Irene Gunter reveals how to make your Christmas sparkle
Welcome the most wonderful time of the year with Gunter & Co’s festive tips
By Interior Designer Irene Gunter, Founder of Gunter & Co
Christmas morning in my household sets the tone for the whole day. There’s a slow start with champagne, mince pies and presents, then we head out to a laid-back brunch followed by a brisk walk before lunch. Read on to discover more of my Christmas highlights and what I do to make the month of December even more magical.
Be prepared
Christmas-proof your home in advance of December! My husband and I have been renovating, so we’ve taken the opportunity to install IP66-rated weatherproof sockets so we can bring some sparkle to the outside of our house. If you don’t have an outdoor power supply, don’t worry: outdoor battery-powered lights are just as festive.
I’d also recommend a little advanced planning as to where your Christmas tree is going to go. Always make sure there’s a socket nearby – Christmas isn’t Christmas without the twinkle of fairy lights! My preference is for warm white fairy lights because they create a lovely cosy glow.
In with the old, out with the new
I don’t buy new Christmas decorations. Instead, I dig out cute wooden Norwegian ornaments that I inherited from my Father when he moved to a smaller house. I have boxes and boxes of them, including a complete nativity scene. For me, it’s not about creating an Instagram-worthy tree. It’s about unwrapping the ornaments that bring back happy memories and hanging them on the tree for my son Oscar to enjoy. I much prefer authentic materials to anything man-made, so I’d always recommend shopping for wooden decorations.
Dine-in Style
Dinner time in my house is usually very relaxed, but on special occasions such as Christmas Day, I like to dress my dining table so that it feels special. The first step is a simple white cloth that serves as a unifying backdrop to all the different elements of a typical Christmas table: crockery, glassware, candles, and table decorations. This year I’ll be injecting a dash of festive cheer with classic Christmas napkins from the fabulous Gayle Warwick (https://gaylewarwick.com).
Get out & about
One of my Christmas traditions is going to Fortnum & Mason to buy a few lovely things that I don’t need but are nice to have. This year I came away with the most amazing Advent calendar.
I then take a walk around Central London to soak up the atmosphere of the season. This year my favourite decorations are in Sloane Square. Beautiful dark blue uplights have been used to illuminate the Christmas trees – so simple, so classy.
Another Christmas tradition, which I bought with me from Belgium, is the seafood platters we eat on Christmas Eve. I’m not a big fan of turkey so I often look forward to the feast on the 24th more than Christmas dinner.
Kid-friendly Christmas ideas
One of the highlights of Christmas is taking Oscar to Bocketts Farm. It’s wonderful for young children – they get to hop on board the Santa Express trailer to Santa’s workshop and then meet the man himself. I almost missed out on tickets this year and felt I’d failed as a parent!
We also always make a date to go to Glow at Wisley, which never fails to get me in the festive mood. The gardens are brought alive by the most magical illuminations – just make sure you wrap up warm.