Christmas Ideas

Traditionally we love to add a bit of sparkle to our homes at Christmas, spending over £100 million a year on Christmas decorations, lights and trees. But whilst we may dream of a house full of festive cheer, nowadays many of us barely have time to arrange the Christmas cards on the mantelpiece! What with planning Christmas lunch, wrapping presents and enjoying the Christmas parties nearly half of us can only spare two hours or less to add seasonal touches to our homes, according to new B&Q research.

In particular it's young families, single professionals and busy married couples who are most pushed for time and consistently fail to decorate their homes as well as they'd like. Nearly a third of young families wished they had more time to make the house look fantastic for Christmas, whilst single professionals are twice as likely to leave the decorating until Christmas Eve!

Nowadays choosing a Christmas tree can be a difficult task as there are so many different types available. Not only is there a variety of real Christmas trees but artificial trees have come on leaps and bounds from the plastic looking 70s versions. It's often hard to tell them from the real thing plus you have the advantage of not having to sweep up the pine needles and reusing the same tree year after year.

For those people who don't have enough time to lovingly adorn the Christmas tree with sparkling lights and hundreds of baubles, there are also now pre-decorated trees on the market - instant decoration for a busy household.

Getting the lights just right on the tree can be a lengthy task, so why not save a bit of valuable time at Christmas by purchasing a pre-lit Christmas Tree? Relatively new to the UK, these trees have proved so popular in America there are scarcely any other Christmas trees available the other side of the pond!

For a stylish look this Christmas it is best to opt for a colour scheme to use throughout your room. Whether it is traditional red and gold, more fashionable purple and silver or copper, bronze and cream there are a vast assortment of decorations available. Why not complement silver tree decorations with silver candles on the mantelpiece. You could also string a set of fairy lights around a pot of silver-sprayed twigs.

It is quick and easy to create a simple centrepiece for the hall table or lounge coffee table. Why not try putting a selection of coloured baubles that fit with your colour scheme into a bowl or alternatively fill it with festive potpourri. Christmas greenery, plants and fresh cut flowers are also a stylish way to brighten up any room. Perfect for Christmas, the red and green Poinsettias' can be bought as a cut flower or potted plant - display in a vase on the table or in a decorative pot.

At Christmas many of us are inundated with relatives and friends to celebrate the festive season. This Christmas the trend is to decorate more than one room in the home, so why not add a few simple touches to the hall to welcome your guests in style. For those with little time on their hands try putting a pre-decorated wreath on the hall table and surround with candles. Why not try the Ice Twig Pine Wreath, decorated with leaves and berries from B&Q stores under £25.

Fairy lights are no longer just a simple set of white/coloured bulbs on a length of wire, there are a wide variety of decorative lights that will look fantastic in your home. Whether it be white star lights, silver wire lights, hand painted glass lights, icicle lights or cone santa lights for the kids there's something to suit every taste. Lights are quick and easy to install - simply plug in and switch on!

You could try intertwining white lights with a pre-decorated wreath over the fireplace or wrap lights around willow branches in a pot. Alternatively hand a set of lights over the mirror or weave them round the banisters.

Create a real talking point that kids will love and try the current trend for more kitsch Christmas decorating! Let rip with fun, novelty products such as flashing silhouettes, novelty singing snowmen and swing and sing reindeers. There are a variety of rope light silhouettes at B&Q from 3D trains to skating penguins - these are easy to install - simply plug in and hang from wall.