There are some Christmas decorations that never really disappear. They simply wait for their moment to return.
This year, the bow is having one.
From ribbon tied onto Christmas trees and wreaths to oversized bows appearing on doors, staircases and furniture, this familiar festive detail is being used in a much bolder way. Less finishing touch, more statement piece.
And at Mash + Mint, the arrival of Kika Bespoke couldn't feel better timed.
With oversized velvet bows, rich colour, ruffles and beautifully made table linens, the British brand brings exactly the sort of personality we want from Christmas decorating: joyful, individual and not afraid to make an entrance.
Why are bows everywhere again?
Perhaps part of their appeal is their simplicity.
A bow is instantly recognisable, nostalgic without feeling old-fashioned and incredibly easy to incorporate into an existing room.
But the scale has changed.
Rather than adding tiny bows to individual branches or presents, oversized bows are becoming decorations in their own right. One beautifully positioned bow can completely change a doorway, staircase or fireplace without the need to redecorate an entire room.
The result feels playful but still considered particularly when velvet and deeper seasonal colours are involved.
Bigger bows, richer colour
The Kika Bespoke Oversized Velvet Bows are very deliberately not subtle.
Handmade in the UK, each bow measures approximately 44cm wide with a 90cm drop, creating enough scale to make a genuine impact.
And then there's the colour.
Burgundy and Forest Green naturally lend themselves to Christmas, but the collection doesn't stop there. Rust, Coral, Hot Pink, Red and Sage make it possible to move beyond the conventional red-and-green Christmas palette and choose something that feels much more personal to your home.
That's perhaps what we like most about this particular Christmas decorating trend.
It doesn't require everyone to have the same Christmas.
SHOP KIKA BESPOKE OVERSIZED BOWS
Where to use an oversized Christmas bow
The obvious place might be the front door, but that is only the beginning.
An oversized velvet bow can be tied into a staircase display, positioned above a fireplace or used to decorate a cupboard or armoire. A bow can also create a focal point on an interior door or become part of a Christmas tree display rather than simply sitting at the very top.
And because the Kika Bespoke bows use a Velcro fastening, they can be brought out each year and styled somewhere completely different.
They are designed for indoor use, so think of them as part of the room rather than an outdoor Christmas decoration.
There is also no particular reason to restrict them entirely to December.
A Rust or Sage bow, for example, can work beautifully earlier in the season, while brighter colours such as Hot Pink and Coral bring a much less traditional approach to festive decorating.
Christmas decorating is becoming more personal
For a long time, Christmas interiors could feel as though they fell into one of a handful of familiar looks.
Silver and white.
Red and green.
Scandinavian neutrals.
Those looks aren't going anywhere, but there is increasingly room for something more individual too.
Colour, pattern, bows, stripes, velvet and pieces collected over time can all sit together.
It is less about creating a perfectly coordinated Christmas room and more about making the home feel special for the people actually living in it.
Kika Bespoke fits beautifully into that idea.
Their pieces aren't designed to disappear quietly into a room. They're meant to be noticed.
And the bow doesn't have to stop at the tree
One of the reasons we're particularly drawn to this look is that it can travel through the house.
A velvet bow on the staircase can pick up the colour of a cushion in the sitting room.
A Burgundy bow might be echoed in a table runner.
Forest Green can move from the Christmas tree onto the dining table.
It allows festive decorating to feel connected without everything having to match.
And if you're already thinking about Christmas lunch, Kika Bespoke's table linens take the same approach.
There are ruffled runners, striped linens and statement tablecloths that make the table feel dressed before you've even thought about plates and glassware.
DISCOVER KIKA BESPOKE TABLE LINENS
Christmas tables don't need to be complicated
Some of the loveliest Christmas tables are also the simplest.
Start with the tablecloth or runner.
Add the glassware and cutlery you already own.
Bring in candles at different heights.
Then let the food do the rest.
A strong tablecloth or ruffled runner can provide enough pattern and colour that very little additional decoration is actually necessary.
Kika's Forest Green and Off White Ultimate Christmas Tablecloth, for example, gives you an immediate starting point for a traditional Christmas table without making it feel overly formal.
For something less expected, the Pink and Burgundy Stripe Ultimate Christmas Tablecloth takes Christmas colour in a completely different direction.
Add candlelight
Then there are candles.
There is something about October that makes us want to start lighting them again, and by Christmas they become part of almost every table.
Our Metre Candles work particularly well here because they add height, shape and colour without introducing fragrance around food.
Mixing candle heights can make even a relatively simple table feel more atmospheric, particularly once the daylight disappears.
And that is really the theme running through all of this.
You don't necessarily need more decoration.
Sometimes you just need one or two pieces with enough character to change the room.
A Christmas home with personality
Perhaps that's why the return of the bow feels so right.
Christmas decorating should be allowed to be a little excessive.
Tie the enormous velvet bow to the door.
Use the striped tablecloth.
Light the candles.
Bring out the glassware you normally save for special occasions.
Add colour where you wouldn't usually put it.
The most memorable homes at Christmas aren't necessarily the most perfectly coordinated ones. They're the ones that feel like the people who live there.
And if there's one thing Kika Bespoke isn't short of, it's personality.
Discover Kika Bespoke at Mash + Mint
We're delighted to welcome Kika Bespoke to Mash + Mint just as the season for decorating, gathering and gifting begins.
Explore oversized velvet bows, statement cushions, ruffled table linens and beautifully bold pieces handmade in the UK.
