Whilst browsing for a lamp shaped like a monkey (as you do) I stumbled across a brilliant page with ideas for alternative Christmas decorations. It was on Amara*, a designer interiors website that I buy home stuff from quite a lot – they do some really interesting brands and quirky little things as well as very posh towels and cutlery sets and chairs and bedding and so on. Anyway, they had called one of the themes on the decorations page Kitschmas. The header image showed a bright, flamingo-strewn scene that was pretty much the polar opposite of what you’d expect at Christmas. Hot pinks and disco glitter and twee woodland animals wearing party hats. Not a tartan bow or red ribbon or frosted bauble in sight.
Even though I feel that the world has reached Peak Flamingo/Cactus/Mermaid/Pineapple, there’s something irresistible about them – they have a certain retro charm. The same sort of appeal as an old, crumbling Route 66 motel or the chintzy little souvenirs you might find in the Florida Keys. At any rate, it’s all very jolly. And so if you’re stuck for decorating ideas this Christmas and want to inject a bit of fun into the proceedings (or perhaps it’s the first time you’ve had Christmas living away from home, in your own place) then take a look at the Kitschmas section here*. I’ve been scouring the internet for non-traditional bits and pieces – glittery cadillacs and pineapple fairy lights and so on – an...