For that festive look

Stores have been filled with Christmas goodies since November, but, if you haven't started filling your bags with supplies, it's never too late to bring some Christmas cheer into your living space or workplace.

Christmas is a time when family and friends meet up and have fun. Decorations add to the mood. Choose a theme that will appeal to everyone. Look around to see what inspires you, or gather kids (and grown-ups too) for a quick brainstorming session to come up with décor ideas. It needn't be all store-bought. It could be inexpensive and DIY. At the end of the day, it is about what brings you joy. Have some Christmas music blasting and light some scented candles to add to the ambience.

Farah Agarwal, award-winning interior designer and founder of Chestnut Storeys, shares some tips on piling on Christmas cheer.

Add a personal touch to your Christmas Tree by hanging up family photos as a part of the decorations.

Try dressing your tree in the same shades as the upholstery in your living room, to bring the whole room together.

Make paper cones with star cut-outs on them. Invert them over tea lights and add a touch of class to your room.

Fill a big round glass bowl with white salt. Place a couple of red candles in it and set the whole piece over a wreath on your centre-table to give a seasonal touch to the room.

Switch your usual cushion covers for red-and-white striped, plaid or chequered cushions, which are easily available in the market, picking up on the Christmas colours.

Use a red-and-green plaid blanket as a tablecloth, and see an instant transformation of the room.

Hang red and green tassels on door handles and desk knobs as a budget-friendly finishing touch.

Upcycle old glass bottles and mason jars and transform them into beautiful candle holders with just a few scraps of ribbon tied around them. Place them individually or in clusters around the room.