Looking for simple and effective ways to cosy up your home Christmas? We asked interior stylist Jane Lee for her top tips on creating a relaxing retreat that lasts beyond the festive period.

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First impressions

Create a warm welcome with a wreath and switch with the seasons, or simply hang a hand-tied bunch of holly, eucalyptus and ivy from the front door. Illuminate garden paths with solar-powered lights and place lanterns by the threshold (LED candles won’t blow out in the wind).

Twinkle twinkle

Ramp up the cosy atmosphere with flickering church candles and tea lights. Dim central pendants and switch on floor and table lamps, swapping bright white bulbs for warm ones. Hang fairy lights around windows, picture frames, fireplaces and headboards and over the dining table.

Snuggle up

Drape seating with toasty sheepskins, throws and blankets (wool, faux fur, cashmere, velvet, corduroy are good choices). Warm up wood and tile floors with the softest, shaggiest rugs, swap sheer curtains for luxurious, full-length thermal-lined ones and pile on the cushions – Fair Isle patterns are a personal favourite.

Winter shades

Instagram favourite Hague Blue (Farrow & Ball) is perfect for cocooning, while Dulux Colour of the Year 2021 Brave Ground is a warm neutral that’s the perfect backdrop for deep greens, saffron, teal, mustard, cranberry and aubergine. For a cool Scandi look mix white walls with splashes of black, soft grey, blush pink, baby blue and mint green.

A quiet corner

Who doesn’t love somewhere to curl up with a blanket and book when the temperature plunges: it could be a window seat, comfy beanbag or chair by the fire, or oversized knitted floor cushions.

Warm metals

Brass, bronze, copper, rose gold and gold have been trending for a while now, replacing aluminium, stainless steel and chrome. Wooden and vintage mirrors – especially those with distressed glass – reflect candlelight beautifully.

Seasonal scents

Fill your home with candles and diffusers with ingredients like cloves, cinnamon, oranges, frankincense, eucalyptus, ginger, nutmeg and pine.

Natural elements

Rustic wood furniture and accessories conjure up the mood of an Alpine ski lodge. String foliage or felt pompom garlands up staircases, add a basket of chopped wood and fill vases and jugs with branches of eucalyptus. Honeycomb paper balls and stars are inexpensive finishing touches – and in the lead-up to Christmas don’t forget the mistletoe.

All photos sourced from Instagram – @cicelyandparker / @cottageincornwall / @a.cotswold.lifestyle / @cotswoldinterior