Embracing the Christmas kitsch

Or, how the kitsch stole Christmas

Interior designers and stylists are forever talking about changing the decor with the seasons. But how many of us actually ever do that? Yes, those cool Scandinavians might change their soft furnishings like they swap t-shirts for jumpers, but for most of us it remains an aspiration. Except at Christmas.

butler santa from rockett st george

This is the perfect time for a bit of seasonal kitsch. Now I’ll admit I used to be sniffy about it. But I grew up in my grandmother’s house where the tree wasn’t decorated until Christmas Eve and was dragged back out again three days later. We had lunch at 1pm, presents at 2, the Queen at 3 followed by afternoon tea at 4 and a row at 5. It was all very regimented.

However, one thing that did signal the holiday season was the annual Moving Of The Furniture. The sofa was pushed back against the wall to make more space for the family guests. The white armchair that no-one, except for my great grandmother, was allowed to sit in, was brought forward out of its corner. This event, more than any other, signified that Santa Claus was coming.

These days my own sitting room, like many of yours, I suspect, isn’t large enough for a seasonal switch-round. But there are other changes you can make.

Tania, my very stylish Swedish friend, brings in large branches at the beginning of the month and winds fairy lights around them. It’s not so much about Christmas decorating as adding a touch of magical lighting to those short, dark days. For the other 11 months of the year the fairy lights are strictly for the garden.

And if you can’t have an ironic sequinned snowflake cushion on the sofa for a couple of weeks in December, when can you? I have a set of pillowcases with snowy Christmas trees and robins on, although neither my husband or my sons will permit them on their beds, so they are for guests only.

This month indulge your kitschiest desires. Festoon these fairy lights, swap round the cushions and break out a Christmas mug or tea towel. I’ll be honest; I’d rather do that then wear a Christmas jumper.

festive tea towels from next

Part of the reason I don’t put a tree up early is that I haven’t got the space to be tiptoeing round the thing for a month. I can’t be bothered to pick it up every time the cat knocks it over – and watching it wilt a little more every day makes me wilt as well.

But a jolly cushion or a set of Christmas napkins don’t take up more space. They feed into the seasonal feeling without overwhelming it and then, just as you are heartily sick of it all and pondering painting the entire house in School House white and making it look like a chic 16th century monastery, it’s all over.

December is all about anticipation. And then like Scrooge, or at least my Grandmother, it must all disappear well before New Year. For that brings its own rituals – chief among which is that everything must be clear and uncluttered to start the new year. But we’ll get to all that in a couple of weeks.

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