They don’t always see eye to eye on RTÉ’s Home of the Year. Hugh Wallace and Amanda Bone, two of the hosts of the show, have very different tastes in decor and they like nothing more than a good on-screen bicker in some of the competing homes on the programme.
They share their advice on how to decorate your home this Christmas and, as usual, they agree on very little. While Hugh loves a real tree, Amanda is allergic to them. Hugh likes ornamental swags and table runners but Amanda hates anything that's fussy or overdone. The one things they agree on is that sustainability is key this Christmas.
The traditionalist: architect Hugh Wallace
If you have children get them to join in painting the cones or handmade paper decorations. Martin my partner and I have lots of sentimental pieces that evoke special memories. For instance, I always use my mother’s linen tablecloth from my childhood and some old-fashioned baubles for the tree that have been handed down through the generations.
I like lots of soft white lighting intermingling with the decor and it’s lovely if you can light a real tree up outside to offer an anticipation of what’s inside.
Bring warmth into your home with lighting and candles. Take care not to go overboard on the scented candles as the fumes can be overpowering for some people. Put real white wax candles and reds in groups of threes or fives – uneven numbers work best.
Personally I like to put our tree in the hallway and add a twist with a garland with along the staircase.
I like traditional decorations with lots of greens, burgundies and white lights dressed with pine cones and the scent of the natural Christmas tree. Handcrafted baubles are always nice and it’s great to bring back lots of greenery from the forest for dressing the fireplaces. Mantelpieces are set off with garlands and sprigs of holly. Ornamental swags are a bit of fun too. You can put stickers on the ceiling for suspending hanging ornamentation. For the table, I love white linen and a long runner along the dining table. I have a geometric patterned one from the 1950s and it really sets off the glassware, plates and cutlery.
My favourite spot at Christmas is definitely the kitchen, where I will be doing most of the cooking. I usually cook for between 10 and 15 friends in their home and they have a lovely Aga Cooker.
Christmas gives us a moment to reflect on those who have left us – it’s a time of remembrance, nostalgia and sentimentality.
The minimalist: architect Amanda Bone
I love Christmas. I grew up in a Victorian house and my mum, being a flower arranger, had our house decorated from the end of November onwards as our home was regularly photographed for Christmas magazines. As was the tradition and style then, every surface was covered and decorated, which for me was far too much. My mum’s decorating style has changed over the years: it’s now more modern and minimalist, which I think contrasts beautifully with the architectural details.
My pet hate is a chaotic, busy space, I can’t relax in rooms that are too fussy or overdone. My own home is modern and minimalist in contrast. I would love nothing better than a real tree. Unfortunately I am allergic to them.
I have spent way too many Christmas’s in A&E as I have asthma and I’m allergic to the world – to quote my family – including flowers, plants, trees, candles, incense. I am allergic to everything that has a scent and although I love flowers I have to keep them at a distance in the garden.
We purchased a high-quality fake tree over a decade ago, however, it still looks perfect and will probably outlive me, so in that sense its durability makes it sustainable.
I would be happy decorating the tree with only bright white lights. However, my partner – the ultimate minimalist – pushes for warm, colourful decorative decorations to contrast with our white walls.
I am not a fan of tinsel, I find it tacky and gaudy, plus it is bad for the environment, so please avoid along with any other non-biodegradable Christmas decorations.
Choose whatever colour scheme you like, but try to restrict the colour palette to three colours or fewer. The decor should reflect the homeowner – for me that is minimalist and simple, devoid of decorative excesses.
When it comes to making your own decorations, I leave the hand-crafting to the experts. I would just make a complete mess of both myself and anything I was attempting to make. Mantelpieces and windows don’t need extra flourishings or decorations although I do like tall, slender, elegant black candles. No false flowers please, they give me the creeps.
One thing that particularly irritates me is the term ‘tablescaping’. It has become a fad lately. Focus on keeping the table as minimalist and clear as possible so that it does not become overcrowded.
The tableware itself should set the theme, it should be of high quality, aesthetically beautiful and elegant so that it doesn’t distract from the food but is pleasing to look at.
You don’t need red table runners, gold place mats or festive serviettes to add a dash – the beauty should all come from the furniture and items themselves, the table, chairs, glassware, serving plates, spoons and water jugs.
My dad and I love crackers – it would not be Christmas without a cracker or an advent calendar. However, choose sustainable crackers, with good contents and recyclable packaging.
I actually like paper Christmas ball decorations and mobiles hanging from the ceiling.
I am never the head chef at Christmas but I do help with the cleaning. My favourite spot is at the dining table, surrounded by my family and dressed in an elegant outfit, never a Christmas jumper – I don’t think I even wear jumpers.
To be honest, I am happy to pack away the decorations sooner rather than later as I far prefer a clean, empty white surface than a decorated one.
