Christmas displays

We tend to associate Christmas decoration with wreaths & garlands, baubles hanging on the Christmas tree, tinsel lighting and shiny wraps…

Although these elements are the most familiar decorating details, they can be complemented or replaced by interesting displays with a contemporary twist.

Although you can buy some ready-made Xmas props, they are best made by yourself – allowing them to be unique yet coherent with the rest of your decor..

Before you panic about a bit of DIY – let me reassure you, making displays is really not that difficult. You’ll need lots of vessels (vases, tubs, glasses, bowls, plates, pots and other containers). These should be as large as possible – but the smaller ones can also be useful for displaying fruits & nuts.

Depending on your Christmas decoration theme, these vessels can be made of wood, metal, ceramic, plastic or glass. Glass is the most useful material – not only does it go well with most deco schemes, their transparency allows creative displays. If you have vessels that you think could be suitable, shape or size-wise, but they have the wrong color or style – don’t worry, you can temporarily decorate them with glittery tissue paper or some luxurious fabric such as lace, velvet and silk.

You are now ready to make your Christmas displays.

Large displays

Big transparent bowls are ideal to display baubles and/or piled up string lights. You can also half-fill them with glass (perhaps colored) beads then add water and float some candles – this makes an ideal table centre piece. Wooden bowls can be filled with acorns, nuts, chocolate, dried fruits and spices – perhaps around a bulky, scented candle.

Large, tall glass vases can also be used for light installations – just put in some string lights or candles and add some glass beads. Use ceramic vases to create alternative Christmas trees – arrange large feathers, "frosty" twigs, dried grasses or pine branches in them – decorate these with baubles, acorns, berries, beads etc – as appropriate for your scheme. Long trays are ideal for putting together Christmas goodies – combine candles with edible and non-edible items – baubles, fruits & nuts, berries, candies, acorns etc…

Smaller displays

Small bowls, trays and plates can come in useful. You can fill them with chocolate & nuts or use them to show off candles. One of the most successful displays I’ve created was a small glass bowl filled with transparent glass beads and a LED battery-powered colored light tucked in between them. You can put this on window-sills and mantels – at night the subtle color flows through your room.

Whether you create large or small displays, you can also decorate the outside of your vessel.  You can wrap garlands around them; icicle or fairy lights; beads on metal threads; feathers, fluffy or velvety ribbons etc. Alternatively, just put them into a wreath made of pine branches, twigs and berries.

You see, creating your own Christmas displays is not that difficult…