Top decorating tips from the designers behind Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland show homes
Christmas is officially the most stylish season of the year and 2025’s trending looks are already filling social media feeds across the country.
But interior designers are warning Scots not to get caught up in buying new seasonal décor that ends up relegated to a cupboard by Boxing Day – or worse, in the bin.
The smartest homes today are going big on nostalgia, personality and mindful reuse, proving that you can have a Christmas bursting with style without burning through your budget.
The design professionals behind Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ collection of spectacular show homes across Scotland are providing their top tips on how to enhance your space and get in on the biggest Christmas trends of the year – without breaking the bank.
Jackie Summerfield, Founder of Show Business Interiors, whose team of dedicated and talented interior designers create many of the premium show homes at Barratt and David Wilson Homes developments, has shared her expert insight into this year’s biggest trends and how to achieve them for less.
Whether you want a 90s throwback that reminds you of the excitement of Christmas morning, a cosy and luxurious living room that feels straight off TikTok, or a fresh take on traditional greenery and handcrafted touches, there is a look that suits every family, every home and every budget.
90s Christmas: go nostalgic, not novelty
The 90s Christmas trend taps into nostalgia and the excitement we remember from childhood. Think of the moment the tinsel box came down from the loft, the glow of multicoloured lights flickering on the tree, and decorations made at school taking pride of place on the branches.
It’s bold, it’s busy, and it embraces the traditional red, green and gold colour palette that defined festive family homes long before coordinated décor took over. This look is all about reliving the joy, personality and slightly chaotic charm that made Christmas feel magical.
Jackie's top tips on how to achieve this look:
- Search your loft (or ask parents and grandparents!) for red, green and gold tinsel, multicoloured lights and homemade baubles
- Feature homemade decorations, especially those with sentimental stories
- Create one high energy wonderland zone such as a child’s bedroom or a designated corner of your room, to anchor the theme.
- Keep the remainder of the home lightly decorated for a more curated feel
This trend is all about fun without losing the calm, grown-up spaces that families enjoy the rest of the year.
In a home such as The Colville at David Wilson Homes’ Otter Stone Manor development in Dyce, the layout lends itself well to this approach. With a ground floor offering a lounge, open-plan kitchen/dining/family area there is flexibility to dedicate the kitchen and diner or lounge as the festive “wonderland”, while keeping the rest of the ground floor or upstairs relatively calm. Prices at Otter Stone Manor start from £289,995.
Ralph Lauren Christmas: a cosy, sophisticated trend
The Ralph Lauren Christmas look is the definition of refined comfort. It channels the feeling of stepping into a luxury lodge or heritage townhouse, filled with soft lighting, rich layers and timeless styling. This trend has taken off on TikTok because it proves that elegance does not need to feel formal. It is all about creating warm, inviting spaces that look elevated yet lived-in, using textures and subtle seasonal accents rather than themed décor. Even the smallest nook can feel five-star with the right mix of lighting, fabrics and cosy details.
Jackie's top tips on how to achieve this look:
- Working with your existing palette, the key to this look is... layering.
- Mix different materials and patterns such as velvets, tartans, antique brass or gold ornaments, soft wool or cashmere throws to create warmth and texture.
- Warm lighting is key, think dimly lit spaces, soft pools of warm light from shaded lamps, candle lights and soft glows that can bring the warmth, luxury and refinement of Ralph Lauren Christmas.
- Candles add a sensory element to the look, introducing light as well as smells into the space.
- The focus is on quiet luxury, comfort and ambience rather than overtly themed or branded items.
The Glenbervie at David Wilson Homes’ The Dunes Reserve development in Nairn offers a layout which lends itself beautifully to this aesthetic. The home offers a large lounge opening onto the garden via French doors, and an open-plan kitchen/family area, plus a separate dining room, study, utility room and downstairs WC on the ground floor. Upstairs, there are four double bedrooms. The home also features a detached double garage.
With this flexible layout, the lounge or open-plan kitchen/family area can be transformed into a cosy, refined Christmas retreat - soft throws on sofas, glowing lamps, tartan cushions, candlelight and subtle festive touches, while keeping the rest of the house calm, uncluttered and elegant. Prices start from £307,995.
Traditional Christmas: natural, sustainable, and timeless
Traditional Christmas is about bringing the outdoors in and celebrating the season in a way that feels authentic, timeless and sustainable.
It focuses on natural materials and meaningful touches that can be enjoyed year after year, never going out of style and never feeling dated.
Think pinecones collected on winter walks, handmade wreaths, dried fruits and foliage, and seasonal accents that blend seamlessly with your existing home décor. This approach is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, allowing families to create a warm, inviting atmosphere while making memories together.
Jackie's top tips on how to achieve this look:
- Forage pinecones and foliage on local walks
- Create dried fruit garlands and wreaths with the family
- Group existing decorative pieces in threes for a simple design-led look
- Use bowls as table centrepieces filled with natural finds
- Try potted evergreens instead of cut trees so they can be replanted
Sustainability meets sentimentality, a combination that feels especially fitting for the season.
House hunters interested in a new home at Countesswells, Aberdeen, will find the surroundings make this style especially fitting. The development is set in a leafy, green suburb just a few miles from the city, with the final two remaining homes overlooking the expansive Counteswells Forest.
David Wilson @ Countesswells is a selection of four bedroom detached homes surrounded by woodland, walking trails and generous green spaces. They offer an open-plan kitchen/family area leading to a private garden, a separate lounge, and multiple bedrooms giving homeowners plenty of options with the flexible layout to create a traditional outside inside Christmas. Prices at Countesswells start from £424,995.
Earthy Warm Christmas: bringing natural textures and inspiration indoors
Earthy Warm Christmas is all about understated elegance and making the most of what you already have.
By working within your home’s existing colour palette, you can create a cohesive, stylish look without buying new items or cluttering your space. Warm tones such as terracotta, browns, soft creams and muted metallics provide a cosy, inviting backdrop, while natural textures like wood, rattan and linen add depth and interest.
Jackie’s top tips on how to achieve this look:
- Build from colours already in your home such as warm neutrals, browns, terracotta, mocha and champagne
- Swap bright ribbons for linen or neutral fabric scraps tied around gifts and baubles
- Mix natural textures such as wood, rattan, and hessian with soft metallic accents
- Replace a couple of prints with seasonal designs to refresh shelves or gallery walls
- Use dried flowers or herbs styled into vases you already own for a subtle festive touch
The result is calm, cohesive and elevated, without unnecessary spending.
The David Wilson Homes house style, the Brechin at Countesswells in Aberdeen, is perfectly suited to this calm, nature-led Christmas style. With both the lounge and the open-plan kitchen/dining area opening directly onto the garden via French doors, there is a seamless connection between indoors and out — ideal for an earthy warm Christmas scheme.
Natural light flooding through the doors enhances warm neutrals, textured linens and muted metallics, while garden greenery can easily be brought inside for simple, seasonal styling. This flexible ground-floor layout allows the dressing of both spaces with subtle festive touches while maintaining a relaxed, uncluttered feel throughout the home. Prices start from £424,995.
Felipe Ferreira, Sales Director, Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Scotland said: “We know that a home is more than just a building – it’s where families make memories that last a lifetime and that’s what Christmas is all about.
“Whether you prefer a cosy, traditional look or a bold, maximalist style, every home is designed to be a backdrop for family life, where festive moments can be celebrated year after year.”
For more information about Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, visit: New build homes & house developments for sale | Barratt Homes and New Build Homes | 5 Star Housebuilders | David Wilson Homes