When he’s not presenting on BBC Radio 1 or hosting his podcast, it turns out Jamie Laing is keeping up with the season’s biggest Christmas trends. After making progress on his home renovation throughout the year, the former Made in Chelsea star revealed his Christmas tree for 2025 last week, and, in my opinion, it’s a perfect take on the festive trend I’ve been seeing everywhere.
I’m sure you already know that the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend is one to watch this festive season. It’s a true classic that has really come into its own this Christmas. Combining plaid patterns, natural materials and rich colours, this trend is perfect for creating a nostalgic moment of calm amongst the usual Christmas chaos. And this year, Jamie Laing has put his own twist on the traditional style with his impressive Christmas tree display.
‘Jamie’s tree embraces a traditional look, a style closely influenced by brands like Ralph Lauren, whose Christmas aesthetic blends classic nostalgia with effortless comfort,’ says James Mellan-Matulewicz, CEO and Creative Director at Bobbi Beck. ‘This tree captures that mood perfectly, embodying the traditional charm and warmth that define this season’s most sought-after style.’
And Whinnie Williams, Interior Designer and Trends Forecaster for Balsam Hill, agrees. ‘Just like the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic, which has found favour this year, Jamie’s tree leans into traditional festive colours, with a timeless feel that hinges on sophisticated material choices and natural elements,’ she says.
In principle, the tree is simple. There are no baubles, no tinsel, and no kitsch characters. With only a few twinkling lights dotted between the fir branches, Jamie’s decor solely consists of plush red bows, tactile pinecones and red berry sprigs.
(Image credit: Future PLC)
It might sound like a pared-back approach to Christmas, but Jamie and Sophie’s tree still delivers a wow-factor. Each decoration is layered in a way that not only hits the Ralph Lauren spot, but also touches on some of the other big trends of the year – like XL Christmas bows and nostalgic decor, achieved through the natural textures of pinecones and berries.
‘Incorporating natural elements like pine cones, berries, or twigs creates a rustic style that, when paired with soft fabrics like velvet-style bows, creates a look that really stands out,’ says Chloe Barrow, Interior Expert at Laura James. ‘The pairing also creates a subtle connection to the outdoors, which is great for giving indoor Christmas trees more life.’ Especially if you’ve opted for an artificial Christmas tree this year!
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Not only is the tree on trend and simply stunning, but it’s also a look that is super easy to recreate. ‘The key is to keep the eye moving,’ says Whinnie. ‘Tuck some decorations deeper into the branches, then build outwards, adding more pieces and finishing with smaller details to fill every gap and create a gloriously abundant look.’
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Thanks to the traditional nature of this trend, you don’t need to splash out on grand ornaments, either. Red and green baubles of years gone by should do the trick when paired alongside natural textures and festive bows (which are easy to make yourself). ‘Opt for a wide, velvety red ribbon and tie it into bows around the tree for an elegant finish,’ suggests James. ‘And layer in generous clusters of berries and sprigs of greenery at varying depths.’
And don’t forget the tree skirt to top it all off. Jamie’s is easy to miss at first glance, but he has opted for a beautiful back-lit option, similar to this one at QVC.
Steal Jamie’s style
‘If you’re worried about natural elements lasting the full season, go faux,’ advises Whinnie. Most of the time, faux decs can look just as effective as the real deal. Here’s a few to add to your basket if you want to create your own Ralph Lauren-esque Christmas display.
Very
Set of 3 Red Berry Christmas Tree Picks
John Lewis
John Lewis Heirloom Splendour Velvet Bow Tree Decoration, Red
Dunelm
Pinecone Ball Hanging Decoration
H&M Home
6-Pack Pine Cone Christmas Decorations – Gold-Coloured
If you’re looking for an affordable, super simple but super effective way of turning your garden into a winter wonderland this season, I’ve found just the thing: LED net lights.
The job, might I add, is a magical one: the results are gorgeous, especially on a tree or hedge. You can use the lights over fences and other outdoor features, too. Here’s everything you need to know.
Ollny
Outdoor Net Lights
Ollny’s LED net lights are sold as 3m by 2m lengths, so they’re the perfect size for a hedge or small tree. They’re available in three colours – warm white, cool white and multi-coloured – but the warm white is my favourite (that’s what I always go for when I buy outdoor lighting, though!).
The LEDs are arranged on diamond-shaped netting, so wherever you hang them, you’ll get a nice, even distribution of lights. In fact, reviewers say they look ‘very impressive’ once they’re up, and celebrate how easy they are to set up in the first place. You’ll just need to roll them up carefully when you pack them away for the year so they don’t tangle in the box (but the same goes for most Christmas lights!).
It really is just a case of throwing or draping them over a tree or hedge, giving them a little adjustment, and enjoying the display. It saves all that time carefully winding fairy lights around a tree, only to step away and realise you’ve laid them wrong.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Prava)
At £20, I didn’t think the lights would be customisable – but you can toggle between eight lighting modes (including fades and flashes) and four different brightness levels to adjust the lighting to whatever atmosphere you’re aiming to create.
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I’m always a little cautious about using Christmas lights on plants in case of burns, but these ones are safe because they’re LEDs. They’re also weatherproof, with an IP67 rating, so you can be sure they’ll survive any snow and rain we see over the coming months.
They can even be used indoors – Ollny says the net lights are ‘perfect for porches, windows, walls, and bedrooms or embellishing Christmas trees, hedges, fences, gazebos, and gardens,’ so they really are an all-rounder. I remember hanging similar lights on the wall of my university house’s living room, and all six of us vouched for the magical feel they brought to the space (they had a twinkle option, too!).
The only downside is that they’re mains-powered, so chances are, you’ll need to find a suitable outdoor extension lead – but they do come with a timer and a memory function, so you can set the lights to come on at specific times of the day and avoid energy wastage.
Other outdoor LED net lights
CORST
6x2m Christmas Net Lights
Outdoor net lights with a longer length for larger trees and spaces.
CCILAND
1.5m X 1.5m Garden Net Lights Warm White
A shorter section of net lights, perfect for a small tree or hedge.
LightsGo
Net Christmas Fairy Lights Waterproof
Multi-coloured net lights for a touch of nostalgia.
At just £19.99, Ollny’s outdoor LED net lights are a no-brainer. They’ll transform your garden into a twinkling Christmas grotto in the blink of an eye, and they take the guesswork out of manually decorating a tree or hedge with lights.
We all like to think that we’re good at keeping on top of clutter; however, experts say we’re all prone to a little house blindness at times, whereby our homes are way messier than we think they are – but don’t worry, they’ve also offered five solutions to cure house blindness.
I often find it is the Christmas period, when guests are imminent, and I realise how much space I need for my decorations, that I notice how cluttered my home is. And while the best decluttering methods are great for clearing the mess, I’m always wistful about keeping on top of my clutter (spoiler, I never do).
This is textbook house blindness, and if the scenario sounds similar to you, you could be suffering from it, too. Here’s everything you need to know and top tips on how to solve it.
What is house blindness
If your goal is to overcome house blindness and become someone who always keeps their home tidy, then first you must understand exactly what house blindness is.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Caroline Mardon)
‘House blindness, also known as clutter blindness, is when you get so used to the clutter in your home that you stop noticing it. Your brain filters out the mess because it’s been there for a long time, so it no longer feels urgent or visible even if it’s affecting your space and stress levels,’ explains Gerrit Jan Reinders, Founder and CEO at BOXIE24.
‘It usually happens with everyday items that quietly pile up. Things like mail left on the kitchen counter, shoes scattered by the door, toiletries on the bathroom sink, or random objects that temporarily land on a chair or side table can all contribute. These small, overlooked items can make your home feel cluttered and chaotic without you even realising it.’
If you’re guilty of having a ‘chairdrobe’ in the bedroom or using your dining table as a bit of a dumping ground, these are all signs you have house blindness, and honestly, your guests are noticing it as soon as they walk through the door.
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‘Signs of house blindness could include feeling like you’ve got tons of clothes, but never have anything to wear, forgetting about certain items or even things like unfinished craft projects which are stored away on shelves or in cupboards, or simply feeling a bit disconnected from your space but not knowing why,’ comments Rachal Hutcheson, National Retail Manager at Sharps.
How to solve house blindness
If this sounds like you, here are 5 ways to stop house blindness.
1. Look at your home with fresh eyes
‘I always suggest creating moments of ‘fresh eyes.’ Step out of a room and come back as if you’re a visitor, and you’ll instantly spot clutter that’s become invisible to you,’ says Gerrit.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Tim Young)
Essentially, this uses the ‘declutter like a tourist’ method to help you cut through the noise and see what you need to get rid of. By treating your belongings as if you’re a stranger seeing them for the first time, it’s much easier to decide if they have any purpose or use in your home.
2. Remind yourself of what you own
‘Take all the items off a shelf, or out of a cupboard. Don’t go in with the aim of de-cluttering; instead, aim to simply remind yourself what you do and don’t own, so you can stop filtering out certain bits and pieces and forgetting about them. Give the cupboard or shelf a good clean before popping everything back in a new configuration,’ says Rachal.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Anna Stathaki)
Regularly organising your cupboards or shelving is a great way to keep an eye on what you actually use and how often. As a bonus tip, why not use a lazy susan (£15.99 at Amazon) in your cupboards so it’s easier to access your most used items?
3. Make decluttering part of your daily routine
Another way to reduce house blindness in your home is to make decluttering part of your routine. Also known as Microdecluttering, simply dedicate a small chunk of your day (no longer than 15 minutes) to having a tidy up.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Anna Stathaki)
‘Clear the biggest sources of visual noise, like countertops, entryways, and tabletops, to create an immediate sense of order. Even simple daily routines, like a 5-minute tidy-up each evening, can prevent clutter from building up and make your home feel calmer and more inviting,’ says Gerrit.
4. Give emotional belongings a permanent home
Often, we have emotional ties with items, which can feel too important or sentimental to throw away. This is why it can be helpful to give emotional belongings a permanent home, so that they never feel out of place.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)
‘Holding onto sentimental items doesn’t have to feel like clutter. Instead, store the items intentionally in their own space, so you know where they are and how to find them. This will stop you from feeling like they’re taking up space you should be using for more everyday items,’ suggests Rachal.
5. Organise your belongings by lifestyle
‘Group your belongings by themes within your life, so dinner parties versus batch cooking accessories in the kitchen, weekends vs work clothing in your wardrobe, and try to optimise your storage to reflect how you live, rather than trying to squeeze items in the same category into certain sections of your cupboards,’ says Rachal.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Carolyn Barber)
Organising by lifestyle instead of category makes it easier to find and store belongings. This, in turn, makes it easier to remember what you own and if you have enough space to add to the section.
Decluttering essentials
Habitat
Habitat 40cm Fabric Storage Box With Lid – Natural Stripe
A storage box is a must have for tucking away items you don’t want on show. Bonus point, this stylish options folds away when not in use.
Storivo
Storivo Shoe Organiser
These shoe organisers are brilliant for tucking shoes out of the way and making your hallway neater – ideal if you have guests coming to stay.
Estefanlo
Lazy Susan Turntable
A lazy susan can make it easier to access your most used items, whilst keeping them all in one place.
Most of us will experience house blindness at some point, which is why regular decluttering is the key to a tidy home.
Perry is a food writer, photographer, and recipe developer based in New York City. She cooks every day, and somehow eats even more often. Her recipes have been published in Eating Well, Fine Cooking, Food & Wine, The Kitchn, Thrillist, and Tone It Up. Perry grew up in Denver,…read more
It’s that time of the year again – no, I’m not talking about Christmas or the end of the year. It’s the time when Pantone releases its long-awaited and much-anticipated colour of the year. Today, Pantone just revealed Cloud Dancer as its colour of the year 2026 – and it’s likely their most controversial yet!
The colour institute is seen as the authority and leader in the world of colour, defining the biggest colour trends. Out of all the colours of the year (also known as COTYs), this is arguably the most important one. So, for the most important, year-defining colour to be, well, the absence of colour is shocking. Yes, Pantone’s chosen colour for 2026 is – drumroll, please – white.
That’s why I’m wondering (or perhaps hoping) whether this is all just a big prank. Are we being trolled by Pantone?!
(Image credit: Pantone)
The colour of the year is not just about what colour we paint our walls. I’m all for white walls – after all, there couldn’t be a more versatile and timeless choice than the best white paint. Pantone’s colour of the year is about more than that though – it sets the tone and mood for the year ahead far beyond just walls.
When the soothing brown Mocha Mousse was introduced as the Pantone COTY for 2025, it signalled a more calming, cosy and grounding way to decorate our homes, capturing exactly what everybody was after. Meanwhile, a white COTY feels very clinical and stripped of character. Are the days of cosy, cocooning interiors and bold dopamine decorating over?
And I’m not the only one that’s disappointed by Cloud Dancer being crowned the new COTY. Going through the comments section announcing the colour on Instagram, it’s filled with the likes of, ‘I hope you’re ready… For nothing!’, ‘You kidding me?’, ‘So… white? Really?’ and more comments with similar sentiment.
(Image credit: Pantone)
Why is Cloud Dancer Pantone’s COTY 2026?
In all fairness to Pantone, there seems to be a real disconnect between what the colour institute’s intentions were when naming Cloud Dancer as the COTY 2026 and how it’s been perceived by most people.
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According to Pantone, this choice ‘serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection.’ Themes of a blank canvas, a fresh start and a colour set to give us the space to think, breathe and create.
‘At this time of transformation, when we are reimagining our future and our place in the world, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a discrete white hue offering a promise of clarity,’ says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at Pantone Color Institute.
‘The cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, making it harder to hear the voices of our inner selves. A conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences.’
(Image credit: Pantone)
Uriel Tannen, Flitch co-founder, also isn’t opposed to Pantone’s choice of its 2026 COTY and believes it’s a versatile shade that works particularly well in UK homes, ‘Cloud Dancer is a versatile off-white with a soft mineral undertone, well-suited to UK homes where light is often cool and changeable.’
‘Its gentle warmth still shows through on grey days, yet it remains crisp enough not to slip into cream, avoiding the flat or bluish cast some whites develop. The result is a refined, consistent brightness that works across a range of spaces.’
How to use the COTY in your home
Even though I’m not the biggest fan of white as the colour of the year, white decor and home accessories are the building blocks of pretty much any home. When decorating with white, the key is opting for varied textures.
Earthborn
Claypaint White Clay Ultra Matt Paint 2.5L
Named the best white paint overall in our guide to all things white paint, Earthborn’s White Clay is pretty much the perfect match for Pantone’s Cloud Dancer.
Next
Otis Ivory Boucle Swivel Accent Chair
This swivel chair pretty much looks like a cloud. I’ve tried it IRL and can attest to both its good looks and high comfort levels.
H&M Home
Large bubbly stoneware vase
Not only does this ceramic vase come with plenty of texture to offer, but the bubbly design is also reminiscent of clouds…
The White Company
Dores Fringe Cushion
What better place to turn to for all things white than The White Company?! The brand was built around the idea of decorating with timeless white, always providing us with classic pieces like this fringe-trim cushion.
La Redoute
Jiraya Fringed Berber-Style Rug
Berber-style rugs are a timeless design classic. I have a version of it in my own home! But this La Redoute design is one of the most budget-friendly on the market and it uses timeless off-white perfectly.
Habitat
Conical Ceramic Table Lamp
While lamps often provide the perfect opportunity to inject colour and pattern, it can sometimes be about the shape and the silhouette, too. And that’s exactly the case with this colour-muted Habitat number.
I’m by no means contesting that this is a shade that will work in many different rooms, spaces and homes. I guess I just expected more from a colour powerhouse like Pantone – and I’m left wanting more. Is it just me? Are you with me or do you disagree?
