Long before the presents are wrapped or the table is set, bundles of pine, bowls of bulbs and the soft glow of seasonal greenery signal that the celebrations have truly begun.
This year, London’s hottest florists are championing volume, scent and sculptural shapes — approaches that feel generous and inviting, even if all of them can be achieved on a modest budget.
Some phenomenal foliage can even be foraged for free.
Florist and sculptural designer Hamish Powell @hamishpowell, who Charli xcx chose to design her London wedding bouquet and Ottolenghi has picked to deck out his delis for Christmas, recommends boldness in your festive botanicals.
Christmas orchids by Hamish Powell
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“For a dramatic festive sculpture, I would recommend committing to one bold shape. A strong, thick garland or tall rising arrangement has far more impact than lots of little ideas.
“Then play with contrast, such as soft against structured or pale against rich tones, to make it feel intentional and striking.”
Even a handful of branches can become sculptural when arranged thoughtfully, says Powell, whose clients include Simone Rocha and Loewe. And they can be found for free.
“My favourite festive florals are whatever I can forage from the woods behind mum’s house. All sorts of treasures await. Weird moss, strange branches, delicate ferns!”
A Christmas arrangement by Hamish Powell
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If you are foraging, remember to take only from the ground or with permission.
And Powell also looks to new season narcissus that arrive in December for a reminder that spring is on its way. “I will have a base of them by my bed and drench the room with their fragrance.”
Willow Crossley (@willowcrossleycreates), often dubbed the UK’s Queen of Flowers, agrees bulb scent is the true marker of the festive season.
“I love decorating the house with lots of forced bulbs; paperwhites, hyacinths and towering stripy amaryllis in bell jars,” she says.
A Willow Crossley tablescape
Genevieve Stevenson
“I plant up huge baskets of bulbs and top them with a velvety mossy duvet, so they look gorgeous before they begin to flower too. They also bring such a delicious scent into the house.”
Bulbs are an excellent option if you want long-lasting displays, and they are wonderfully cost-effective. A bag of paperwhite bulbs can produce weeks of flowers.
Plant them in old bowls or even recycled jam jars and top with moss from the garden, florist offcuts or preserved moss bought online.
Crossley adds layers of detail to bring a sense of theatre: “I also string up big spruce garlands on the fireplace with homemade cranberry garlands woven in, dotted with fairy lights.
“Holly and ivy sprigs get slipped in behind paintings and giant balls of mistletoe with a big red velvet ribbon hang in the hallway.”
This approach feels extravagant, but you can create the look on a budget by wiring together inexpensive pine branches or repurposing trimmings from your tree.
Cranberry garlands make a joyful, family-friendly craft project and require only a needle and thread.
At the Christmas table, Crossley leans into maximalism: “Lots of layers of print from the linens, a mix of different size vases running along the table, I might treat myself to some ranunculus, anemones and paperwhites.
“I tend to go for either full-on colour or a very pared-back green and white vibe. Nothing in between! I suggest lots of candlelight, gold-painted nuts and chocolate coins scattered among the vases.”
Gold-sprayed walnuts are one of the simplest decorative tricks — use leftover spray paint from another project, or choose a small pot of eco-friendly metallic paint.
Fresh, contemporary festive florals by Christie Leigh Chung
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The fashion set’s favourite florist, with clients including Byredo, Dior, Burberry and Victoria Beckham, Christie Leigh Chung (@christie.leigh.floral) brings a fresh, contemporary edge to her festive florals.
“We take Christmas very seriously in our house, but I always try to steer clear of the usual festive clichés,” she tells me.
Her preference for sculptural softness comes through in her choice of greenery: “I often work with beautiful conifers or Pinus strobus — they have this sculptural softness that feels both wintery and elevated.
“Paired with simple, oversized luxurious ribbons, the result is striking, modern and distinctly natural. It is such an effortless combination but always makes the most beautiful impact.”
Oversized ribbon is one of the quickest ways to elevate foliage
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Oversized ribbon is one of the quickest ways to elevate a simple bunch of foliage. Choose a single colour — deep green, claret or caramel all work beautifully — and let the bow be dramatic. It adds presence without cost.
RHS Flower Show winning garden designer Butter Wakefield (@butterwakefield) believes that Christmas decorating begins with embracing nature in all its wilder glory.
“For me the most important thing is to have a vast array of different pines, firs, lichen-covered twigs and a variety of eucalyptus, all arranged in a tangled, overflowing fashion in lovely old buckets or similar,” she says.
“Volume is critical to a lavish, opulent Christmas mantlepiece or front door.”
Hellebores and paperwhite narcissus at Butter Wakefield’s London house
Clive Nichols
A simple way to emulate Wakefield’s approach without overspending is to mix bought foliage with foraged finds: fallen branches, wind-blown twigs, or offcuts from a local Christmas tree seller (they often give these away).
Grouped together in mismatched containers, the effect feels generous and full-bodied.
If you have a fireplace, even an unused one, it becomes the perfect stage. Let the greenery spill over rather than sitting in tidy rows. Do not worry about perfection; Christmas decorating gains charm from irregularity.
Top tips for minimum spend, maximum impact Christmas decorating
Foliage and hellebores arranged in Butter Wakefield’s London house
Clive Nichols
- Use what you have: Old jugs, vintage bottles and leftover candleholders become festive with a sprig of eucalyptus or pine.
- Go big on everyday greenery: Supermarket bunches of foliage, especially eucalyptus or rosemary, can be bulked out with garden cuttings
- Create height: Stagger books beneath vases for a dynamic tablescape
- Dry your own citrus: Thinly sliced oranges in a low oven make cheery garlands or ornaments
- Repurpose old ribbons: Crisp them with a quick iron and use for tree decorations or mantle bows
- Let scent carry the mood: A bowl of cloves, cinnamon sticks and pinecones feels festive before you’ve added a single bauble