Getting into the Festive Spirit for 2022

At G Plan we believe it’s never too early to start Christmas preparations. With the night’s drawing in, it’s officially time to embrace Winter walks, crackling fires and cosy knits. Winter is the time to welcome a slower pace of life and there is no better place to find comfort than in the contentment of your home. We’ve compiled a guide to embracing the festive season; from joyful styling tips for your home, to our favourite winter-warming recipes.

Get Cosy

With Christmas just around the corner, there are simple changes you can make to your home, to keep your décor looking warm and welcoming. A mix of textures is so important to add depth to a room – cable knit blankets and soft wool throws can be draped over sofas, armchairs and footstools, to offer a welcoming spot to relax. Consider updating your scatter cushions, to inject darker more seasonal tones such as inky blues or mossy greens. By incorporating a mixture of fabric types, such as chenille or velvet-styles, your room will instantly feel warmer and offer an inviting space to cosy up in.

Ever Green

Adding touches of seasonal greenery to your home helps to bring a rustic atmosphere, celebrating the beauty of the natural world. As we already bring Christmas trees into our homes at this time our year, why not go the extra mile and blend fresh pieces of foliage into your home décor, that you forage from winter walks. Some of our favourites include pine, eucalyptus, holly and fir. Whether it’s arranged in a vase, woven into a garland, or crafted into a winter wreath, these festive sprigs will add an instant yuletide atmosphere, bringing a sense of calm in tow.

Let There be Light

Getting the lighting right is important at this time of year. Instead of an overhead light, choose softer table lamps to position on side or console tables. This will help to create cosy pockets of light and add extra warmth in the room. Complement this with clusters of candlelight, to create an additional cosy glow. Experiment with height and layouts, by mixing taller candlesticks with tealights. Choosing scented candles with smoky and musky undertones can add to the festive atmosphere. The warmth and crackle of a fireplace completes this winter scene, so keep your log basket fully stocked throughout the season.

Decorating for Christmas

Christmas time evokes a sense of tradition for many, as we embrace the season of twinkling lights and festive joy. The Christmas tree is at the centre of our focus, with the warm glow of fairy lights and abundance of decorations. Whether you have a strict colour scheme of gold, red, silver or an assortment of sentimental decorations that you’ve gathered over the years – we like a tree with character. As well as your traditional baubles, consider adding texture with pinecones, jingle bells and dried cinnamon sticks to appeal to other senses such as smell and sound. Dried oranges and cranberries will add pops of colour throughout your festive display, whilst filling the air with gorgeous winter scents.

Christmas foliage is a beautiful way to incorporate festive cheer into other areas of the home. Adorn staircases, mantel pieces and window sills with garlands, whilst a wreath can be hung over fireplaces, mirrors and even in windows. Weave in the enchanting glow of fairy lights, helping to illuminate the holly, berries and pine. Again, candles and fragrances are a great way to evoke all the senses, so choose spicy and woody scents that are reminiscent of flavours from our favourite festive food and drink.

Winter Recipes

There’s nothing nicer than a warming, hearty meal on a cold winter’s day and we love to enjoy a meal with loved ones before curling up on our sofas. It’s the season of soups, stews and sumptuous warm puddings, so we’ve gathered a few of our comforting favourites to share with you. A bowl of soup always goes down well with a generous chunk of bread with butter. Embrace seasonal vegetables and flavours, with this Winter Vegetable and Lentil recipe and this Spiced Sweet Potato and Leek soup. For a classic slow cooker recipe, try this Beef and Vegetable Stew or if you’re more of a casserole fan then this Root Vegetable Casserole with Herb Dumplings is a fantastic winter warmer. To finish, the spicy cinnamon flavours in this Apple Flapjack Crumble are fitting for the season, whilst this classic favourite Sticky Toffee Pudding is a real indulgent treat.

Left Image: Waitrose, Middle Image: BBC Good Food, Right Image: BBC Good Food