Deck the hallways

Dressing transitional spaces for Christmas creates the warmest of welcomes for your festive guests. From stair garlands to candlelit lanterns, our interior design team shows you how to decorate your hallway this Christmas for a sparklingly seasonal display.

Make a stair garland 

 Christmas decor is all about bringing the outside in – the unmistakable scent of freshly-cut pine, glossy holly leaves, evocative mistletoe with its pearl-like berries and trailing ivy make the long, dark days of winter a pleasure.

“I love to decorate the staircase,” says Interior Designer Annie Blackledge. “It’s the focal point as soon as anyone walks through the door. We love to throw a party – delicious canapés and a festive cocktail or three – and a beautifully decorated hallway with a full and fabulous stair garland really sets the scene.”

Making your own is easier than you think.

Wind a double string of florists’ wire around the handrail, or between the spindles, taking care not to damage the surface, then bunch greenery from the garden – offcuts from the Christmas tree, holly, mistletoe and woody herbs like rosemary – into small sprigs and wire on. Finish with trailing ivy and pine cones wired together in threes, dotted among the foliage.

For a step-by-step guide on how to make a garland for your staircase or mantelpiece, see our Journal.

Create a focal point with your console table

 For 364 days of the year, a dumping ground for post and car keys, the hallway console comes into its own at Christmas. Holloways Neptune specialist Victoria Twinberrow decorates hers for maximum atmosphere.

“Lighting in a hallway is so important,” says Victoria. “I like to make sure it’s as atmospheric as possible, with dimmable lights, lamps and mirrors to reflect natural and artificial light and increase the feeling of space. At Christmas, before family and friends arrive, I love to group pillar candles in different heights on a mirrored base, intertwine with fairy lights and ivy and pine from the garden. There’s something magical about walking into a candlelit hallway, and our guests love the sense of cosiness and belonging it creates. It’s like a big hug.”

Hang an indoor wreath

 Wreaths don’t just have to be hung on the front door. Delicate grasses, game bird feathers and even evergreen wreaths made for outdoors look beautiful in a hallway, especially intertwined with subtle string lights.

“Group different sizes together for an unusual display instead of a piece of artwork,” says Sarah Campbell, Interior Sales Adviser.  “Or make an impressive, oversized one to make a real statement and to bring all the Christmas cheer.”

Whether you’re using grasses for a contemporary look, or you’re going all-out traditional with the kind of wreath you’d usually see on a front door, adding country touches like pheasant feathers, or tiny, pearlescent baubles to reflect the light from the string lights, an indoor wreath really does create a fabulous focal point.”

You don’t need specialist tools or skill to make a wreath. Head to our Journal for our simple step-by-step guide.

Layer light and fragrance 

“Your hallway is the first room your guests ever see when they come to you, and so it’s got to be special,” says Interior Designer Jo Blackwell. “A beautiful handmade wreath on the door outside sets the scene and a generous garland winding up the staircase made from gorgeous evergreen foliage, intertwined with tiny white lights, is a must. There’s something so magical and atmospheric about candlelight, and I love to fill my hallway with candles of every shape and size.”

On the steps of the your staircase – depending how wide it is, and how many small children are in the house – flickering candles in glass hurricane lamps make a stunning display at night. 

“Scented candles are a must, too,” adds Jo. “Neptune’s Winterberry collection and our own Holloways Orange, Cinnamon & Clove candles and diffusers are heavenly, and bring the scent of Christmas and the holidays into every room in your home.”

Use the window

 A window in a hallway is a bridge to the natural world, and the windowsill a perfect spot to bring the outside in with a bountiful display of evergreen foliage, seasonal fruit – think pomegranates and clementines – and pine cones.

“It’s fun to hang a little installation of glass baubles up at the window,” says curtains and blinds specialist Pippa Burns. “Choose ones of different shapes and sizes, but in themed colours, to reflect the light, and hang them with velvet ribbon for an opulent touch. Groupings like this are stunning in front of a hallway mirror, too. The light just bounces off them and creates another pool of interest.”

Creating a display in an old cabinet hung on the wall adds magic and sparkle to your decor.

Bring in a Christmas tree

Not all of us are lucky enough to have a hallway large enough to host a full-size Christmas tree, but a small living tree, in a terracotta pot, wicker basket or a pot wrapped with hessian, can bring just as much magic.

“It’ll look and smell amazing,” adds Annie. “And it’ll bring height and interest to your console or occasional table. You don’t even have to decorate it – a small but perfectly formed tree, surrounded by pillar candles and festive foliage, is enough. It’s a great welcome when your friends and family walk through the door.”

If you’re worried about natural candles being too close to foliage, try our huge collection of LED candles – perfectly realistic and they create lovely soft pools of light.

Pile up the presents

Different sized boxes wrapped in beautiful paper and tied with wide ribbon and sprigs of festive greenery look fabulous piled up on the bottom two or three steps of your staircase.

“It’s an instant feeling of Christmas as soon as you step through the door,” says Interior Sales Adviser Joanne Storer.