Style At Home January 2024

The festive run-up can be hectic, so we’ve packed this issue with seasonal ideas and inspiration to take away the stress and help get Christmas done on time and under budget. There’s easy dining room decor(p56) and fast fixes for mantels (p66), plus lots of low-cost, last-minute decorating tips and tricks. And don’t miss the delicious party food and cocktail ideas (p106). This month’s houses are full of colour and sparkle– none more so than Mel’s stunning home (p18). I was moved by Mel’s story and how her home has helped her heal after the loss of husband Pete. Time at home with loved ones is what the festive season is really all about… never mind if things don’t go to plan. Wishing you a joyful Christmas and New Year…

Tesco JOLLY TIMES Team nostalgic prints with bright pops of colour Dunelm STARRY NIGHT Midnight blues studded with metallic glints make for a dramatic scheme Wayfair JEWEL TONES Combine rich, gemstone hues with opulent hints of gold M&S COSY NEUTRALS Subtle and textured, this trend fits a pared-back scheme…

1. Create a cocooning effect Layering stormy navy and charcoal will create a cocooning effect that makes you feel snug – a bit like a warm hug! Apply a paint effect that creates an uneven finish, rather than being one flat colour, to add depth. 2. Lighten the look with grey While navy takes most of the glory in this scheme, it’s the touches of grey and off-white that elevates it from gloomy to moody. A textured vase, pale bedlinen and a paper star all add a light touch. 3. Introduce an emerald accent Lift a tone-on-tone scheme with an accent shade – emerald green or teal are ideal. They work harmoniously with dark midnight tones but still add a little shot of colour here and there, with perhaps a…

Tasteful neutral schemes are no doubt beautiful at Christmas, but there’s something so nostalgic about a tree bursting with colour. Reminiscent of childhood Christmases, where everyone piled the tree with mismatched decorations, the colour pop trend, while inspired by this, is a touch more co-ordinated this time round. Think punchy pinks and reds teamed with richer greens and blues and accents of sparkle, for a living room that’s filled with festive fun.…

VICTORIAN TERRACE After 10 years of living in London, I got the opportunity to move back to Manchester at just the right time,’ says Mel. ‘It was 2010 and I’d been working as cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic Airways when I met my future husband, Pete, in Ibiza. He was DJ-ing at Space nightclub and it was love at first sight. Our worlds collided and we knew we were supposed to be together. My dad had just evicted yet another bad tenant from a property he rented out in Sale, and offered us the house. He’d had some terrible tenants over the years, so he’d had enough of being a landlord. Faced with the choice of struggling in London where house prices were so high or going back to Manchester,…

1 BALANCE WITH WHITE If wall-to-wall black feels too brave a choice, break up its intensity by bringing in areas of white on worktops, splashbacks and floors. White is light-reflective, helping to bounce light around spaces and will prevent a black kitchen from feeling too gloomy. Bushboard Omega worksurfaces, Wilsonart 2 MIX IN A PATTERN Too much black can feel flat and one-dimensional, but introducing different patterns, textures and finishes creates visual contrast that can bring black to life. A tiled splashback, in a busy geometric or standout gloss, is an easy way of adding contrast. Kromatika hexagon wall tiles, £49.95sq m, Tile Mountain 3 ADD WOOD FOR WARMTH Bring calm to an all-black kitchen by introducing natural elements that will add warmth and subtle colour. Wooden worktops and floors…