Darren Palmer: A different view on Christmas styling

It’s not hard to identify the traditional Christmas language – at this time of year it’s all around us. Red, green, silver, gold. Glitzy, tinselly, flashy and colourful.

What do you do, though, if you want a different type of Christmas? A more sedate or pared-back version of merry and bright, one that’s more matte or natural looking?

There are many, many options for great Christmas decor that bucks the trends of traditional festive style.

Rustic

My first port of call if you’re looking for something more natural, rustic or handmade would be Myer.

The House and Garden range is made for a stylish homeowner who wants a simpler tree or table.

Monochrome

My favourite theme for a neutral or monochromatic Christmas tree is white, silver and greyed timber.

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There are some interesting options for tree decorations using feathers, wood and paper.

Go dark

Another way to eschew the colourful Christmas tree tradition is to go dark. Anthracite is the metallic of the moment and there are plenty of lovely, classy options for your festive tree, or go even darker with some of the black accents you can find in department stores across Australia now.

Festive table

You can also use decor items created for year-round use as central items for your yuletide table. The stacking candleholders in my Myer homewares range are available in three sizes so you can create different arrangements for your table using candles of varying height, width and size, or use the same size in multiples for an appealing, uniform look.

Brass, too, is a nice break from the brighter golds of the festive season.

Combine it with charcoal and oak, or navy and white, and you’ll have an interesting, beautiful and fresh look to your Christmas table, tree and home.