An Australian Christmas done in style

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is just around the corner, but here in the Land Down Under, it’s summertime! While our European and American friends are in a winter wonderland feasting on roast turkey with all the trimmings, we spend the festive season playing backyard cricket, hosting barbecues and making the most of summer. It’s time well spent making memories with family and friends, so it’s important that your home and all the little touches that work together to create a cheery vibe. If you haven’t hung up those fairy lights yet, fear not, we’ll show you how to add some sparkle to your home this holiday season – with an Aussie twist. 

The entrance

Nothing says Christmas more than a welcoming wreath decorating your front door and it’s even better when it’s made by you! Instead of a traditional holly and ivy Christmas wreath, make one that incorporates the stunning flowers from Australian natives like eucalyptus, wattle, grevillea and flowering gums. It’s fun to get the kids involved. String icicle lights across your front wall and porch (or balcony, if you live in a unit) to create a cheery mood. Greet your guests with a hallway that’s merry and bright – it’s the first room your guests will see when they enter your home. If your hallway has a console table, dress it up with some Christmas ornaments, scented candles and your Advent calendar. Don’t forget to have a wicker basket for everyone’s thongs and sufficient storage for the beach towels and cossies if your guests are jumping into the pool for a Christmas swim.  

Living Room

Your living room is where all the action takes place for Christmas – from the gifts that Santa has left under the tree to the stockings filled with toys for the kids. Hero this area with decor that embraces the spirit of the holidays. Choose a colour scheme and let your Christmas decor match it to set the mood. While you can never go wrong with the traditional red, gold and green, Australians are now opting for bright pops of colour like robust pinks and purples and even sunny yellows! Whatever colour palette you choose, weave it through your living area in soft furnishings like cushions and rugs as well as the baubles hanging on your Christmas tree and even the wrapping paper used for the Christmas pressies. When you’re decorating your Christmas tree – real, fake or DIY – give it an Aussie twist with baubles that say ‘Australia’. 

It’s all about making your guests feel at home. So, why not invest in a comfy armchair and dress it up with summery cushions, or buy a beautiful coffee table adorned with photos and keepsakes? And, after a sumptuous lunch, there’s nothing better than relaxing in front of the entertainment unit to watch your favourite Christmas movies – Love Actually again?!

Dining 

Your dining table will be the focal point where family and friends gather to share a meal and get into the spirit of things. Set the table with a festive tablecloth or table runner. It doesn’t need to be over-the-top “Christmassy” – just a subtle hint of shimmer and sparkle will do. Many of us choose to entertain late in the afternoon and into the night to avoid the summer heat – fairy lights and scented candles are just what you need to make your home feel magical! Some freshly picked eucalyptus leaves offset with native red berries or fragrant summer blooms from the garden make for beautiful table decor. When it’s time for everyone to gather around the table for lunch/ dinner, make sure you have enough dining chairs or benches so that your guests can eat comfortably. Psst! We reckon stools are the perfect space-saver! Bring out your fancy dinnerware that’s been hiding in the sideboard all year long and dine in style. Make sure your centrepiece isn’t too high so that your guests can chat easily – and so that they can reach across to pull those Christmas crackers and read those riddles!

Bedroom

Transform your bedroom into a relaxing hideaway for the Christmas season – a place where you can unwind after all that partying. When it comes to dressing up your bed, swap those heavy doonas out for breathable cottons and linens. Freshen up the bedside tables with Christmas accents, a pot plant and a stack of books for some summer reading. Bring the outdoors in by hanging a Christmas wreath above your bed head or a pot of succulents by your bedside table. A string of twinkling Christmas lights will give your bedroom a beautiful glow. If you’ve got friends/ family staying over from abroad or interstate, don’t neglect the spare bedroom. A new comfortable bed, some fresh linen, mints on the bedside table and a few baubles adorning the chest of drawers can transform your guest bedroom from functional to festive. 

There you have it – some unique ways to inject an Aussie accent into your Christmas! Seasons greetings from the Icon By Design Team!