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Homelovers love Homesense at Christmas; the ultimate decor destination for festive inspiration…
Christmas used to be all about the red and green decorations, the traditional wreath and garland. These days however there’s so much more to explore, from a funky kitsch Christmas to a contemporary Scandi look and even a more moody, jewelled aesthetic that’s ultra sophisticated. Whatever style takes your fancy, you’ll find everything you need at Homesense this Christmas. We paid a visit to one of our favourite homeware stores just in time to decorate GAFF HQ and we were just short of requiring Santa’s actual sleigh for all of the stuff we wanted to take home. Here we will walk you through some of our favourites – available in store – as well as some of the different ways you might style your home this season.
Here comes the showstopper
First things first, we love a bold festive statement. After our pop-up, where we had a mommy deer and a baby fawn take up residence in Studio 10’s window, we’ve gone nuts for deer. Whichever look you prefer, you’ll find a statement reindeer ornament at Homesense, be it a glittery, real-life looking fawn like ours, one that’s made entirely of fairy lights, something much more pared back and wooden, or even a beautiful, elegant chrome reindeer candleholder. When will you ever get as good a time to feature these majestic creatures in your home? Only at Christmas.
We also fell madly in love with this vintage style North Pole post box, €89.99. Perfect for those with kids at home, this post box is the ultimate festive welcome in your hallway.
Wreaths for weeks
Next up, we are all about a display of festive wreaths. Homesense is hands down our go-to place when we need a little wreath action. From traditional, real-feel berry wreaths to more Scandi inspired options, there’s no style of wreath you won’t find here. Typically, the wreath goes on the front door, but at GAFF we like to get a little bit more creative with our wreaths. They make for a gorgeous centrepiece on the dining or coffee table – stick a pillar candle in the middle. Best of all, they provide the ultimate wall feature and can look incredibly stylish when hung at varying heights. Check out our simple wreath display from our festive pop-up using all Homesense wreaths. You could also hang them up and down the staircase if a garland isn’t your thing.
Sleigh, queen, sleigh
Something you’ll find at Homesense that you’re unlikely to find elsewhere is a traditional style sleigh. Nothing looks more authentically Christmassy than this. Our advice? Position it at the base of your tree and fill with wrapped presents. This wooden sleigh works equally as well for a more Nordic style Christmas or a classical aesthetic.
A birdie told me…
If you’re looking for a popular Christmas trend this year, let us tell you that it’s all about the birds (and not the bees). Bird Christmas decorations are so beautiful, be they cute and fluffy or regal with long, sparkling feathers. So much more interesting than your average bauble, this will give your Christmas tree – or your fireplace garland – an interesting point of difference. Plenty of birds at Homesense (ourselves included, we’re there most weekends tbh).
Mini Trees
For apartment living, mini Christmas trees may be the way to go. If you can’t fit one big tree in there without having to get rid of an entire sofa, you can find tiny corners for several of these cuties that come with battery powered string lights. Perfect for the nordic look.
All that glitters is gold…
The complete Christmas look isn’t all about the decorations though. Let’s not forget the all important dining table, for which you’ll find plenty of inspiration at Homesense. We love their cutlery sets in gold. And this mixed metal tray for serving your smoked salmon canapés on.
And for all of those Christmas get togethers you have planned, you’ll probably be needing a bar cart. This is a festive hit but a decor staple all year round.
For more information on Homesense and to find your nearest store (Blanchardstown and Grand Parade, Cork) where you can enjoy up to 60% off the RRP, visit homesense.ie