7 ways to create a William Morris style Christmas
Arts and Crafts antiques and William Morris patterns are ideal for creating the cosy winter haven you've always dreamed of...

Picture the Christmassy scene at a typical, late 19th-century Arts and Crafts cottage in the Cotswolds. A fire crackles in the parlour grate, and ceramic vases of holly, ivy and mistletoe are arranged with an air of artlessness on windowsills and simple wooden furniture. A noble fir tree stands in the corner, decorated with flags, bonbons and puffs of cotton wool, in common with Victorian homes everywhere...
With a focus on artistry, materials and decorations inspired by nature, why not entice yourself to invest in some Ruskin-inspired designs with these seven easy decorating ideas.
Tying wide lengths of sumptuous velvet ribbon around your cushions makes for a quick and quirky Christmas decorating trick

On table: presents in selected wrapping paper, £1.65 per sheet, Emily Burningham; ribbons, 75p per m, Berisfords; peacock bauble £4.95; crackle bauble, £8.95; art deco bauble, £9.95, all Liberty; bell, £1, Royal Museums Greenwich; chamberstick by Dr Christopher Dresser for Perry, Son & Co, £350, Puritan Values; brass and glass candle holder, £25, Rockett St George. Settee by Collinson & Lock, £3,800, Puritan Values On settee: present, as before; mushroom peg, £3, John Lewis; green cushion, £24.17, Rockett St George; bolster in ‘Love is Enough’ fabric, £52 per m; cushion in ‘Acanthus Tapestry’ fabric, £93 per m, both Morris & Co On wall: wreath, £35, John Lewis; ‘Blue Heron’ paint, £21.50 per 0.94l, Benjamin Moore
Enjoy a traditional English Christmas with an Arts and Crafts mood. Rich tones and deep colours give a contemporary backdrop to classic 19th-century pieces

To really make Arts and Crafts style zing, minimise the colour palette, punch up the tones to a more luminous effect and layer pattern

On armchair: ‘Bella’ throw, £99.99, Linen Me; cushion in ‘Acanthus Tapestry’ fabric, £93 per m, Morris & Co. ‘Mere’ footstool in ‘Snakeshead’ fabric, £445, Sofa Workshop On footstool: backgammon, £19.95; dominoes, £39.95, both Wild & Wolf. ‘Kashmir’ tree, £225, John Lewis On tree: berry stems, £7 each; dogwood stems, £5 each; letter baubles, £5 each; tree skirt, £20, all John Lewis; ‘Betty’ baubles, £28 for six, Neptune; crackle baubles, as before; gold baubles, £3.95 each; art deco baubles, as before, all Liberty; tree topper, £23, Nordic House
On mantelpiece: copper jug (part of WAS Benson tea service, c1905), £1,250; green jug, £255 for two, both The Design Gallery; pewter jug (part of a set by William Hutton), £3,500 (for the set), Puritan Values; votive, £4.25, Raj Tent Club; clock by Collins & Co, £2,800; chamberstick, as before, both Puritan Values Above mirror: paper snowflake, £9, Talking Tables; letter and scalloped baubles, as before Above fireplace: stag head wreath, £17.95, The Letteroom; mushroom pegs, as before; honeycomb paper balls, £12.50 for three, Talking Tables. Oak table by Liberty & Co, £700, Puritan Values On table: blue votive, £6.50, Rockett St George; copper bowl by the Birmingham Guild of Handicraft, £800, Puritan Values; droplet bauble, £6; trellis bauble, as before, both John Lewis; bell, as before; tree candle holder, from £7.95, The Letteroom; green glass decorations, £4.50 each, Rastall & Daughters; wine glasses, £39 each, English Antique Glass; plate, find similar at John Lewis On sofa: ‘Ottavio’ throw, £59.99, Wool Me; ‘Lord Byron’ cushion, £35, National Portrait Gallery. ‘Jessica’ rug, £1,552, Amy Kent On wall: painted as before; ‘Bird & Pomegranate’ wallpaper, £69 per roll, Morris & Co
Bring festive flourishes in from your winter garden to decorate and delight. Berries and foliage sit beautifully with deep rich blues and ivy greens. Make room on a chest for extra guests to sit and light candles for a sense of intimacy

Bring to the table sturdy ceramic dishes loaded with festive fruits, intermingled with joyful sparklers

This Arts and Crafts staircase is decorated to create an inviting entrance and a cosy spot for guests to pull on their wellies for a Christmas Day walk

Make space in the corner of your sitting room or study for a festive gift wrapping station. Cover presents with leftover rolls of wallpaper, thick velvety ribbons - and for an element of surprise nature-inspired decorations, such as these enchanting mushroom pegs

The full feature on decorating with Arts and Crafts antiques appeared in the December 2016 issue of Homes & Antiques.
Photographs: Katya De Grunwald
Styling: Ali Bradshaw