To me, festive styling and adding a little touch of luxury are closely intertwined. After all, what better excuse do we have to up our ante in the luxe stakes, and to literally go for gold to elevate our home décor than during that most wonderful time of the year?

There’s an undeniable sense of magic in the air as we lead up to the main days of celebration; the bustle of catching up with friends and family, the infectious excitement of little relatives, and of course all of those unique traditions that each household enjoys together. One common bond glues us all together – we all want to take time to elevate our homes, our dining tables, our menus and even our wardrobes to get on board with the festive spirit. So here are my best tips for adding a bit of festive luxury to your home.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that luxury does not always mean extravagance and opulence. Luxury is elevating what you have, and to use your imagination to create a special atmosphere for yourself, your family and your guests.

Starting with a spotlessly clean slate is my number one tip. Whether you have floorboards, carpet or rugs, make sure they are looking their best, and to help, Carpet Court has an excellent guide to cleaning here.

Next, I am a big believer in using ‘the good stuff’. That means the best plates, the special tablecloth, the hand-me-down silverware, the good glasses you received as birthday presents, etc.

It might take some time to polish, iron and shine it all, but making that special effort is the key to creating a festive wonderland at home. And trust me, it is always appreciated.

Creative lighting is key to creating a luxe festive atmosphere - who doesn’t love fairy lights? They are inexpensive, easily bought at discount or hardware stores, and they can be used with abundance. Don’t just pop them on your tree – they also make beautiful garlands and table runners.

I’m pro-fairy lights, I leave them up all year, but I always seem to add more in December. Candles are another fantastic way to add a touch of festive luxury. Little votive candles or tall tapers will create a lovely flickering warm light that will bring a glow to your home.

Scented candles, particularly those with traditional festive fragrances, will satisfy your olfactory senses as well. Personally, I love the ones with a hint of cinnamon and frankincense.

The great thing about creating a sense of festive luxury in your own home is that major changes are not required. All colour schemes and palettes will benefit from touches of magical lighting.

The dark moody rooms that have immersive colour schemes (where the deep wall colour is extended up onto the ceiling) look spectacular with glowing light and festive decorations, as do the brightest white rooms, and even the more natural, earthy toned spaces.

Gold and warm metallic accents will work really well in the moodier room, but expect to see a lot more silver and pewter tones in stores in the coming year. It’s also still very cool to mix your metallics so don’t hesitate to try this.

If you love to put up a Christmas tree, metallic decorations always add a touch of luxury, but there are other ways to elevate your tree style. Try limiting your colour palette to one, two or three hues. Maybe even leave your tree unadorned except for fairy lights – this is a stunning look.