The desire for homes with outside space has grown over recent years.

Be it in the form of a large garden or planting on a more modest scale on a terrace or balcony, the quest to make nature part of day-to-day life is a legacy of the pandemic as well as testament to an increasing appreciation of the need to support and protect the environment.

The outside is now seen as an extra room – or rooms – with firepits and gazebos prolonging the season for alfresco living and entertaining.

That said, this a time for shutting out the dark nights and cosying up indoors. It’s less a case of taking the inside out, and more about bringing the outside in, with holly, ivy and mistletoe – not forgetting the tree – greening up interiors.

Famously, the Christmas tree became a staple in British homes thanks to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who embraced the German tradition when they decked the halls of Windsor Castle. But the life-affirming symbolism of evergreen boughs in the depths winter dates back to the ancient world.

These days homemade wreaths and garlands are an increasingly popular way to decorate and, while lush fir, holly and ivy remain firm favourites, greenery of all kinds from eucalyptus to olive branches make a stylish modern alternative. 

If you’re thinking of being on-trend and taking nature as your decorating theme this year, here are a few ideas to try:

• Wooden decorations, wool, iron bells on twine, paper and wicker ornaments all add texture to your festive interiors and help emulate that feeling of being outdoors. Their more subtle tones and textures help keep nature at the forefront of your Christmas design and help steer away from more traditional reds and golds.

• To really bring the outdoors in this Christmas, collect foliage and pine cones and whimsical twigs from your garden and upcycle them into authentic and original decorations for your home. Organised foraging walks are also popular around this time of year, if you don’t have a garden to collect from.

• Incorporating warm earthy tones and lots of textures, whether it be worn velvets or chunky knits, is another effective way to bring outside in. Opting for fabrics and soft furnishings like blankets and cushions are a great way to mimic nature’s wintery tones, adding that cosy feel. Velvet stockings in earthy greens are a great nod to the festivities too.

• Dried or preserved foliage displays are another way to bring nature into your Christmas decorating. Large twigs, decorated with small, lightweight baubles and then intertwined with eucalyptus and pussywillow create a great focal point in room or hallway without being overbearing.

• To target all the senses this Christmas, why not incorporate a few festive diffusers and Christmassy candles into the mix. Popular scents combine orange and spices together for a rich and musky tones while pine, eucalyptus and oakmoss give off slightly lighter and fresher notes.

Further information

Contact Charlotte Hodges-Peck or Faye Wilkin

Contact Savills Interior, Furnishing & Refurbishment Services