in my home, such as our bedroom, but don’t want anything over the top. Do you have any ideas? LUCY THUMPSTON, EXETER Firstly, think texture. It’s winter so create something cosy and heartwarming. Like here, layer festive throws and cushions onto your bed. Hang a delicate snowflake garland on the wall or headboard, and pop a stocking on the end of the bed, too. If it’s a guest room, put a small gift on the bedside to make them feel welcome. Got a burning styling question? Tweet it to our editor Lizzie @styleathomemag – she’s on hand with all the answers! This month… Like us on Facebook and share your style tips, makeovers and crafty projects. Check out our…

A Amara amara.com Amaroni Home amaroni.com Annabel James annabeljames.co.uk Annie Haak anniehaakdesigns.co.uk Archie’s Boutique archiesboutique.com At Home In The Country 01484 865369. athomeinthecountry.co.uk At No 67 Concept Store 01225 938059, atnumber67.co.uk B Barnaby & Co barnabyco.com Baylis & Harding 01527 505000, baylisandharding.com Betty’s 0800 456 1919, bettys.co.uk Biscuiteers biscuiteers.com Black By Design 01889 502716, black-by-design.co.uk Bloom & Wild bloomandwild.com C Candle & Cake 01508 489361, candleandcake.co.uk Cath Kidston cathkidston.com Charnwood charnwood.com Contemporary Home (The) tch.net Cottage In the Hills 01684 833146 cottageinthehills.com Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk Cuckooland.com 01305 231231 Curious Egg curiousegg.com D DaWanda dawanda.com Desenio desenio.co.uk Design 55 design55online.co.uk DFS 0808 159 1258, dfs.co.uk Dobbies dobbies.com Dotcomgiftshop 020 8746 2473, dotcomgiftshop.com…

POUNDLAND Home comforts Get cool lettering and cute decorations – all for £1! ROCKETT ST GEORGE Latest buys Add a few purse-friendly touches to your home 3 of the best XMAS CARDS Treat loved ones to one of these smart designs H&M My favourite buys Up the style stakes with a look that's high on glamour MATALAN Nordic glow Create a calm bedroom with cool greys and snowy whites ON MY RADAR It’s iridescent! Be totally on trend with shimmery rainbow shades Get your hallway GUEST READY   NEXT Top table Make a big impact with a fabulous dining display Want it now! WE NEED THIS COOL THREE-LIGHT LAMP IN OUR LIVES! THE BRASS FINISH LOOKS SO CHIC! Buy it, style it! GO AU NATUREL AND GIVE PRESENTS A STYLISH…

VICKY SAYS: ‘I still smile when I think about the day spent styling the tree for M&S. The look is very glamorous, elegantly festive and oozes luxury!’ Star buys…

CLAIRE SAYS: ‘I love the frosty ornaments and the tree is fantastic - the snow coating looks so real, and it was so quick to put up. The feather baubles are stunning, and the little penguins are so cute!’ Star buys…

HAYLEY SAYS: ‘I had a great day with Style At Home and was so chuffed to decorate Wilko’s tree. The theme is beautiful and the mixture of pale blue, silver and copper looks lovely. My favourite’s the delicate feather-filled bauble!’ Star buys…

MY HOME... ABOUT ME I’m Vickie Jones, 33, and I live with my husband Jumell, 36, and our two children, Kayden, 6, and Nyla, 4. I’m an avid Instagram user (@x_mrsvjones_x). MY HOME A four-bedroom detached new-build in Shefford, Bedfordshire. We moved in during January 2015. WHEN I BOUGHT IT The house didn’t have much character and I knew I wanted to inject some personality. Thankfully, the property had lots of space, which was important to us. AND NOW I’ve made the place feel like a family home and have gone for a contemporary style with a few traditional twists throughout. STYLE TIP Don’t feel you have to stick to just one style; give each room an identity and link them all together with a coordinating look. STYLE TIP ‘Fit…

HANGING OUT If you live in a rented home, pick up a pack of 3M Command hooks. A damage-free solution, they don’t harm walls or doors when removed. GREAT OUTDOORS Pick a wreath that’s suitable for outdoor use if you plan on hanging it outside. Alternatively, consider hanging it in a window. FRESH FOLIAGE If you buy a fresh wreath, spritz it with water occasionally to help it last longer. They are best suited to being outdoors in cold climates.…

MY HOME... ABOUT ME I’m Amber Lilley, 28, a part-time office administrator and I live with my husband Michael, also 28, a sales manager, and our two-year old son Milo. MY HOME A 1930s two-bedroom terrace house in Harrogate that we bought in August 2014. WHEN I BOUGHT IT We were lucky enough to inherit an empty shell of a property, where we had no one else’s decorating or DIY mistakes to fix. We wanted to transform the place into a calm and restful space. AND NOW Using art, accessories and vintage treasures, I’ve injected my own style into the house. STYLE TIP Pom poms make perfect Christmas decorations, If you’re feeling handy make your own to hang on your Christmas tree branches. You can also thread them onto lengths…

USE CUT-OFF PINE BRANCHES FROM YOUR TREE WHEN DECORATING.TRY MAKING SMALL POSIES AND DOT THEM AROUND THE HOUSE Christmas is a great time to get creative with decorations, whether you try a new look or colour each year, or just add to a traditional theme. One of the most budget-friendly ways to bring a festive vibe to your home is to use fresh foliage. From eucalyptus and holly to ivy and pine cones, all can be collected from the garden or picked up relatively cheaply from a florist. Why not have fun with the kids in the lead-up to the big day by searching for fresh foliage on a walk? Step it up Create a contemporary version of a Christmas tree by using fresh foliage, lights and baubles to decorate…

SOFT AND SUBTLE Use a neutral colourway for a calming feel. Wilko’s Cosy Grey matt emulsion, £10 per 2.5 litres, works beautifully when used with white. TRADITIONAL TOUCH Red, grey and white make a homely Christmas look – Sylvia’s decorations came from Sainsbury’s and Dobbies, but Dunelm also has a great selection at good prices. DAILY TREAT Choose a wooden calendar with little pullout doors and fill it with tiny toys and treats for children to open each day. Sylvia’s red house version costs £30 from The Contemporary Home, but you could also try the Starry Night Illuminated wooden calendar from Freemans, £35. IT’S A SIGN There are plenty of inspirational quotes dotted about the house. Notonthehighstreet.com offers a choice of similar buys, from an ‘Always Believe That Something Wonderful…

BALLOONS AREN’T JUST FOR BIRTHDAYS – GROUP BUNDLES OF THEM IN RED, GREEN, WHITE OR METALLIC HUES FOR A PARTY ATMOSPHERE Whether you have guests staying over the festive holidays or you’re simply hosting friends and family for a few hours, a Christmas Eve get-together is a brilliant warm-up for the main event. A little extra planning will ensure your night-before-Christmas celebrations are a stress-free success, too. First things first, set the scene with the entrance to your home. Pop some lanterns or outdoor fairy lights outside the door, hang a wreath or spray fake snow onto windows. Keep the welcome going in the hall with garlands, candlelight and other festive decorations. Adding natural touches such as cinnamon sticks and dried orange slices will create a wonderful aroma. Eat, drink…

GREAT IDEA Group gifts on a table to make an exciting display When it comes to Christmas it’s easy to fall into a decorating rut and let your tired old decorations dictate how you style your home for the festive season. Or you might find you stick to the usual arrangement of a tree in the living room and a wreath on the front door, leaving other rooms forgotten. So this year, why not branch out a little and add a touch of festive magic to every part of your home. Whatever size, style and budget you have, spreading the Yuletide touches across the house will help get everyone in the party spirit, and it can be great styling fun, too. YOU WILL LEARN How to set the scene with…

QUIRKY RANGE Rockett St George sells unusual pieces that are just too pretty to put away on the Twelfth Night, rockettstgeorge.co.uk PARTY TIME Head to Pipii for a selection of fun decor and disposable tableware, pipii.co.uk PAPER PIECES Try Talking Tables for a comprehensive mix of paper garlands, balls and tassles, talkingtables.co.uk FAMILY AFFAIR Rastall & Daughters offers an on-trend curated collection of often handmade decorative pieces, rastalland daughters.com LIGHT THE WAY Lights4Fun is the ultimate one-stop shop for all your lighting needs, lights4fun.com…

Paint the town red Children’s camper van play tent, £54.99, The Letteroom. Polar bear jumper, £25, Debenhams. Santa face 3D teapot, £10, Tesco. Toby T-Rex cuddly toy, £14, JoJo Maman Bébé. Marble patterned iPhone case, £16, Urban Outfitters. Beard oil, £32 for 50ml, Ruby Red. Tweed wash bag, £45, House of Fraser. Schwinn roadster trike, £79, Halfords. Large Festive Cocktail candle, £21.99, Yankee Candle. Giant grey knitted scarf cowl, £45, Etsy. Polka dot Mickey Mouse bag, £22, Cath Kidston Gifts in the green Fuzzy Duck hand wash and lotion gift set, £12, Baylis & Harding. Santa’s Little Helper dog bandana, £4, Pets at Home. Oil, bread mix and bread board set, £16, Next. Golf shoes bag, £3.99, The Oak Room. Swan retro stand mixer, £79, Very. Bush classic turntable, £49.99,…

MY ROOM... ABOUT ME I’m Astrid Rossington, 38, a writer and stylist. I live with my two daughters Isla, 8, Fleur, 5, and my husband, Andy, 39, an account executive for a software company. We moved into our three-bedroom 1930s house in Middlesex in 2011. MY CHALLENGE To bring character and colour to the living room, while maximising storage with new shelves and cupboards – we also wanted to update the ugly fireplace. Part of a larger open-plan space, including the dining room and kitchen, it was key that it all flowed. I had to work with pieces we already had, too. MY WISH LIST Having a relaxing, uplifting room, reflecting my love for old and new items, and bold pattern. And if the budget allowed, I wanted to buy…

ROAST TURKEY WITH CRANBERRY POLENTA STUFFING TAKES 3 HRS SERVES 6 50g butter 4.5-5.5kg bronze turkey 500g sausagemeat 2tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 50g herby lemon breadcrumbs 50g polenta 2tbsp cranberry sauce 250ml white wine 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Rub the butter all over the turkey and then season it well. Mix the sausagemeat, parsley, breadcrumbs, polenta and cranberry sauce and season. Stuff this inside the neck cavity of the bird (save any that’s leftover for the stuffing balls). 2 Put the turkey into a roomy roasting tin, roast for 20 mins, then turn down the heat to 180°C/Gas 4. Pour in the wine and 200ml water and roast for 2-2 1/2 hrs (cover with foil once brown). Be sure to baste every so often. Once cooked, a…

ICED BISCUITS TAKES 40 MINS MAKES 24 65g butter, softened 75g light muscovado sugar 2tsp each ground cinnamon and ginger 1tsp mixed spice Zest of 1 orange 1tbsp treacle 2tbsp milk 225g plain flour 1/4tsp bicarbonate of soda 250g Royal icing sugar, made to instructions Silver balls to decorate 1 Place all the ingredients apart from the icing sugar and silver balls in a food processor and pulse until they come together as a dough. Wrap in clingfilm and chill fridge for 1 hr. 2 Roll out the dough on a floured surface to around 3mm thick, then cut out your shapes. Put the shapes back in the fridge on a baking tray for 1 hr. 3 Preheat the oven to 180°C/ Gas 4 and bake the biscuits for 10…

WHICH MIXER? There are two kinds of food mixers. Classic stand mixers, focus on baking, with tools for whisking, mixing and kneading. The second type is a kitchen machine, which has extra ports for attachments that can chop, slice and blend. A stand mixer is best for bakers, but remember a kitchen machine will give you more options overall. HOW MUCH? You can pick up a model for under £100 all the way up to £500 and above. The pricey ones tend to have a bigger capacity, quieter motors and a more solid build. However, some cheaper versions do just as good a job. WHAT ACCESSORIES? Each mixer should have a dough hook for kneading, a balloon whisk and a beater tool. Extras include a splashguard, a flexi-beater which has…

1 Create a festive entrance hall by making a garland out of Christmas cards tied to the banister. 2 Light frankincense-scented candles or put cinnamon sticks into oranges to make your home smell nice. 3 Get children to make nameplates for guests by drawing the person rather than writing their names. 4 Use a tiny tree as a table centrepiece and decorate simply with a piece of red ribbon tied at the top. 5 Brighten a dark corner with a new floor lamp or choose a seat in a bold colour. Join the conversation at facebook.com/  styleathomemag and share your styling tips!…

TOUCH OF LUXE White and gold feather, £2.49, Wyevale Garden Centres SOLDIER, SOLDIER Nutcracker figure, £5, Marks & Spencer ICONIC PIECE Felt London bus decoration, £2, George Home MODERN EDGE Neon pompom bauble, £4, Paperchase WINTER WONDERLAND Winter scene bauble, £4, M&Co WOODLAND CHARM Felt deer decoration, £4.99, Oxfam PARTY TIME Gold cocktail glass decoration, £3, Sainsbury’s RETRO FIND Car decoration, £7, Talking Tables FESTIVE FRIENDS Wooden fox terrier decoration, £4.95, Poppy Treffry CUTE CHARACTER Hanging bear decoration, £7.50, Oliver Bonas…