aRTICLE
Sarah’s Styling Tips for Christmas 2023
I have fond memories of myself as a teen planning and hours spent styling our historic homestead, “Weld Cone” in coastal Marlborough for Christmas. The Victorian villa was largely original and had a formal drawing room with velvet wallpaper and a hand cut floral frieze. This house was the catalyst that formed my love of interiors and styling.
My mother was a passionate and talented gardener with wonderful foliage in our extensive garden in which to decorate the multiple fireplaces and entrances throughout the home. I later went on to study Fashion Design in Wellington as Interior Design was not offered as an option at the time. Thirty years later I have come full circle and can now reflect on where I began my love of interiors, fashion, and styling.
Every Christmas I choose a theme in which to decorate our home. This year as the cost-of-living crisis has started to affect many families, I thought it only apt that I limit myself on what I buy and recycle as much as possible to be more sustainable and show that you can create beautiful settings and Christmas arrangements on a limited budget.
My mother was a passionate and talented gardener with wonderful foliage in our extensive garden in which to decorate the multiple fireplaces and entrances throughout the home. I later went on to study Fashion Design in Wellington as Interior Design was not offered as an option at the time. Thirty years later I have come full circle and can now reflect on where I began my love of interiors, fashion, and styling.
Every Christmas I choose a theme in which to decorate our home. This year as the cost-of-living crisis has started to affect many families, I thought it only apt that I limit myself on what I buy and recycle as much as possible to be more sustainable and show that you can create beautiful settings and Christmas arrangements on a limited budget.
Main Christmas Tree
My chosen colour scheme this year was Gold, silver, olive green and brown. We have owned this 8ft tree for over 12 years as a live tree is not an option with allergy sufferers in the family.
To get the look, the gold & brown birds are from Farmers and green baubles from Kmart. All the rest of the decorations are left over from previous years.
Kiwi Christmas Tree
Christmas in New Zealand would not be complete without a Kiwi Christmas tree. This small battery-operated tree comes with LED lights from Farmers and runs on two AA batteries.
The decorations are fir cones (baby), shells, miniature kete bags (filled with kiwi lollies) , a pair of felt kiwis and of course a beautiful collection of Kina shells (that were formerly owned by a wahine who has passed). A large paua shell at the base of the tree helps ground the design. The final touch is the starfish star held on with thin floristry wire.
The stunning original bowl is made by Sandy Kerr from Oneuku Pottery
Children’s Christmas
If you have young children or moko (grandchildren) as I do, then why not have a tree that’s just for them. When my children were young, I used to let them decorate their own tree with handmade decorations and colourful decorations.
To recreate the look, I used Kiwana Clay Dough decorations from Farmers set on a LED tree alongside rainbow coloured candy canes. Another idea is to make personalised ornaments for each child. These can include matchbox cars, trains, Lego or dolls. The possibilities are endless.
Maybe you have fur babies? Why not add photos or pet decorations to include them into your festive decorations.
Nativity scene
As a Christian Christmas would not have meaning without a beautiful Nativity scene. I have inherited this stunning large-scale fabric set from my mother who no longer has the room to display it in her retirement suite. I love the rich gold fabrics and earthy natural look of the wisemen, shepherds and of course Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. This year I added pine nut branches for a biophilic look.
# Tip: I often look online or in secondhand shops for old sets.
Wreaths
This year due to not having a large family Christmas I decided to go for one of my artificial wreaths to hang on the front door. Each year I add different coloured decorations to tie it in with my theme. This helps save cost and means I can reuse it year after year.
Homemade wreaths can be made with rosemary, pine nut leaves, douglas fir, magnolia, and multiple other tree foliage options. The key is to cut the leaves long and soak them in a large bucket overnight before using florist wire to join them or attach them to a branch or hoop.
# Tip: Remember these will need to be sprayed daily and are best done closer to Christmas. The final touch is to hang a ribbon loop in which to hang it.
Sarah's Christmas Table setting
I was tempted to buy shiny new table settings but instead went with recycled items I had at home. The only items I purchased this year were the new table runner, red and gold Christmas crackers and the red and white bead string, all from Farmers. I based the theme around the American mid-century modern dresser which holds antique plates and China that I am taking care of for mum. There is always something lovely about a red, white, and green theme. This created a modern twist of a formal setting. The addition of pine nut leaves and baubles help soften the look and help make a more modern relaxed look.
It’s a wrap
I’m not sure if it’s just my OCD or if others like to colour coordinate your present wrapping? I usually go with Black and gold as they are classic colours. But this year in keeping with my eco and sustainable theme I thought why not use plain wrapping paper. This can be finished with natural twine or flax. The finishing touch is to add some fresh foliage like fern leaves, herbs or if you are fortunate enough a piece of Pohutukawa. The talented Sandy Kerr from Oneuku Pottery has hand crafted these delightful pottery tags. They can be reused by writing in a marker pen on the glaze.
If you have children, you can make stamps and paint and decorate the paper with a design that’s personal or even better with small children, get them to make a handprint and gift this to a grandparent, friend, or teacher.
A gift with meaning
This year we are having a family Christmas a week early due to our young adults all going in different directions throughout the country with in-laws, partners, and friends. We usually run a Secret Santa but have decided this year we will give the money to my favourite charity Ruel Foundation so that the children in the orphanage can have a special Christmas.
This year, why not give a child an education by sponsoring a child for as little as $50 a month or make a one-off donation to help the orphanage set up their new facility with furniture and classroom items.
This Christmas day my husband and I are spending it with my mother at her rest home. We felt this would be more meaningful to spend the time with residents who are lonely or do not have family to visit them.
Christmas can be a very lonely time of year for people who are alone or with very little to spend, so why not consider spending time to visit an elderly person or invite those who live alone to spend the day with you.
Another way you can make a difference is to make a non-perishable food hamper or home baked goodies and give it to a family in need. Local churches or schools often know of families who are struggling and can get the gift to them if you wish to remain unknown.
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25
Testament Interiors By Sarah Parry
In Summary
Christmas is so much more than having the best and newest decorations and presents.
This year has seen many people struggle with the cost of living increasing. With interest rates rising and wages and salaries struggling to keep up I feel it's important to learn to conserve what we have and be thankful for what we have. As you prepare for the stressful month of December, why not see how you can incorporate a few sustainable practices as a family to ensure that you have a happy and blessed Christmas and New Year.
Blessings, Sarah Parry
