Festive interior design decoration ideas 1: keeping with traditions

This week we're going to offer you some interior design ideas to transform your home into a festive wonderland. We're starting with ideas on how to use traditional style which is one of this season's hottest interior design trends as we feel the need to return to days when the festive season was spent with family and friends.

Traditional style means the focus of attention will be mainly in two rooms – your living room and your dining room. Traditionally a real Christmas tree will be placed by the side of a chimney breast which has a lighted open fire. The tree will be the focus of attention and should be dressed with the traditional festive colours of red to complement the green of the tree.

Find a suitable place for your tree and make sure that the tree is not too large otherwise otherwise it can dominate the room and become a nuisance rather than the focal point. You may have to shuffle your furniture around to accommodate the tree, make sure you leave plenty of seating in the room! Real trees are beautiful and yet they shed their needles fast if your don't look after them. Place cheap rugs under the tree to help prevent the needles from embedding themselves into your carpet – it's far easier to fold a rug and take it outside to shake than it is a fitted carpet! Add festive red cushions and throws to your sofa and chairs.

A simple red table runner is ideal for coffee tables or large foot-stools to create a coordinated look. If you have pencil pleat curtains give them a festive make over simply by using red or gold tassel tie-backs to coordinate with your tree decorations – you could always use a long tree decoration in place of tie-backs to add a whimsical and stylish look. Hang clusters of baubles from your curtain poles to make a feature of your windows. If you have a chimney breast and a mantle piece this should also be decorated.

Simple hand-made stockings hung each end of the fireplace adds a childish touch which always remind us of Christmas. Use fresh flowers, ivy and evergreen foliage to get a traditional look which is elegant and refined rather than over the top and tacky. In the dining room your table will be the focal point. Stick to the red and green theme and use hand-made place setting name tags along with crisp white table linen if you have it.

If not a stylish table runner will look equal as stunning. Use evergreens, candles or tiny potted fir trees to make a table centre decoration. We'll be covering festive ideas for individual rooms in the lead up to Christmas, so join us and be inspired to make your home really special this year.