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AD – This post is a paid partnership with M&S.
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There it is (below), just discreetly looking pretty in the corner, I’ve popped it in the study because y’know even I accept (and I am in the category of Christmas enthusiast) that it is a little early. But don’t think me mad, Black Friday has come and gone, we’ve had frost, and today is a month til Christmas Eve. This year I’ve been delighted to team up with Marks & Spencer to show you how I’m decorating with their new Christmas range in our home.
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Working with high street stalwarts like M&S means that I was a little overwhelmed with the generous choice of gorgeous decs I could choose, and as I can be a little like a magpie at this time of year I had to hold myself back a little from choosing ALL the shiny things! Let’s start our little tour with the bedroom where I’ve chosen items which keep the feeling of sanctuary in here whilst celebrating corners of wintery green foliage. I tend to think of my bedroom as a retreat and no other time of the year warrants this more than the hectic Christmas period. I’ve decorated the bed with pillar candles inside the seeded and wood hurricane on the bed for styling purposes (I know it goes without saying but please don’t leave candles on the bed, I tend to put mine in the hearth but this wouldn’t have made such a pretty shot!). One range I’ve been super impressed with is the Apothecary range which has some truly beautiful spa like smells in amber glass packaging. My favourite is Calm (and very appropriate for me at this time of year) which is accented with notes of lavender, sweet orange and clary sage, it’s a really fresh smell and I’ve got both the scented candle and reed diffuser in here for different times of day and mood. On the headboard of the bed I have draped a really sumptuous looking leaf and berry garland which I think looks really stunning against the wood. On the wall I have replaced our usual art print with a metal star with faux eucalyptus and blackberry sprig to celebrate the holiday season.
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Next up, into the study, I’ve put this festive scene here as it’s a space which I usually neglect and it can feel a little austere in winter. As I work from here for so much of the week, it’s really lovely to come in during the dark days of winter and switch on my little corner of Christmas festivity in here. If you’ve been following along over the last few years, then you will know that I’ve decorated with various different kinds of festive animals since the little person came along and this year is no exception. M&S have a really cute range of reindeer, robins and polar bears (the polar bears were my favourites) which I have chosen for the tree. I wanted a Christmas tree that had a traditional feel but with modern style too (no bows or red velvet for me), so I picked out a selection of ceramic style painted baubles, baubles with foliage inside, some cute wooden houses in globes and glitter baubles (I told you I was a magpie at this time of year). I’ve added a lovely woodland style garland to the mantelpiece decorated with pine cones, twigs and stars and in the hearth I’ve got three of M&S’s really fabulous ombré trees.
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The tree itself was a bit of a revelation to me, I’ve never had a faux tree before and to be honest I was a little against them on both style and environmental footprint. Did you know that you have to keep a tree ten years to beat the environmental impact of a felled one? I’ve been tasked with decorating the work tree for the last few years which is from a rival well known high street chain and I always think how cheap it looks, what a faff it is to put up and how papery it looks once erected. But this one, by total contrast, looks incredibly real, and for such a reasonable price I’m really impressed with a tree that requires barely any assembly, is preloaded with lights and works outdoors too, which makes me think that if you choose well then ten years is entirely feasible.
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The final space I wanted to add some sparkle to, it pretty much demands it at this time of year, is the cocktail trolley in the dining room. I’ve kept things pretty simple here (not a swathe of tinsel or kitsch this year). I’ve used some of Marks & Spencer’s faux mistletoe twine to adorn the central brass oval frame of the trolley and picked some of their really lovely barware range. I particularly love the Timeless mixer jug which is perfect for serving up a sloe gin and prosecco from into the elegant Timeless glasses.
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So there you have it, my own Interpretation of Marks & Sparkle for the year. How will you be decorating for Christmas around the home in 2018? I’d love to know. You can find a full list of products used below.
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This is a sponsored post, I have been delighted to collaborate with Marks & Spencer on this and have more content to bring you in collaboration with the brand in the new year. As ever, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
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All images: Design Soda.
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I didn’t know about the 10 year footprint comparison. To be honest, cut trees are beautiful but I prefer little potted ones because they last for years. Your tree looks lovely and being pre-lit is a bonus!