The Hollywood craze for decking every inch of your halls, as well as the front door, the garden and all surfaces around the home has well and truly taken off with British celebrities.
Stars such as Victoria Beckham, Stacey Solomon and Michelle Keegan have been dressing up their living rooms, porches and gardens to the nines.
But according to a luxury interiors expert not everyone’s efforts at tasteful decor have succeeded.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jordana Ashkenazi, the Founder and Design Director of Element One House, has given her verdict on everything from wreaths to door garlands to stockings.
Some of the famous names who impressed her might surprise you, with Molly Mae receiving praise for her ‘tasteful’ stocking display.
However, those hung on the mantelpiece by architect and influencer Dara Huang – mother of Princess Beatrice‘s stepson – were branded ‘dull and forgettable’.
Meanwhile, Billie Shepherd‘s All-American style front door was admirably ‘OTT’, and Posh and Becks nailed classic countryside chic.
Read on for Jordana’s verdict on who is having a haute holiday and whose home is a nightmare before Christmas.
Stacey Solomon’s door display
Stacey Solomon spruced up her front porch with a huge red bow at the door – as well as a faux sleigh, laden with shrubbery
Jordana: I like the bold festive effort and think it mostly works visually, but the scale makes it impractical and slightly overdone.
I absolutely love the effort she’s put into this. The Christmas vibe is really strong and I’m always a fan of going bold at Christmas, I think it’s one time of year where you can really lean into it.
That said, the bow does feel a little on the large side and I do find myself wondering how practical it is day to day. Getting in and out of the door looks slightly tricky, and I also question how the fabric will cope with the weather. In the rain especially, it doesn’t look like the easiest thing to maintain or something that will necessarily hold its shape throughout the whole festive period.
It’s joyful and full of personality, but perhaps just a touch overboard in terms of scale and practicality.
Verdict: OTT
Binky Felstead’s door bow
Binky channelled classic Christmas colours with a striped red and white bow on her seafoam green front door
Jordana: I like it, but I don’t think it fully works for Christmas because it feels a bit too safe and understated.
It’s quite charming in its simplicity, and the striped bow gives a relaxed, unfussy feel against the green door. That said, I do slightly question the practicality of using fabric outdoors, as rain, dirt and general wear can take their toll, so it may not stay looking fresh for long.
I also think it’s just a little understated. It feels a bit safe and lacks a touch of character or personality. For me, Christmas is one time of year where you’re allowed to lean into it and be a bit bold, even slightly tacky, and that’s part of the fun. This is sweet and restrained, but I’d love to see it pushed a bit further.
Verdict: Bland
Charlotte Dawson’s door garland and wreath
Charlotte Dawson channelled a winter wonderland with candycanes, stars and scattered pink baubles
Jordana: I enjoy the fun and enthusiasm, but I don’t think it works overall because it’s too busy and overwhelming.
This is very full-on Christmas and you can’t fault the enthusiasm. There’s a real sense of fun and theatre here, and it definitely embraces that ‘more is more’ festive spirit. The colours and candy-style decorations make it feel playful and very joyful.
That said, it is quite busy visually, and there’s a lot competing for attention around the door. I think editing it back slightly would allow the wreath and garland to really shine rather than overwhelm the space. Christmas is absolutely a time to be bold, but a little restraint can sometimes make the overall look feel more considered and stylish.
Verdict: Tacky
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan’s festooned doorway
Going for a more theatrical look, Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan wrapped their arches in wreath and adorned with red decorations
Jordana: I like it and think it works beautifully, even if it feels safe and a little impersonal. This feels very polished and well executed. The symmetry works beautifully and the garlands frame the entrance in a really elegant way, which immediately makes it feel grand and welcoming. It’s festive without being chaotic, and the lighting adds a lovely warmth, especially in the evening.
That said, it is quite classic and safe. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, but it doesn’t push the boundaries or feel particularly personal. It’s timeless, tasteful and beautifully done, just perhaps a little more ‘show home Christmas’ than playful or character-led.
Verdict: Tasteful
Mrs Hinch’s wooden present boxes
Cleanfluencer Mrs Hinch certainly appears fond of weaving patterns with her rustic-inspired baubles – and wooden-esque gift boxes
Jordanda: Mrs Hinch’s wooden present boxes look visually nice but they are not very practical. I completely understand the sustainability angle, but I do question how practical they really are.
Wooden boxes can be heavy, awkward to carry and not the easiest when you’re actually giving presents to people. Wrapping paper might be my nemesis, but at least it’s light and flexible.
With boxes, you then have the question of whether you’re gifting the box itself or expecting it back, and not everyone is going to want to store a wooden box at home.
They’re also quite expensive and you’d need so many different shapes and sizes, plus somewhere to store them year after year. If you’re keeping everything at home, it works, but in real life it feels more impractical than it looks.
Verdict: Impractical
Molly Mae’s stockings
Love Islander Molly Mae never strays far from her ‘clean girl’ colour palette, and opted for white and grey stockings at her fireplace
Jordana: I like how chic it looks and think it works aesthetically, but it lacks warmth and festive character. This feels very polished and aesthetically pleasing and it’s beautifully styled in that clean, neutral way that Molly-Mae does so well.
The symmetry works, the garland is elegant, and the stockings are subtle and refined rather than overly festive – it does feel quite restrained. Christmas is one time of year where you’re allowed to inject a bit more warmth, personality and indulgence, and this leans more towards ‘styled shoot’ than cosy, lived-in festive space. It’s undeniably chic and well put together, but I’d love to see a little more character and joy layered in to really bring it to life.
Verdict: Tasteful
Victoria Beckham’s stockings
Posh and Becks are celebrating the festive spirit full force with woven stockings – and statement glasses from David
Jordana: This feels very classic and quite timeless. The chunky knit stockings bring a lovely sense of tradition and texture, and they work beautifully against the stone fireplace. There’s something very comforting and familiar about it, which suits the setting really well.
It does lean quite traditional and safe. I’d say this feels much more suited to a country home rather than a London house. If this were their London home, I’d actually be a little disappointed, but for a countryside setting it makes perfect sense. It’s elegant and understated, more about a quiet, traditional Christmas than making a bold festive statement.
Verdict: Classic
Jess Wright’s stockings
Jess Wright stuck to a white and gold colour scheme with stockings, bells – and some statement reindeer statuettes
Jordana: I don’t dislike it, but I don’t think it works because it feels bland and forgettable rather than festive. Overall, this just feels a little bland. There’s no real pop of colour, no strong texture, and nothing oversized or statement-making. Everything feels quite small, neat and safe, which makes it all blend into one. It’s fine, but it doesn’t really say anything. At Christmas, I think you want at least one element that brings a bit of drama or warmth, and here it just feels quite plain and forgettable rather than festive.
Verdict: Bland
Dara Huang’s stockings
Known for her prowess in the world of interior design, Dara’s marble fireplace was decorated with a wreath display, baubles and red stockings
Jordana: I don’t like it and don’t think it works, as it feels heavy, dated and visually muddled. Honestly, I’m not loving these. They feel quite heavy and dated, and there’s a lot of visual noise without any real payoff. The deep reds, pinecones and baubles all blur into one, so nothing actually stands out.
The stockings themselves are very traditional and a bit old-fashioned, and they don’t bring any freshness or personality to the space. It feels like a classic Christmas look done on autopilot rather than something thoughtful or exciting. Festive, yes, but quite dull and forgettable.
Verdict: Dated
Meghan Markle’s scarf gift wrap
In her Christmas special, Meghan Markle gave tips and tricks on how to package presents for the festive period
Jordana: I’m assuming this is another sustainability-led choice, using fabric instead of wrapping paper, but I just don’t see the practicality of it at all.
Wrapping presents is already my nemesis at Christmas, and the last thing I want to be doing is figuring out how to tie fabric neatly and make it stay in place. It feels fiddly and time-consuming at a point when there’s already so much to do.
Then there’s the question of what happens to the fabric afterwards. Are you cutting it? Reusing it? Ending up with odd offcuts and loose threads? Visually, it almost looks like presents wrapped in Christmas scarves, and I’m not convinced they’d look great under a tree or even when handed to someone. I understand the sustainability message, but sometimes practicality matters too, and this just feels like more effort than it’s worth.
Verdict: Impractical
Sophie Kasei’s festive mugs
Sophie Kasei ventured into the kitchen with her festive decoration – putting together a festive little plate for the centrepiece
Jordana: I think it’s cute for social media, it’s just a bit obvious and lacks depth or character. This feels very Instagram-Christmas, but also quite predictable. The ‘Ho Ho Ho’ mugs, whipped cream and candy-cane styling are fun, but they’re very literal and a bit novelty. It looks cute for a quick reel, but it’s not something you’d want out all season.
There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just a bit obvious and lacks depth or character. It’s festive in a surface-level way rather than feeling warm, layered or genuinely cosy. More moment than mood.
Verdict: Tacky
Chloe Sims’ wreath and tree bow
Chloe Sims drowned her Christmas tree in an opulent white bow, fitted with matching baubles to boot
Jordana: I like the neutral direction, but the tree feels pale and underwhelming. I know Chloe has gone very neutral throughout her home, which I actually really like, and a lot of what she’s done is very on trend. I think she’s tried to pull Christmas into that same look, but it just doesn’t quite land. The tree feels pale and a bit underwhelming, and although the bow is oversized, there’s not enough contrast or texture around it to make it feel intentional. It ends up feeling more unfinished than minimal. Christmas is one time of year where you can afford to step slightly outside your usual palette, and here it feels like she’s held back a bit too much, so it hasn’t quite been nailed.
Verdict: Underwhelming
Billie Shepherd’s door display
Billie Shephard’s front door felt like a scene straight out of an American Christmas movie, with a festive wreath arch
Jordana: I admire the effort. This is very full-on and undeniably impressive, but it does feel quite heavy and overworked. The archway is packed with so much foliage, colour and decoration that it becomes a bit overwhelming rather than welcoming. There’s no clear focal point, so your eye doesn’t really know where to land.
It’s festive, yes, but it feels more like a commercial display or hotel entrance than a home. Christmas is about atmosphere as much as impact, and here it tips slightly too far into ‘more is more’ without enough restraint to make it feel elegant or personal.
It feels like they’ve gone all out with the surrounding display and then almost forgotten about the wreath on the door. The archway is very dramatic and impressive, but the wreath just feels a bit random and disconnected from the rest of the scheme. It doesn’t match the scale or impact of what’s around it, so it looks like an afterthought rather than part of a considered design.
If you’re committing to something this bold, every element needs to feel intentional, and here the door itself feels slightly overlooked.
Verdict: OTT
