Clodagh McKenna has just revealed how she’s decorated her garden pub for Christmas, and I can’t stop thinking about her delightfully cosy, rustic decor.
I love having a nosey into the homes and gardens of celebrities, especially during December, when I love seeing what Christmas trend they’ve plumped for. And while not many of us have our own garden pub (I wish), Chef Clodagh's is packed with festive inspiration you can use in other outdoor spaces of your home.
This year, we’re seeing more and more of us decorate our outdoor spaces for the festivities. For example, Shirlie Kemp’s beautifully decorated greenhouse uses twinkling lights and foliage, and I’ve spotted many houses in my area opting for two plump firs to frame their doorways (such as Habitat’s Pack of 2 3ft Pre Lit Potted Porch Christmas Tree, £60).
‘It is becoming increasingly popular to decorate outside spaces as it extends the festive atmosphere beyond your home. Many people choose to decorate their front doors, but decorating other aspects, such as your back garden, can boost your mood and add to the festive feeling of your home,’ explains Steve Larkin, an interiors expert from Lark & Larks.
Opting for pretty terracotta pots of white cyclamen, two twinkling no ornament trees and a large mustard bow on her pub front door, Clodagh has opted for a natural, simple design. But together, it creates a cosy yet romantic look that feels very festive.
‘Clodagh's decor choices use a lot of white and gold, which are similar to red and green in that they are seen as traditionally festive colours. White can be used to represent peace, and it also invokes thoughts of snow, with gold often used to symbolise the gifts of the wise men and the star of Bethlehem in the traditional Christmas story. The trees are also decorated with pine cones, which add a rustic aesthetic to the decor that pairs with the appearance of the 'pub',’ says Steve.
Inside, it’s even cosier. With traditional decor such as foliage garlands, dried oranges, pine cones, dried flowers, lots of red and green baubles and of course, the stunning log burner, the pub looks like it’s stepped straight out of a fairy tale.
Clodagh also mentions she wanted to add a few things from Ireland. This includes her ‘Is Maith Liom Santa’ cushion, which means ‘I like Santa in Irish’, and came from Dunnes. The cushion is no longer online, but there is a festive ‘Nollaig’ Cushion for £10.00, which translates to ‘Christmas’.
How to get the look
One of the most noticeable aspects of Clodagh's festive decor is her pots of pretty cyclamen, which you can pick up at most garden centres and florists at this time of year. Known for their colourful blooms and long flowering periods, it's easy to see why this festive flower is a popular choice. And in Clodagh's garden, they have a romantic and whimsical effect.
'Cyclamen are a good choice for flowers at Christmas, as they come in traditional festive colours like red and white, and they have uniquely patterned leaves. They can also flower through the winter months, providing a splash of colour when other plants may still be dormant,' says Steve.
The cosy, traditonal look works wonderfully inside the home, too.
Cyclamen is a beautifully festive plant, so make sure to add pots of it to your garden. Pine cones are also a must - add them to your tablescape, Christmas tree and garlands.
To further get the look, you can make your own orange garland by dehydrating them in an air fryer. Also, opting for warm-toned fairy lights for both inside and outside to create a cosy glow.
Frame your entryways with these striking pre-lit trees from habitat. They're perfect for creating a welcoming yet festive entryway.
This oversized bow is very similar to the one on Clodagh's pub door. It's bold colourway will add a pop of fun colour to your otherwise natural decor.
If you don't have time to dehydrate orange slices yourself, these faux garland looks pretty realistic.
The key to achieveing a cosy Christmas is to opt for warm-toned lighting.
Pine cones feature heavily in Clodagh's decor, and this pine cone wreath from dunelm nails the cosy, rustic trend.
Nestle a set of lanterns in amongst the pots of festive plants for a sophisticate winter look.
I don’t think you can beat traditional, cosy decor. It’s welcoming and rustic, yet still stylish, and I've not seen it done much better than in Clodagh's garden pub.
