The festive season in Australia is still something that I’m getting used to, even after 15 years of living here… 

I have always believed that the way we decorate our homes should reflect the environment that surrounds us… our indoor spaces connecting with the outdoors…  seashells and driftwood on the shelves of a seaside home; a large arrangement of wild grasses or eucalyptus on the table of a country cottage.  Bringing nature – in – is such a wonderful way to elevate a space and make it feel calmer, comforting, enriched, and natural.

What you can bring indoors will depend on the seasons.  I was raised in the north-eastern United States, a place with highly defined seasons – a frigid winter that made for a storybook Christmas – snow-covered pines, frozen lakes and icicles.  We baked rich foods and kept adding wood to the fire to keep the house warm throughout the short, dark days.  A locally grown pine tree actually felt like quite a natural Christmas decoration to have, given the environment – an evergreen wreath was standard, and a branch of mistletoe {which loves a cold winter} could also be found and brought indoors.  We decorated with gourds and pumpkins that were harvested in late autumn, and strung up garlands of bright red cranberries, which grow in the chilly bogs of the northern marshes.   

Fast forward to my current life in Australia, even after 15 years of living here I still struggle sometimes with Christmas and other holidays that don’t match up with the seasons in my previous life.  In my mind I still live in both hemispheres, maybe it is something that will never go away.  And so, I never delved too much into these sorts of festivities, but this has changed lately since my kids have exited toddlerhood and have started to have full awareness – and eagerness! – for celebration.

I didn’t really know where to start, with ‘Christmas in Australia,’ because I didn’t want to fill the house with faux trees and polyester bows.  I want to find ways to bring Australian summer indoors for the holidays – naturally.  And I suppose, as always, I have found it is best to look outside my door for inspiration.  My natural environment here, close to home, is dominated by my sprawling flower-filled garden and local bush tracks that I walk through each day, which are bursting with treasures to forage.  These spaces inspire me so deeply and so I want to find ways to make them a part of my festive summer displays.

Here, I have put together two lovely ideas for a wild, flower-filled tablescape.  You can use dried flowers to fill up small bud vases, arrange in ikebana dishes, to scatter along the table, or to make little posies for place settings.  You can make something cheerful and fun with bright and colourful flowers, or create a simple and soothing feel with wispy stems and wild grasses.  I find that the most wonderful partner for dried flowers is candlelight, particularly the warm, honey-scented glow of natural beeswax.  The gentle flickering will illuminate your table and combined with flowers will create a magical, seasonal scene for the holidays.

• Here, a peaceful and neutral scene includes dried winged everlasting daisies and wild oats...

- My favourite Australian beeswax candles are from Southern Wild Co - they have a rich colour, gentle scent and I just love the way they drip!