Snow Princess or artisan: Which kind of Christmas decorator are you?

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  Baubles, Dh 40, Courtesy of Zara Home

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  Courtesy of Zara Home

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  Courtesy of Zara Home

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  Courtesy Gentleman’s Valet Company

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There’s no reason why your home should look like your neighbour’s this festive season. With so many fantastic decoration trends around, you’re guaranteed to find one to suit your personality.

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The Snow Princess

Create a winter wonderland that will put you in the festive spirit regardless of the weather outside. For you, ­Christmas is all about the gleaming snow, shimmering icicles and frosty air, so you will be using this as your inspiration for a delicate yet luxurious festive display.

Colour palette: Cool shades of silver, blue and white are needed here to create the feel of the frozen north, but mix chalky and reflective surfaces to create interest.

Key motifs: Icicles, snowflakes and stars, all covered in lots of glitter, diamonds and sparkle, for maximum effect. Whatever decorations you choose, make sure you have lots of them to create an indulgent, opulent feel.

Must-haves: Use plenty of twinkling fairy lights, spray frosting on the windows and attach delicate lametta on your tree, plus add touches of sumptuous fur to keep things cosy.

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The Traditionalist

If there’s one thing you love, it’s ­Christmas. While other people are still working out what they’re going to dress up as for Halloween, you’re counting down the days until you can break out your baubles and hang up several kilometres of tinsel.

Colour palette: Red, green and gold is the classic Christmas trio, and for a good reason – it's warm and inviting, suitably cheerful and has just the right amount of celebratory grandeur. To stop things becoming a bit samey, mix variations of the same colour – for example, deep berry red with bright apple and soft rose.

Key motifs: Christmas trees, reindeer, holly, stars, baubles and bows. It's the old-fashioned Christmas classics that will make this look so timeless and special.

Must-haves: The Christmas tree is the focal point, smothered with baubles, tinsel and an angel or star on top. A wreath for your front door and garlands of holly and berries up the stairs will complete the traditional look.

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The Artisan

Forget mass-produced – your home is filled with high-quality, handmade products bought from markets and independent boutiques. And that goes for your Christmas decorations, too. Yours is a “less-is-more” approach that allows the calibre of each item to speak for itself.

Colour palette: A subdued collection of wintry pastels and subdued earth tones gives this look a rich, multilayered feel that invites you to look closer, with plenty of mixed metallics adding texture, light and understated festive sparkle.

Key motifs: This isn't a look that screams Christmas, so forget singing Santas and grinning snowmen. Instead, stick to simplistic shapes such as stars and baubles. Add contemporary graphic prints and super-trendy typography, from free-standing letters to screen-printed cushions.

Must-haves: The tree is a great place to show off special heirloom decorations, from laser-cut wooden discs to handblown glass baubles. Elsewhere, oversized sculptural decoration are a winner – think free-standing wire reindeer or a wall-mounted carved driftwood star.

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The Bright Spark

You’re not a big one for tradition, and Christmas decor is no exception – this is a time to share your personality and flair, as well as the festive spirit. People will either love or hate your frankly quite kitsch decorative display, but either way it will certainly get them ­talking.

Colour palette: The brighter the better, particularly anything tropical, neon or electric. Strong blocks of hot pink, sky blue, tangerine and lime will all add the required vibrancy to this look, while a monochrome base will stop things getting too hectic.

Key motifs: Pineapples and flamingos, geometric shapes, brightly wrapped sweets – anything goes, and the quirkier the better. There's no need to avoid classic motifs such as Christmas trees and baubles, but just be sure they're vividly coloured.

Must-haves: Everyone needs festive lights, but to fit with your bright spark theme, choose a big, bold neon sign for your wall — a cheery "Merry ­Christmas", perhaps, or how about a flashing star? As for the tree, it needs to be artificial and any colour but green.

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The Crafter

You will be making most of your ­Christmas presents this year, won’t you? As a creative type, the festive season is the perfect excuse to get out your yarn or sewing machine and whizz up a few nifty decorations – or buy ones lovingly made by fellow crafters.

Colour palette: There's no set palette for this look, though it's safe to say there will be some tastefully mixed palettes thanks to plenty of patterned fabrics. Avoid anything too garish, though, and instead stick to warm, inviting shades.

Key motifs: Ribbons, buttons, bobbins and other craft paraphernalia will give your Christmas look a homespun feel, with gingham and floral fabrics a must.

Must-haves: Making your own wreath is a great way to show off your talents, whether you use ribbons and bows, fluffy pom-poms or felt flowers. Salt-dough tree decorations, strings of threaded popcorn and paper chains are all great options, too – and you don't need to have that much talent to make them.

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The Gothic Queen

Who said Christmas has to be a jolly, colourful affair? If you prefer your festivities to be a bit more grown-up and glamorous, an ornate monochrome look is ideal, combining a limited palette with plenty of opulent detailing.

Colour palette: Use rich, inky shades ranging from deep amethyst and indigo to jet black, with a few cool neutrals and metallic touches thrown in to create a sense of balance.

Key motifs: You will need plenty of lacework and embellishments to add texture and interest to this look, plus jewels, roses, ravens and even skulls can work – just don't go overboard, or else it will feel like Halloween instead of Christmas.

Must-haves: Flickering candles will add atmosphere to your festive display and can be grouped to form a dramatic display, while swaths of velvety fabric make a great alternative to tinsel and foliage garlands.

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The Big Kid

If Willy Wonka did Christmas, this is what it would look like. You have never forgotten the childlike magic of the holiday season, and you love recreating the best bits of your childhood every year, combining tradition and fantasy in equal measure.

Colour palette: Bright pastels and ­candy shades from bubblegum pink to lemon-drop yellow and minty green will delight the inner child in anyone who sees this display.

Key motifs: There are so many fun choices to explore with this look – stockings, sweets canes, snowmen, pom-poms, Santa Claus. If you're stuck for ideas, just ask your nearest 4-year-old what's their favourite thing about Christmas.

Must-haves: Children love toys, so don't hold back on the festive teddies, snowman decorations, Christmas angels and the like. Pile brightly wrapped presents under the tree and make sure the family's stockings take pride of place in your display.