WELCOME
asI flick through the pages of this issue, I am reminded of a memorable Christmas years ago when our children were small. We hosted our large family in the terraced house that we lived in at the time. It was an unforgettable occasion – the food was a disaster (another story) – but unusually it didn’t bother me because I’d put all my energy into decorating the table and, even though I say it myself, it was spectacular. Natural twig trees formed tall arches and an abundance of greenery and tealights lined the centre of the table. I’m not sure my family appreciated that I’d put style over subsistence, but in true Christmas spirit, they were kind and I look back on that year with a warm sense of achievement.
According to our digital editor, Olivia Heath, ‘tablescapes’ is one of the most popular online search terms at the moment. It seems that going to great lengths to create a memorable backdrop for festive feasts is now the norm. And it’s with this in mind that the style team at House Beautiful have pulled out the stops to create four imaginative tabletop themes for you to take inspiration from this year – see Dressing Your Table on page 51. Each look is guaranteed to bring festive joy to any gathering.
And for those of you who just don’t have the time or the energy to go full-on with Christmas decorating (very much where I stand nowadays), turn to page 132 and read How to Add Greenery to your Home, where the most creative plant and floristry experts share their decorating tips for a subtler festive theme. I’ll certainly be taking my cues from them this year and focusing equally on the food this time!
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays from all of us here at House Beautiful.
IMPORTANT NOTE While we make every effort to quote correct prices of all merchandise, it’s possible prices may have changed since we went to pr
