With Christmas soon to be upon us thoughts are turning to ensuring our homes look fabulously festive for the big day.
And one man who knows exactly how to ensure your home looks high-end this Christmas is the man who served for the royal family.
Grant Harold, the former butler to the royals, along with the owners of the London Silver Vaults, have revealed their top tips for making your home look festive – and expensive – this December.
From always ensuring you have silver salt and pepper shakers to surprising tips like ensuring there are homemade decorations on your tree, take heed of these home decorating hacks.
Grant Harold, the former butler to the royals, along with the owners of the London Silver Vaults, have revealed their top tips for making your home look expensive and festive this December
1. Christmas table: Enhance your table with a linen runner down the centre of the table, then use layers of silver, such as statement napkin rings or silver models, for an extra Christmas touch. Silver animals will add interest and can keep the children amused at the same time.
2. Handwritten place cards: Little details make a table styling extra special – be inspired to create unique place cards complete with handwritten names.
3. Always have silver spice shakers: Silver salt and pepper shakers and grinders add a sophisticated and sparkly touch to a formal table.
Grant say that you should always use a candelabra as a centrepiece for your Christmas table, left. He also says you should be inspired to create unique place cards complete with handwritten names, right
4. Fireplace: As well as keeping the room warm, they can be decorated beautifully to become a focal point in a living room or dining room. Try placing Christmassy trinkets, garlands or silver ornaments on the mantelpiece to really adorn the space
5. Decorating the tree: Keep to a classic theme and add in personal touches such as vintage baubles or homemade decorations with sentimental meaning to make your tree unique
6. Candelabra: Use one as a centrepiece for the table. Tall candelabras throw more light and the flames will be above eye level, enabling guests to see each other across the table. Candle flames make the silver tableware sparkle even more.
They might not seem super high-end but Grant says that homemade Christmas decorations, left, and even edible glitter in champagne flutes, right, are all the rage
7. Polish everything: But remember, every time a tarnished item is cleaned, a minute layer of silver is removed so don’t rub too fiercely, although don’t worry too much, silver lasts for centuries! Also, use cotton gloves while handling silver; rubber gloves contain sulphur, which can create tarnish.
The dealers of The London Silver Vaults, which are home to the largest retail collection of fine antique and contemporary silver in the world, use Goddards foam polish or Silvo liquid polish to bring up a good shine or lustre. Hallmarks can be protected by covering with a bit of clear nail varnish or sellotape whilst polishing.
8. Christmas wreaths: Amongst the foliage, add silver bells to add extra sparkle.
9. Embrace edible glitter: Add a bit of sparkle to your food and drinks by adding edible glitter to the bottom of the champagne glass or silver frosting to garnish the canapés.
10. Make the Christmas crackers a lot more special: Add a silver charm as a lasting memory of your special Christmas lunch.
Want to make your Christmas wreath special? Amongst the foliage, add silver bells, he says