For us, some of the loveliest parts of Christmas happen before everything is finished.

It’s opening the boxes that haven’t been touched since last year. Finding the decorations you’d almost forgotten about, untangling ribbons and rediscovering the favourite pieces that come out every Christmas.

There’s always a bit of moving things around too. Something goes up, comes back down and ends up somewhere completely different. Slowly, the house begins to look like Christmas again.

And then the decorating really begins.

Greenery fills the mantel, stockings reappear and those familiar Christmas details gradually make their way around the house. Before long, there’s ribbon being tied, candles being lit and just a little more being added here and there.

We have a bit of a thing for bows at Gathered Living, so it was never going to stop at presents. We tie them around pots, cupboard doors, crackers, candlesticks and anything else that looks as though it might need one. A stripe amongst all that green always seems to do the trick.

If in doubt, add a bow!

Then there are the things we bring back year after year. We’ve never been ones for everything matching at Christmas and certainly don’t believe everything needs to be new. We love seeing familiar decorations alongside newer finds, each becoming part of Christmas at home in its own way.

For this year's Christmas shoot, we wanted to capture some of those moments as well as the finished rooms. Hands tying crackers, ribbons being added, stockings finding their place and the little details that can sometimes be missed once everything is finished.

Because for us, the making of Christmas is part of Christmas.

So put some music on, bring down the boxes and enjoy making your home feel like yours this Christmas.

And if in doubt, add another ribbon.