Claire Hornby begins to make her plans for a sparkling season of fun, parties and time with the family. I’M sure you'll have realised by now that Christmas is my favourite time of year. I'm unbelievably excited that it's December as it means we're on the home straight heading right towards parties, great food and plenty of time with friends and family. It seems to me that Christmas has come round sooner this year. Maybe because I bought most of my presents in October to try to break up the cost or maybe because it's high time we all had something to be excited about! Even if you're not quite as excited as I am, you must at least be thinking about when to get the decorations out. Normally, being an interior designer, I have a colour-themed Christmas where everything from the tree to the wrapping paper is co-ordinated. This year, however, I think a mishmash of bright colours and kitsch decorations is in order. Think Matthew Williamson meets Cath Kidston. You could run brightly-coloured fairy lights across the mantelpiece then form a row of gorgeous tea light holders with scented candles of cinnamon for a warm Christmassy scent. If you want to add in some kitsch Christmas style then entwine the lights with some brightly coloured tinsel. If your coffee table is in need of a festive makeover opt for a cake stand and fill with traditional sweets and tangerines even a mince pie or two if there's a party on the go. If you're trying to be good this year then you could go for bright Christmas baubles instead. If you've got your presents all ready to wrap then consider using tissue paper and real ribbon as opposed to the usual printed wrapping paper. Not only is tissue paper cheaper, but you can use an abundance of different colours to create a rainbow of colour under the tree. I also like to buy little extras to go with the presents when I can. Stocking-fillers.co.uk has a selection of novelty toys and games that you could include or buy small letters from notonthehighstreet.com and use instead of gift tags. If you're buying for children a cheap alternative is to include a set of stickers or badges. You don’t have to spend a fortune – it’s often the little things that make the difference. | 
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