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Dazzling Christmas DecorationsBy Gabrielle FaganA beautifully-decked tree should be the focal point on the home at Christmas and this year there's an array of styles to choose from that can suit your style and room. Check out four keys looks for stunning trees. With Christmas on the way, it's almost time to deck the halls, dress the tree and turn your home into a seasonal sanctuary. A beautifully decked tree should be the focal point of the home at Christmas and this year there's an array of styles to choose from. You can indulge a passion for purple, be truly traditional, shimmer with metallics, or stay true to your 'green' principles with eco-friendly touches. But if the festivities inspire a 'Bah humbug!' feeling or you prefer a 'cool Yule' keeping fuss and decoration to a minimum, there are plenty of effects that are chic and glamorous rather than garish. A purple wonderland Purple's the favourite colour scheme for rooms this winter, and you could echo the trend by letting its rich, glowing shades give a touch of opulence and luxury to a tree.  "Decorations in rich, nocturnal colours such as plum add a spot of velvety indulgence that's comforting for long, dark winter days," says Marnie Janaway, Sainsbury's head of home design. Combine with accents of teal and glittering gold to give the look a distinctive, fashionable edge."Get the look: B&Q and Argos both have purple trees if you truly want to embrace this style or go for a brilliant contrast by hanging those richly  coloured decorations on a black tree, such as Matalan's luxury black tree (pictured) £20.Next and Sainsbury's bargain bauble collections are bursting with purples and their shade partner, lilac. Next's mixed bauble set of 100 costs (pictured) £20, while Sainsbury's baubles start from £1.99 each. Debenhams purple decorations might appeal to fashionistas, with treasures such as a stiletto shoe, £3, ballerina, £2.60 and glittering purple stars, six for £4.  Flamboyant designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is never slow to spot a trend - his collection for Matalan's Influence range features decadent purple and gold baubles, from £4. Complement them with Lakeland's clip-on purple Butterflies, £7.99 for three, and its purple and gold beads and sequins garland, £7.99. Nostalgic style This charming look evokes memories of Christmases past. A tree should be prettily decorated in traditional red, white and green, and don't forget to give pride of place to cherished decorations made by youngsters.  "Nothing beats the traditional festive palette of red, white and green," says Marnie. "You can always mix and match old and new pieces for that collector's feel - a stylish and expensive look which won't stretch the budget. And be influenced by the on-trend craft movement and invest in felt and glass decorations for a classic look which never goes out of date." Get the look: Matalan's large faux fir tree is a snip at £15 (pictured), or at Homebase, real trees start from £9.99. Lakeland's Christmas decorations are a must for traditionalists, with miniature felt Santas, four for £4.99, while a set of red and white Scandi-style snowflakes, trees, stars and reindeer, is a seasonal snip at £6.99. John Lewis red decorations would also suit this look, and I particularly like its fashionable flock bauble £3, and a jolly robin bauble, £2.50.  Continue the red and white theme with a famous reindeer duo, Dancer & Prancer for £9.99 from Lakeland (pictured), which could sit on a mantel ready for Santa's arrival. Complete the look with Lavender & Sage's heart-shaped wreath, £15, trimmed with red berries, ribbon and fir cones and Aspen & Brown's white embroidered heart, £4.95 with the word 'Peace' in red (pictured). All that glitters Metallics - gold, silver and bronze - are a glittering, glamorous choice for festive rooms. There's a razzle-dazzle selection of 'bling' decorations so you can dress your tree with golden grandeur, or conjure a magical, shimmering effect with silver and clear glass.  Get the look: Gild a tree - Homebase's Midnight Black sparkle tree (pictured) £39.99, is a six foot stunner - with gold decorations.Go for Debenhams's gold and black baubles set, £10, and gold star garland £8, while Sainsbury's metallic collection has three 3D gold decorations for a snip at £3.49. Or splash out on something special with Next's pre-lit gold glass bauble, £15. John Lewis has joined the glitterati gang with a gorgeous gold collection, including a reindeer decoration, £2.50, and gold leaves, £1.50 each. Littlewoods's gold sequinned baubles, four for £18, and a gold 'Noel' sign, £18, are a glitzy treat. My favourite source for clear glass and silver baubles is The White Company, whose festive touches are always impressive. Three glittering baubles on white organza ribbon, £11.99, and six mini-glass baubles, £12. You could also mine for silver at House of Fraser, whose large silver diamond decorations, £3.50 each, and mirrored ball decorations, six for £6, could also be strikingly displayed as a table decoration in its Linea silver base hurricane lamp, £30. Conscience-clear trees There's no need to abandon your eco-principles when dressing a tree. Be resourceful and make your own fabric baubles from fabric scraps, cut out in circles, and stitched together and filled with cotton wool or lavender or sweet-smelling herbs. There are also lots of pretty decorations that won't prick your conscience as they have green credentials. Fairwind's attractive Fair Trade decorations are hand-made and ethical. Actress Tamzin Outhwaite, one of the company's celebrity fans, says: "I want a lovely tree and it makes it even nicer knowing that the decorations are not only beautifully-made and reasonably priced, but help to make a difference to people's lives." Get the look: Fairwind's glass and bead angel decoration, £9.50, makes a wonderful tree-topper and £1 of the price benefits a trauma and crisis centre in South Africa. Biome's felt decorations include a delightful string of white snowballs, £5, made by a collective of women in Kathmandu. Traidcraft has a charming recycled paper nativity set, £18, and decorations starting from £4 each, while John Lewis's lacquered red and gold Fair Trade baubles, £3.50 each, benefit community projects in Kashmir. Minimal Christmas If you hate the idea of decorations cluttering your space, keep it minimal with effects that are so stylish you won't want to pack them away after the holiday. You'll definitely be on trend as there's a huge enthusiasm for a pared-down, minimalist look this season, evidenced by the fact that John Lewis's chic but simple snowy paper tree sold out in record time. Get the look: Matalan's silver jewelled tree, £18, is a good alternative to the norm - a large branch that would look glamorous even if hung with only a few baubles. Or banish the baubles and rely on an arrangement of pre-lit twigs, with 40 lights, £20 from John Lewis, or match a neutral decor scheme with an under-stated cream six foot pre-lit tree, £99 from Marks & Spencer. Alternatively, keep the season at bay by restricting decorations to outside your home. Ensure a welcoming entrance by positioning a couple of mini bay or fir trees either side of the front door, dressed with twinkling fairy lights. John Lewis's pre-lit topiary or Christmas trees, £35, are in sleek containers. Make a focal point in the back garden by displaying the ultimate fake, the nine-foot-tall Light Tree Tower, £150 by Cox & Cox, which couldn't fail to impress the neighbours. Decorating destinations Aspen & Brown: 0845 371 1171/ www.aspendandbrown.com B&Q: 0845 850 0175/ www.diy.com Biome: 020 7254 7613/ www.biomelifestyle.com Cox & Cox: 0844 858 0734/ www.coxandcox.co.uk Debenhams: 08445 616161/ www.debenhams.com Fairwind: 020 8374 6254/ www.fairwindonline.com Homebase: 0845 600 2420/ www.homebase.co.uk House of Fraser: 0870 160 7270/ www.houseoffraser.co.uk Lakeland: 015394 88100/ www.lakeland.co.uk Lavender & Sage: 0845 601 0522/ www.lavenderandsage.co.uk John Lewis: 08456 049 049/ www.johnlewis.com Marks & Spencer: 0845 302 1234/ www.marksandspencer.com Matalan: www.matalan.co.uk Next: 0844 844 8000/ www.next.co.uk Sainsbury's: 0800 636 262/ www.sainsburys.co.uk Traidcraft: 0845 330 8900/ www.traidcraftshop.co.uk The White Company: 0870 900 9555/ www.thewhitecompany.co.uk |
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