If the idea of hosting a festive gathering feels like stress on a plate, fear not. Help is at hand in the form of Collagerie, the style and interiors platform behind the chicest of shopping edits, and its co-founders Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood. Let the feasting begin…
Plan, prepare, practice
Here at Collagerie, we’re big on parties. The dining room is our happy place; ‘hostess’ our middle name. The reason? It’s what we do… not partying, obviously, but curating. Be it candles, cushions or cutlery, we edit out online excess to source solely what’s needed, selecting the best of the best. Our motto is 'the one thing over everything.' Herein lies the route to success. Whether you’re building a business or throwing a bash, plan your to-do list, prep what you need well in advance, and practice everything from your menu to your margaritas until they're perfect!
Deck the halls
First things first, pick a theme. Whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist, a colour scheme will not only focus your mind but will create an elegantly considered look. From the wreath on the front door, to the scented candles fragrancing each room and the faux-fir garland winding up the bannister, your guests should step into a festive fantasyland the minute they arrive, and for sheer Christmas chic, it’s hard to beat the classic palette of red, gold and green.
Theme chosen, now stick to it. Sidestep the neon crackers or monochrome Christmas tree – you won’t regret it when your house is a haven of red velvet ribbons, forest-green glassware and twinkling gold touches. Think of every surface as a decorating opportunity – holly and ivy garnishing the mantlepiece, vases filled with red-berried boughs and winter greenery; clusters of candlesticks flickering on side tables and striped bowls dotted here and there piled with chestnuts, chocolates and other tempting treats. And then there’s the tree! This is where the magic really happens. There’s something utterly enchanting about unpacking delicate baubles and bows, collected over the years to form visual history of Christmases past. Buying a new twinkling star or felt robin each year adds to the memory tree, but try to rein in the impulse to chuck it all up at once, and instead stick to your chosen palette–it’ll be worth it when the whole festive picture comes together in one spectacular, shimmering scene.
A winning team
If your budget doesn’t stretch to staff, it’s time to make use of those handy teenagers, home from school for Christmas. Once they’ve had their obligatory grumble, they’ll get caught up in the party spirit and tackle their tasks with aplomb. A dedicated cloakroom and cloakroom attendant is a no-brainer (a muddle of coats spilling across the stairs is not the festive scene you want to present to arriving guests). So pick a bedroom, buy book of numbered tickets and a pot of pins to affix them, and in one fell swoop you’ve banished the bun-fight for coats and bags at the end of the night. Put the rest of the teens to work on bar and waitressing duties (they’ll have all sorts of fun practising their martini-making skills in the pre-party week, and will be expert mixologists when the big day arrives). Stock up on gorgeous glassware, elegant linen napkins and stylish trays, and with your army of helpers prepped and ready, you’ll be free to concentrate on welcoming your guests.
A triumphant table
A show-stopping table is the centrepiece of any dinner party and dressing it has always been the highpoint of festive prep. Tablescaping – as it’s now known – is where our decorative dreams are given free rein. Once again, keeping to your chosen colour palette will pull all the elements together, but that aside, our motto is: brighter, bigger, bolder!
Think a beautifully embroidered tablecloth and luscious linen napkins; a constellation of candlesticks boasting twirly, twisted candles (nothing flatters like that gentle flickering glow); playfully woven placemats, decorative glasses, stylish ceramics, a forest of festive crackers and a party favour on every plate… whatever it takes to conjure a feast for the eyes. Don’t sweat over matching sets–instead we favour a patchwork approach in complimentary Christmassy colours. The result is a tablescape a diverse as the guests that will gather around it, and your mismatched dinnerware will work as one happy family. Talking of which, distribute cooking chores in advance – Granny on gravy duty, Pa on potatoes, etc – so the whole team feels involved and appreciated (especially by the hostess, whose load is considerably lightened!).
The stage is set, the martinis mixed and the sprouts are simmering. All that’s left is for you to slip away and change into your evening attire… but that’s a whole other story. Just as with planning the perfect party decor, you need look no further than Collagerie to prep “the one look”. Now pull on your party shoes and go make this a night to remember.
