MISTLETOE AND MAGIC

GRAHAM & BROWN WALLPAPER, FROM £60 A bit more permanent than a garland or a sprig of holly, but wallpaper can set the scene year-round. We love this palm fan design with its shimmering fi nish against a moody backdrop. The Graham & Brown brand is available at W J Gardner, Crwys Road, Cardiff ; www.rabart.co.uk

MAKING MERRY

It just doesn’t feel like Christmas until you start decorating, so whether you prefer pared-back or all-out, here are our so whether you prefer pared-back or all-out, here are our bedecking picks. Let the merriment commence... bedecking picks. Let the merriment commence...

MACRAME CHRISTMAS TREES, FROM £8 A tree-mendous alternative to baubles. From String You Knot, Cardiff Bay; www.stringyouknot.etsy.com

NESSA BAUBLE, FROM £5.99 Oh oh oh, what’s occurin’? This bauble is crackin’, origh? From Mark My Word, Radyr; www.markmyworduk.etsy.com LIBERTY PRINT BAUBLE, £9 Not actually full of hot air. From Hip Hwre, Canton; www.hiphwre.etsy.com

METAL WREATH, £39.95 For the vintage-look lovers. From Lisa Valentine Home, Cardiff ; www.lisavalentinehome.co.uk

FESTIVE ASSORTMENT, FROM £7 From local lettering artist Narelle Dancey come these From local lettering artist Narelle Dancey come these plaques emblazoned with bold, gold phrases. From Narelle Dancey Studio, Llantwit Major; www.narelledanceystudio.etsy.com HANGING PLANT BAUBLE, £30 This low-maintenance living decoration will look great long after the tree has come down. From Flower Be, Pontprennau; www.fl owerbe.co.uk www.fl owerbe.co.uk

TWO PAPER HONEYCOMB BALLS, £9 Easy to assemble and a great visual impact. From Bodlon, Whitchurch; www.bodlon.com

PERSONALISED WREATH, £30 A percentage of every sale will be donated to Shelter Cymru. From Flossie and Blossom, Fairwater; @fl ossieandblossomhoops

HAND-PAINTED DECORATIONS, £24 No two of these baubles are the same. From Textiles by Rachel, Cathays; www.textilesbyrachel.etsy.com

EUCALYPTUS WREATH, £18.50 EUCALYPTUS WREATH, £18.50 Knot your ordinary wreath. From Rose MÔR, Grangetown; www.rosemorshop.etsy.com

RENAISSANCE DOMES, FROM £28 Dried blooms are everywhere in 2020, great news for those who aren’t great at keeping the fresh kind alive. From Mason Blooms, Canton; www.masonblooms.com

MACRAMÉ BUNTING, FROM £10 License to frill. From Rose MÔR, Grangetown; www.rosemorshop.etsy.com FOIL GARLAND, £5 Serious fringe benefi ts. From Sadler Jones, Barry; www.sadlerjones.com GOLD WIRE WREATHS, £12.99 Minimalist will never be out of fashion.From Sadler Jones, Barry; www.sadlerjones.com

Tis the season to shop local in Cardiff

After a difficult year, Christmas feels more important than ever. It’s now up to all of us to support local across our city centre.

In a season that’s all about giving, it’s worth noting that if everyone in Cardiff spent £10 in the city this Christmas, it would create £17m for Cardiff’s economy, making it the perfect way to give back to your favourite local venues and shops after a year of uncertainty. And thankfully, local businesses have found a number of ways for you to do this whilst ensuring you stay safe in these strange times.

Adrian Field, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff says, “The festive period is going to feel a little different for all of us this year, but there are still plenty of ways to make it special thanks to the hard work, resilience and innovation of Cardiff businesses. After a difficult year for Wales’ high streets, it’s great to see that local retailers have found new ways of injecting a bit of sparkle into the season, and now it’s up to us to support them through a difficult winter.”

GIVE THE GIFT OF CARDIFF For now, Cardiff remains open for you to enjoy a socially distanced shopping spree, but if you don’t feel ready to venture to the capital for your Christmas shopping, you can still shop locally – and safely – from the comfort of your sofa. You can give the gift of Cardiff with the FOR Cardiff gift card which can be used in over 70 different shops, restaurants and bars across the city, from big names like Primark and John Lewis to local favourites such as Hobo’s and Chapel 1877. Valid for 12 months from the time of purchase, it means that the recipient can use it throughout 2021, which will hopefully be a year full of celebrations, not restrictions. INDEPENDENTS GET INNOVATIVE Many of your favourite bars and independent eateries are offering new takeaway services so you can enjoy restaurant-quality food at home from the likes of Bwyta Bwyd Bombai – or even a pre-mixed cocktail from The Libertine if it takes your fancy.

Whilst there are restrictions on the number of people we can meet, Christmas gatherings aren’t out of the picture thanks to venues like Bar 44 who are offering a virtual take on Christmas party season with a package of online experiences such as cocktail masterclasses and cook-along nights.

To find out which businesses are open, offering takeaway or online shopping, visit the Shop Cardiff website: www.forcardiff.com/shopcardiff n

WIN A £50 FOR CARDIFF GIFT CARD

Win a £50 FOR Cardiff gift card when you shop local this Christmas. All you need to do is share your best ‘shop local’ purchases on social media, and 10 winners will be selected to win a £50 gift card each. The competition will run until the end of December. Find out more about entering by following Cardiff Life on Twitter and Instagram: @CardiffLifeMag.

FOR Cardiff, 7 St Andrew’s Crescent, Cardiff, CF10 3DA; 02920 314770; info@forcardiff.com www.forcardiff.com; f  forcardiff  FOR_Cardiff