Great British Food - Christmas 2025

KUNAL T R EHAN , founder of Touched Interiors and star of BBC show Virtually Home What’s trending this year, Kunal? This year is all about quiet luxury with a touch of drama! Think sculptural decorations in brushed brass and glass, velvet ribbons in deep jewel tones, and layered greenery styled in a less ‘polished’ way –more natural and organic. Oversized statement wreaths and asymmetrical garlands are everywhere, offering amodern twist on tradition. What’s your favourite way to set the tone for Christmas at home? Start with a fragrance journey. Pine, cedarwood or even spiced orange instantly signal the season. Layer textures – cashmere throws, faux furs and velvet cushions create that cocooning effect. Finally, curate little moments. Perhaps a tray with festive cocktails ready to pour, or a reading nook styled with a seasonal candle. These details make the home feel staged yet intimate. Does lightingmatter? Lighting is your magic ingredient. Swap out harsh overheads for warmpools of glow: candles onmantels, fairy lights trailing through greenery, and dimmed lamps softened with fabric shades. For drama, try a cluster of oversized glass baubles suspended above a dining table, lit fromwithin, it’s theatrical, but still chic. How do you think we should be setting our tables this Christmas? Layered is the keyword. Use a textural base, such as linen, or even suede-look placemats. Addmetallic chargers, mismatched glassware for sparkle, and sculptural napkin rings that double as décor. Scatter tiny bud vases with single stems rather than one central arrangement, it keeps the look contemporary and conversation- friendly. And don’t forget height: tapered candles or within glass cloches, instantly elevate the mood. Mrs Christmas herself, HANNAH BAR T L E T T of Jolly Festive What’s catching your eye this Christmas in terms of theming? We’re seeing two big pulls – a lean into nostalgia, and a push for individuality. In uncertain times, people are reaching for familiar rituals – the decorations they grew up with and the memories they spark. But alongside that, there’s a desire to tell our own story. To create decor that feels personal and unapologetically ours. Any colours to pick up on in 2025? There isn’t one colour leading the way this year. Instead, it’s a joyful mix of rainbow shades layered over warm neutral bases, with a distinctly homespun feel. Think back to our childhood trees sprinkled with lametta, colourful lights and a hotch-potch of baubles passed down, handmade and collected over time. The overall look is less about polish andmore about story, blending memory with imagination. Expect trees filled with handmade and collected decorations, bold stripes and harlequin checks that feel straight from the circus, bows in every possible colour and fabric, gingerbread in all its cosy comfort, and embroidered pieces that feel handcrafted and heartfelt. What are your thoughts on lighting? Rule number one (as we all know) –never, ever switch on the big light! Christmas has always been about the soft glows: flickering candlelight, twinkling fairylights and the warming power of firelight. With so many clever LED options now, it’s easier than ever to add that magical glow without worrying about sockets, messy cables, or fire risk. Battery-powered lamps are brilliant for tucking cosy light into corners, especially with lampshades that tie into your décor and soften the mood. Fairy lights, of course, can go almost anywhere: woven into garlands, zigzagged across a ceiling, filling hurricane jars, under glass domes or threaded along windows. And paper stars lit fromwithin always make a beautiful statement (and can be reused throughout the year). “Christmas has always been about the soft glows: flickering candlelight, twinkling fairy lights and the warming power of firelight” greatbr i t i shfoodawards.com 48 FEATURE | CHRI STMAS TABLE