The Good Design Journal
Christmas Decorating Beyond the Tree (Yes, There's a 130cm Bow)
Most of us already know where the Christmas tree will go. That corner was claimed years ago, and the fairy lights remain a subject of spirited household debate.
Meanwhile, there's probably a perfectly good wall or sideboard elsewhere in the house that hasn't featured in your Christmas decorating plans.
We think that's an oversight. Especially now that Christmas bows come in sizes you might normally associate with furniture.
One of ours measures 130cm high. So, before you unpack the same decorations for the same places, let's explore a few others.
The Hallway Could Do With a Bow
Your hallway sees a lot of activity over Christmas. Friends arriving with presents, someone asking where to leave their bag, and at least one person who insists on taking their shoes off when you tell them not to worry.
It deserves a little festive attention.
An interior wall or a spare hook near the entrance can accommodate a hanging bow, giving guests something Christmassy to admire before they've even made it to the living room.
And depending on how much space you've got, the bow can be quite the conversation starter.
DESIGNSTUFF VIRA Large Bow, H95cm, Cream
At 95cm high, we're well beyond gift-wrapping territory.
The DESIGNSTUFF VIRA Large Bow takes the familiar shape of a ribbon bow and gives it a rather generous set of proportions. Its full loops and long trailing tails create an outline that can be appreciated on its own, without needing an entire arrangement of decorations around it.
The Cream finish is especially lovely against darker timber or a coloured wall, where the shape of the bow becomes more prominent.
We'd give it a clear section of interior wall or a secure decorative hook, somewhere the tails can hang freely without getting caught whenever someone opens a door.
And if you happen to have an empty wall that's been waiting for a good reason to decorate it, we may have just found one.
DESIGNSTUFF VIRA Bow for Hanging, H32cm, Stripe Cream/Brick
A 95cm bow is quite a commitment. We appreciate that not everyone has the wall space.
Enter the 32cm VIRA Hanging Bow, with its cream and brick stripes and familiar ribbon-inspired shape.It's a more manageable size for a hallway hook or a suitable cupboard handle, with enough length in the tails to make the striped fabric part of the decoration.
The Cream/Brick combination also introduces a little Christmas colour without requiring everything around it to follow the same palette.
A note on placement: choose somewhere the bow can hang without interfering with doors or cupboards. It's considerably less festive when you're untangling ribbon every time you need the vacuum cleaner.
Now, About That 130cm Bow
We should probably address the rather enormous bow in the room.
There's something wonderfully excessive about taking a decoration normally found on a Christmas present and making it 130cm tall.
And yet, when you look at the shape, the proportions are surprisingly well suited to decorating a wall.
The oversized loops occupy the upper section, while the long tails create a vertical line below. That familiar gift-bow silhouette becomes an entirely different proposition at this scale.
DESIGNSTUFF VIRA X-Large Bow, H130cm, Stripe Cream/Brick
The X-Large VIRA Bow measures an extraordinary 130cm high.
Its cream and brick stripes follow the large loops and extended tails, giving the pattern plenty of room to be appreciated.
We'd consider an uninterrupted section of hallway wall or the space above a low sideboard, particularly somewhere the full length can be seen without furniture getting in the way.
At this size, the bow can comfortably be the main decoration in that area. In fact, surrounding it with a collection of smaller ornaments could distract from what makes its proportions so enjoyable.
There's humour in the sheer scale of it, but the shape is doing plenty of work, too. The bow is recognisable from across the room, with its exaggerated loops and hanging fabric giving the wall a distinctive festive feature.
Our advice? Measure first.
There's buying an oversized Christmas bow, and then there's discovering it covers the light switch. We'd prefer you enjoy the former.
Another Christmas Tree? Absolutely.
A full-sized Christmas tree usually involves a little furniture negotiation.
A paper Christmas tree is much easier to accommodate, particularly on a sideboard or shelf where there's already room for a decorative piece.
And while the main tree carries years of sentimental ornaments, a smaller paper version offers something different to appreciate: the shape itself.
The repeated folds create the familiar Christmas silhouette, with light catching the paper as you move around the room.
NORDIC ROOMS Deluxe Paper Tree, Off-White, H45cm
The NORDIC ROOMS Deluxe Paper Tree stands 45cm high, making it a lovely option for a sideboard or a substantial shelf.
It's handmade from FSC-certified paper, with closely repeated folds creating its distinctive outline.
The Off-White finish gives those folds plenty of definition. Shadows form between the layers, becoming more noticeable as the light changes throughout the day.
We'd place it towards one end of a sideboard, where there's enough room to appreciate the full silhouette. You can leave your usual decorative pieces nearby, although we'd avoid squeezing the tree between objects that obscure its shape.
There's another detail we appreciate: the tree folds away using a magnetic closure.
Come January, it can be stored flat until next Christmas. Quite civilised, considering how much cupboard space the rest of the decorations tend to demand.
NORDIC ROOMS Tree Standing Off-White with LED, H30cm
If you enjoy a little festive lighting, the NORDIC ROOMS Standing Tree has something extra.
At 30cm high, it's compact enough for a bookshelf or side table, with integrated LED lights illuminating its folded paper form.
The Off-White paper features delicate gold glitter detailing, adding a little sparkle even when the lights are switched off.
The LEDs run on three AA batteries, housed in a concealed battery pack. That means you can put the tree somewhere you'd actually like it, rather than planning its location around the nearest power point.
It's a lovely option for the darker corners of a room, particularly in the evening when the lights become more noticeable.
And once Christmas is finished, the magnetic closure allows it to fold flat for storage. Just remember to remove the batteries beforehand.
A Little Something for Last Year's Garland
Let's talk about the garland you've been using for the past few Christmases.
You know the one. It comes out of storage, goes back to its usual spot and looks much the same as it did last December.
There's nothing wrong with that arrangement, although a small addition can give you another way to enjoy it.
A clip-on Christmas bow is an option, especially if the greenery has suitable branches or stems for attaching a decoration.
DESIGNSTUFF VIRA Bow with Tree Clip, Cream
The DESIGNSTUFF VIRA Bow with Tree Clip takes the recognisable loops and tails of the larger designs and adapts them to a compact decoration intended for attaching to Christmas tree branches.
The Cream finish is particularly attractive against dark green foliage, where the pale fabric makes the shape easy to distinguish.
If your garland has suitable stems, you could try attaching a bow towards one end, allowing the tails to hang slightly below the greenery.
Its clip will need to grip securely, so check the arrangement before leaving it in place.
And resist the temptation to keep adding bows until you've covered the entire garland.
We know. Easier said than done.
Christmas Decorating FAQs
What else can you decorate for Christmas besides the tree?
Look at the areas you pass through regularly, particularly the entryway and living-room shelves.
A hanging bow can work on an interior wall, while a paper Christmas tree could sit on a sideboard.
Choose decorations according to the available space and how you use that part of the house.
An oversized bow might look wonderful on a clear wall, but it won't be nearly as enjoyable if it gets caught every time you open the cupboard.
How do you choose the right size Christmas bow?
Begin by measuring the area where you'd like to hang it.
The DESIGNSTUFF VIRA collection includes hanging bows measuring 32cm, larger versions at 95cm and X-Large designs reaching 130cm high.
For a narrower space, a smaller bow may be easier to accommodate. The larger designs need enough room for their loops and tails to remain visible.
Always check the product's hanging requirements before installation.
Can Christmas bows be hung outside?
Only if the manufacturer confirms they're suitable for outdoor conditions.
Exposure to rain or direct sunlight can affect decorations intended for indoor use, particularly those made from fabric.
For the VIRA bows featured here, we've focused on interior placements rather than assuming they're suitable for external doors.
Are paper Christmas trees reusable?
Yes, provided they're stored and handled according to the manufacturer's instructions.
The NORDIC ROOMS paper trees featured here fold away using magnetic closures, allowing them to be stored flat between Christmases.
Keep them somewhere dry and protected from crushing, and remove batteries from illuminated decorations before storing them.
Can you attach Christmas tree bows to a garland?
Some clip-on decorations can be attached to suitable artificial greenery.
Check that the clip grips the stems securely and that the decoration's weight won't pull the garland out of position.
You may find that a single bow is all you need, particularly if you're using a larger or more detailed decoration.
Save Some Christmas for the Rest of the House
The Christmas tree will still have its usual spot. You'll unpack the ornaments you've collected over the years, argue about the lights and eventually agree that it looks lovely.
But there's more room for Christmas around the house than you might have considered.
A hanging bow near the entrance could be the first decoration guests notice. A paper tree on the sideboard might become a favourite of yours, especially once the lights are on in the evening.
And if you've started wondering whether that empty hallway wall could accommodate 130cm of striped Christmas bow, we completely understand.
Just remember to check where the light switch is.
