A Cosy Christmas with Nature-Inspired Lighting

Creating warmth, magic, and handmade memories through light and imagination.

As winter draws in and the days grow shorter, I find myself looking not just for warmth, but for light — in every sense of the word. For me, a cosy Christmas isn’t about extravagance. It’s about quiet seasonal joy, handmade memories, and finding beauty in the small moments. It’s the way my children’s rainbow paper chains catch the fairy lights in the evening, or the glow of a well-loved lamp that turns a dark afternoon into something magical.

The Light in the Dark

Christmas in my home growing up was always been about acknowledging the winter solstice, finding comfort and beauty during the darkest part of the year, and I try to carry that on with my own children. Long before the tree goes up, we begin with light: fairy lights, soft lamps, and gentle glows that make our rooms feel like storybooks.

We don’t use overhead lights in the evenings at all this time of year — just two warm-lit lamps and a scattering of fairy lights. That’s it. It makes everything feel more peaceful and more intentional. Studies show that softer lighting at night can help reduce anxiety and support better rest — especially in children.

Handmade, Meaningful Decor

With two young children, our home at Christmas is a happy mix of handmade treasures and joyful rainbows. Our decorations are less about red-and-green tradition and more about the colours that make our children’s eyes light up.

We made rainbow paper chains together a few years ago, and they’ve become part of our yearly tradition. I also hang a wreath at the start of December and put up Grimms wooden rainbows from our toy shelves — all in service of that cosy, magical mood.

We do have a Christmas tree, but only for two weeks — I’m a bit allergic, and too much visual clutter affects my mood. But in those two weeks? Pure magic. One of my favourite memories was watching my kids tuck their toy birds into "nests" among the branches. They spent the entire season playing “birdies in the tree,” turning the tree into a miniature world. That’s the kind of memory I want to create every year.

Nature-Inspired Lighting for the Season

Lighting is everything at Christmas. It softens the space, sets the mood, and makes everything feel more intimate. My squirrel lampshade is especially suited to the season — with warm tones, oak leaves, and cosy woodland creatures, it pairs perfectly with foraged décor or natural textures like pinecones and evergreen sprigs.

Keeping It Sustainable (and Simple)

We try to keep our Christmas handmade, low-waste, and filled with memories. If we buy decorations, we make sure they’re built to last for many years. Often, we reuse things picked up earlier in the year — like rainbow pom-poms from Pride month, which the children now insist are part of our Christmas theme. Their enthusiasm is infectious.

A few tips I love:

• Display natural or handmade decorations on the walls or ceiling to reduce visual clutter.

• Rotate and reuse your favourite pieces, rather than adding more.

• Spot decorations throughout the year that can serve double-duty (like pom-poms, paper stars, or wooden toys).

Creating Magical Memories

When you decorate with gentle light and nature-themed pieces, it sets the scene for storybook-like moments. Whether it’s a squirrel shade glowing next to a handmade advent calendar or a robin peeking out from an evergreen garland, these are the tiny details that children remember. And honestly, so do I.

My dream is that the work I create — lampshades, prints, and homeware — brings a little more softness into your festive season. Something handmade, nature-inspired, and designed for magical, cosy corners.

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