Festive Styling That Embraces the 'White Christmas' Look
How to put an Australian stamp on the white Christmas theme when styling your home for the festive season ahead
Have you ever dreamed of having a White Christmas? In Australia, we lack the climate for a snowy white Christmas, but there is no reason we can’t embrace our own unique style. The traditional red and green combination remains a popular choice for the holiday season, but it can sometimes look garish and out of place in the wrong setting. And while Christmas is a great excuse to decorate in excess, it is possible to achieve a cool, clean and stylish theme for Christmas, without losing that holiday vibe. By using fresh white pieces, keeping decorations to a minimum, and using a restricted colour palette, Christmas will start to look and feel a little cooler in our warm environment. Read on for six ways you can style your home with clean, cool and simple Christmas decorating.
A crisp, white table cloth is the perfect base for this Australian Christmas table setting. White napkins, vases, flowers and crockery all work beautifully together here, and the varying textures provide a point of difference between the many white pieces.
The rustic hessian table runner adds some softness to the table and just a touch of warmth, saving the scene from feeling sterile.
The rustic hessian table runner adds some softness to the table and just a touch of warmth, saving the scene from feeling sterile.
Restrict your colour palette
Limit your colour palette to white and natural tones, with accents of silver and glass. Focusing on neutral tones doesn’t have to be boring – as long as you include a variety of shapes and textures, it will always be interesting. A good mix of textures will add depth and fullness to your Christmas decor.
For this simple, minimal style, a variety of textures can mean the difference between a stylish, cool interior and one that is boring and without feeling.
Limit your colour palette to white and natural tones, with accents of silver and glass. Focusing on neutral tones doesn’t have to be boring – as long as you include a variety of shapes and textures, it will always be interesting. A good mix of textures will add depth and fullness to your Christmas decor.
For this simple, minimal style, a variety of textures can mean the difference between a stylish, cool interior and one that is boring and without feeling.
These glasses and jars have been adorned with silver glitter and suit the white tablecloth elegantly, setting the scene for a crisp, white Christmas celebration. Accents of silver work well because they add an icy look, that makes us feel cooler even when the weather is warm. Crystal glasses and goblets would create a similar effect. Despite the lack of colour in this scene, the table is cheery and obviously set in readiness for a celebration.
Keep things minimal
The ‘less is more’ approach is definitely fitting for this style of Christmas decorating. This room proves that Christmas styling can be muted and restricted, while maintaining that festive feel. The paper wreath on the wall is made from vintage book pages and looks gorgeous against this clean, white wall.
Try to limit the amount of ornaments on your tree, and if you want to include red in your minimal style, make sure it is a muted tone, so as not to clash with any neutral shades.
The ‘less is more’ approach is definitely fitting for this style of Christmas decorating. This room proves that Christmas styling can be muted and restricted, while maintaining that festive feel. The paper wreath on the wall is made from vintage book pages and looks gorgeous against this clean, white wall.
Try to limit the amount of ornaments on your tree, and if you want to include red in your minimal style, make sure it is a muted tone, so as not to clash with any neutral shades.
Be selective when choosing your decorations and only include pieces that are simple and fit the brief. Achieving a minimal style is often perceived as the easy option, but because you are including less objects, it will be more obvious if something doesn’t suit the theme. If a single item is out of place, it is likely that the whole room will look and feel disrupted, so choose carefully and if you’re not sure, pack it away.
There is very little in this image, but the festive vibe is felt without an abundance of objects. The texture and tone of the vintage paper wreath provides an interesting contrast to the silver metal chair. The trio of stars make it clear that this is a Christmas vignette.
There is very little in this image, but the festive vibe is felt without an abundance of objects. The texture and tone of the vintage paper wreath provides an interesting contrast to the silver metal chair. The trio of stars make it clear that this is a Christmas vignette.
Focus on Christmas shapes
There is minimal colour in this style of Christmas decorating, so bring in the holiday cheer with shapes that represent Christmas.
Stars, trees, reindeer and angel shapes all give an impression of Christmas, even in neutral tones.
We get a sense that the natural coloured reindeer and handmade stick star are Christmas themed, even without the traditional red and green combination. The white lights add a coolness to the scene, and makes us think of a celebration, despite the lack of colour.
There is minimal colour in this style of Christmas decorating, so bring in the holiday cheer with shapes that represent Christmas.
Stars, trees, reindeer and angel shapes all give an impression of Christmas, even in neutral tones.
We get a sense that the natural coloured reindeer and handmade stick star are Christmas themed, even without the traditional red and green combination. The white lights add a coolness to the scene, and makes us think of a celebration, despite the lack of colour.
These clay tags are a perfect example of how Christmas can be portrayed in shapes, not colour. You can't help but think of Christmas when you see these white, clay tags. There is so much Christmas cheer in this image, and it is displayed in stylishly muted tones.
Match your wrapping
For those of you who are a little OCD, you will probably prefer your Christmas wrapping to tie in with your theme. For this cool, white Christmas theme, use plain white paper and embellish your gifts with objects and colours that match the colour palette.
You can include items like sticks and rosemary from the garden, which will not only save you money, but will help save the earth. These gifts have been tied up with natural jute string and embellished with white clay tags.
For those of you who are a little OCD, you will probably prefer your Christmas wrapping to tie in with your theme. For this cool, white Christmas theme, use plain white paper and embellish your gifts with objects and colours that match the colour palette.
You can include items like sticks and rosemary from the garden, which will not only save you money, but will help save the earth. These gifts have been tied up with natural jute string and embellished with white clay tags.
Include objects from nature
Use sticks, wood, rocks and other found objects in your Christmas decorating, and you will create a down-to-earth atmosphere, where guests will feel relaxed and calm. This table is set with sticks as a centrepiece, in which white feathers adorn the branches. Finding objects from your own backyard will add a distinctly Aussie feel to your celebration.
Read more: Finders Keepers: Incorporating Found Materials Into Your Decor
Use sticks, wood, rocks and other found objects in your Christmas decorating, and you will create a down-to-earth atmosphere, where guests will feel relaxed and calm. This table is set with sticks as a centrepiece, in which white feathers adorn the branches. Finding objects from your own backyard will add a distinctly Aussie feel to your celebration.
Read more: Finders Keepers: Incorporating Found Materials Into Your Decor
A Christmas tree made from sticks provides the perfect alternative to your store-bought fake, green tree. It is not only a more environmentally ethical way of decorating, but the handmade imperfections simply add to its charm. A natural pine would have worked beautifully in this setting as well. Most objects we find in nature will blend with this Australian white Christmas theme, because their colours and textures bring a sense of peace that we often find in natural settings.
TELL US
Would you decorate your home in the minimal Christmas style? Tell us why or why not.
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TELL US
Would you decorate your home in the minimal Christmas style? Tell us why or why not.
MORE
A Place for Everything: Beautiful Ways to Style Your Table Settings
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There is nothing like an abundance of cool, crisp whites in your home, to help bring the temperature down, and this principle can apply to your Christmas decorating, too. It is best to include as much white as possible for an Australian white Christmas theme.
Use white objects with varying textures to maintain interest and avoid monotony. White wood, fabric, marble, clay ornaments and candles all have unique surfaces that help break up the repetition of white.