The holiday season has finally arrived! To spread some festive cheer, interior design specialists at Hammonds Furniture have created visualisations of Christmas living room decorations from around the world.
From traditional English décor to lucky spider webs in Ukraine, local customs and traditions still have their place in the Christmas decorations people put up in destinations around the world.
‘The living room is the heart of the home, and the place where so many memories are made. For so many people, putting up the tree and decorations is the best part of Christmas,’ says Kirsty Oakes, Head of Product and Marketing from Hammonds Furniture.
‘We are all used to digging out the same decorations every year, many of which date back to childhood. But there comes a time when we might want to shake things up a little, if only to add a new touch to our existing decorations. Learning about different festive décor traditions from around the world not only brings us closer to other cultures but can provide inspiration when refreshing our own decoration collection.’
Take a look at the living room designs below…
1
UK
It might be cold and wet in the UK at Christmas time, but a few ways Brits cosy up their living rooms include hanging gorgeous garlands, placing mistletoe above the door, popping presents under the tree, and putting out yummy mince pies for Santa. Some households prefer traditional palettes of red and gold, while others switch it up with pretty pink baubles.
2
Germany
Over in Germany, traditional Christmas decorations include nutcracker figurines, advent candles, angel ornaments, and real trees which are traditionally decorated on Christmas Eve. This living room looks like the perfect spot to sit with a slice of stollen…
3
France
According to Hammonds Furniture, many French households used to decorate their Christmas trees with red apples to symbolise the Garden of Eden. In fact, it’s thought that brightly coloured apples inspired the very first bauble decorations.
‘Cake enthusiasts may well already be familiar with the yule log, a popular and delicious festive centrepiece,’ say Hammonds Furniture. ‘Traditionally, a yule log would be wooden, to be burnt on Christmas Eve – an easily DIY-able touch to add to your festive décor.’
4
Greece
While many Greek households also adorn Christmas trees with baubles, a popular maritime tradition is decorating ships and boats; something which symbolises welcoming loved ones home.
Hammonds Furniture say: ‘The fire is kept burning throughout the festive period, bringing both a cosy atmosphere, and keeping the kallikantzaros away – mischievous goblins that roam the earth during the winter solstice.’
5
Ukraine
Many Ukrainians decorate their Christmas trees with artificial spiders and spider webs. We might associate the creepy critters with Halloween, but it’s widely believed the webs will bring good fortune.
As well as this, another traditional decoration is a didukh, which has a long history in Ukraine. Today, a didukh is a small bouquet of different flowers, herbs, and spikelets which can be easily made at home.
6
Philippines
It’s all about beautiful lighting in the Philippines, with many households using Christmas lanterns called parols to create a warming glow.
‘It’s a case of the bigger, the better when it comes to tree decorations,’ say Hammonds Furniture. ‘Think larger than life baubles, bows and flowers to stand out against a minimalist interior. While nativity scenes are popular internationally, they are an essential Filipino decoration, usually placed on a table or under the Christmas tree.’
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