Ikea’s Christmas 2007 Glansa lighting collection leaves no gloomy corners indoors, let alone gardens and balconies; with chandeliers, drapes, stars, light chains and hanging decorations, creating the right festive setting and mood.

With a winter that lasts 4-5 months and a need to lighten up their homes, the Swedes have always valued and cherished good lighting and employ candles and lighting decorations to create a very cosy and inviting atmosphere.

The Glansa Lysa lighting pictured here, has a snowball theme and includes a huge chandelier (90cm white £99.50), hanging lights/drape (48 bulbs- indoor, assorted colours £16.99) and a light chain (48 bulbs –outdoor white £16.99), which you can put on the ground.

Glansa Diamante bright electric stars (electric 27cm assorted colours £7.99) are traditionally hung in windows in Sweden.

Glansa Filt are novel felt cylinders with LED lights, which you can roll out into a table mat; also available as hanging star shapes (electric 40cm assorted colours £10.99).

The entire Glansa lighting series was designed by Ola Wihlborg, to inspire you to brighten up your home in warm and welcoming new ways this Christmas.

Web: http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB

Tel: (0845) 355 1141

B&Q is promising to bring festive cheer to everyone this Christmas, whatever your style or space, with twice as many eye-catching products as last year, on sale in their stores from November 2007.

The Festive Fairytales collection in our picture is inspired by nature and features traditional seasonal icons such as the Small Berry and Ribbon Rattan Cone Tree (£2.98) and Rattan Wreath (98p each).

Also, fairy, butterfly, reindeer and robin characters bring a child-like innocence, in products like the Animated Feeding Reindeer (£39.98) and the Poly Resin Fairy Decoration (£1.98).

Earthy accent colours – moss green, caramel and burgundy, contrast against soft silver and pure white to great effect including; on the stunning 80mm tree, Lacquered Baubles (£1.48 each), Glittered Leaf Baubles (1.98 each), contrasting with the natural look of the Pine Cone and Bead Garland (£1.98).

Mistletoe, holly hearts and stars are represented in a range of finishes including, stencils, trailing glitter, punched holes and distressed paint.

Five distinctive key themes are on offer, across lights, decorations, characters and home accessories, including Classic Christmas, Bah Humbug, Eastern Promise and Midwinter Mayhem, all of which, feature quality materials and exquisite finishes.

Web: http://www.diy.com

Tel: For your nearest B&Q Store (0845) 850 0175

Take crisp white linen as your base, then simply add some stylish cutlery, china and glassware and arrange neatly; decorate with a festive centre-piece and candelabras and for the perfect finishing touch use glitzy napkin rings and fun crackers. Then just add that delicious Christmas food – your recipe for the perfect Christmas table!

Opulence rules when it comes to celebrating; a heady mix of Plato china (plates £40 each), Ellipse cutlery (£17 set of 4 pieces) and Loop candelabras (£16) and the centrepiece hurricane lamp (£30) from John Lewis all present the ideal setting for the Christmas feast.

Villeroy & Boch Flow tableware and black crystal goblets offer an altogether more contemporary, cutting edge inspiration for a Christmas table; ideal for a minimalist look as featured here.

Alternatively go completely over the top and team with black linen, decorated with elements from the pearlescent Christmas theme from John Lewis.

This uses silver as the core colour combined with white, soft chambray blue, and oyster, all of which beautifully complement the ultra-sophisticated and stylish platinum tree; Wow Goblet £12. Plate from £6.95, Bowl £9.50, Glover & Smith Pewter salt and pepper bowls £21 each.

The 2007 John Lewis Christmas ranges include gorgeous trees, wreaths, decorations, lights, gifts, cards, packaging and foodie treats - in fact everything you could possibly need to make your Christmas as enjoyable as possible.

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com
Tel: (08456) 049 049

The Original Christmas blue plates first appeared at the Nordic Exhibition in 1888, when Royal Copenhagen exhibited a series of blue plates, with the intention of providing an advertisement for the factory.

Crown Princess Louise was so enchanted by them that she immediately bought a plate, and the news of the royal purchase spread like wildfire, so people were soon queuing up to order plates.
 
The technique used in manufacturing these plates is very different from other porcelain painting, as the motif on the plate appears in relief; This decorative technique is still recognised today as a typical mark of Royal Danish porcelain.

The beautiful 2006 Christmas plate motive illustrates Christmas at Kronborg castle north of Copenhagen; designed by artist Sven Vestergaard it features five swans in flight over the sea that surrounds Kronborg.

The castle was built around the 1420s, is one of Northern Europe’s most important and impressive renaissance castles.

Following tradition, the original model is destroyed each year to ensure that the plates remain limited editions.

The Christmas Plate retails at £56.

Web: www.royalcopenhagen.com
Tel: (0800) 963 763

The Expectation of Santa’s visit is the highlight of Christmas for children and the exciting Ho Ho Ho collection of decorations from B&Q, goes all out to present the Santa theme and add to the fun.

Bring your tree to life with the assorted colourful character baubles and figures, which include a cute red robin, Santa, polar bear and a penguin; Then add the fluffy Feather Star Tree Topper for the perfect finishing touch.

The Ho Ho Ho Ice range focuses on a white Christmas and features snow globes and baubles with enchanting characters and scenes within.

Also on offer in the collection are the novel Baby’s First Christmas Bauble and Clay Dough decorations, character Christmas stockings, a musical puppy hand puppet and an animated singing reindeer.

Complete the festive picture from the selection of character, jewel effect and multi coloured rope lights, table settings wreaths and floristry.

Web:  www.diy.com
Tel: For your nearest B&Q Store  (0845) 850 0175

John Lewis is leading the way for the coming festive season with its brilliant Christmas Tree collection to suit all styles and tastes.

John Lewis offers four desirable looks for this Christmas, from the Ice Christmas look through Glowing Warmth and Opulence to the Nostalgic Christmas favourite. All are easily achievable and aspire to making tree decorating much more fun!

• The Opulent Christmas Tree, featured here, is perfect for those who enjoy a lavish and luxurious Christmas.
• The John Lewis Black Pre-Lit Tree, 195cm £90, provides seasonal drama, when combined with rich, jewel coloured decorations in gold, teal and purple.
• The Pre-Lit Crystal Tip Tree, 195cm £130, also achieves the Ice Christmas look perfectly and is complemented by a wide range of snowy white and silver decorations, reminiscent of snowflakes.
• The Bronze Christmas Tree, 180 cm £50 provides the Fire Christmas look that invites you to curl up and relax by the fire with its warm, metallic glaze and copper tones decorated with classic gold and amber decorations.
• The White LED tree, 201cm £175, is the favoured traditional nostalgic Christmas tree, where natural wooden and home-made decorations are vital to the look, with red being a prominent colour.

Web: www.johnlewis.com
Tel: (08456) 049 049

B&Q’s Christmas Collection is even more extensive this year with a superb choice of five magnificent new ranges, from the rich and glorious style of Happy Holidays, to the chic contemporary Winter Wonderland.
 
The All That Glitters style featured here inspires you to go for gold this Christmas with sumptuous glittering decorations in champagne gold and burnished bronzes.

This ravishing collection includes a 6ft white tree, Organza and Sequin baubles, Gossamer Fairy decorations, Glitter Swirl ornaments, Beaded Topiary table pieces and Gold Effect Crackle Glass Tea light holders, to name but a spectacular few.

As well as home and tree decorations, lights and trees, the collection also features beautiful table centres, wreaths and floristry to complete the desired effect.

What sort of Christmas tree do you fancy this year?  B&Q are offering an attractive selection, which includes traditional green, white, pink turquoise and black trees, from 4ft to 7ft in height.

The unique 6ft Pop Up Tree complete with 100 decorations and 80 clear lights, could save you precious time while you are busy with other Christmas preparations.

Web:  www.diy.com
Tel: For your nearest B&Q Store  (0845) 850 0175

1. The key to decorating your fireplace is to complement it with your Christmas decorations, rather than allowing them to dominate it.

2. The mirror above should harmonise with the fireplace both in terms of size and style.

3. An architectural limestone fireplace, such as Chesney’s Stirling, is best suited to paler coloured elements such as white roses, silver baubles and crystal candlesticks, with the splendid floral arrangement positioned centrally on the mantel.

4. The Wessex Bolection in St Augustine marble surround from Chesney is a much darker material and will be much enhanced by using richer decorations.  Red and gold are the key colours, which can be realised using red roses and gold accessories.

5. It is important to consider the function and furnishings in the room to ensure that its formality or otherwise is matched in the decorations.

Retail Price of The Stirling Fireplace is £1,550 plus VAT
Retail Price of The Wessex Bolection is £1,750 plus VAT

Web: http://www.chesneys.co.uk
Tel: (020) 7627 1410

This year’s  “Scandinavian Christmas” theme from Menu presents a series of Christmas adornments, full of style with the ambience of crackling fireplaces.

A new selection of Christmas jewellery decorations glow with all that Christmas is really about, adding a touch of snowscapes and starry winter nights. The choice includes, gorgeous snowflakes, holly or stars in plated brass or black chrome.

Sprinkle warm-heartedness and stardust around with the delightful Christmas charms, ready for hanging on branches, lamps and doors - singly or clipped together in festoons.

Elegant and efficient gilt brass candle sleeves that ensure the Christmas candles burn down safely, while protecting the candleholders from wax and soot.
 
The novel automatic candle extinguisher, the reflector of which finally falls over to put out the candle.

Finally display all your Christmas cards elegantly on a beautiful silk ribbon. The cards are attached with clips and the 3D heart at the bottom ensures that the decoration hangs straight.

Web:  http://www.menu.as

Midnight blue, the latest colour trend, has inspired Marks & Spencer in their glamorous new Christmas collection of brilliant decorations and home accessories.

Choose from a stylish Christmas tree of midnight hue (£25), a luxurious classic chaise in soft navy chenille (£799), midnight flitter baubles (£1 each), or even a flamboyant feather wreath (£25).

Sally Bendelow Head of Home Design says, “Midnight blue is a return to glamour and can create a dramatic impact in the home.

Combining it with silver crystals and white can produce a crisp festive interior mix, or try layering black, amethyst and glittering gold for a luxurious feel.”

The new range of Christmas decorations will be available from October in their stores nationwide, or by mail order.

Web: www.marksandspencer.com
Tel: (0845) 603 1603