In this festive Christmas special episode of The Edit, host Elle Lovelock is joined by home and styling expert Tara Dennis to ask a brave question: what if Christmas at home didn’t feel like a performance, but like an exhale? From her idyllic riverside house, usually sparkling with champagne-toned baubles, brass bells and warm white fairy lights, Tara shares how she creates “a warm welcome Christmas home” without losing her mind in the process. Together, Elle and Tara unpack calm‑in‑the‑chaos strategies for real families: how to decorate with laid‑back luxury on any budget, where to cut corners, and why “it’s not the season, it’s the day” that really matters.​

Tara and Elle dive into the emotional load of holiday hosting—the pressure not to “let anyone down,” the invisible to‑do lists, and the way social media can make everyone feel like they’re failing at Christmas style. Tara gently reframes the whole season, reminding listeners that “my house is always calm when we’re down,” and that the most memorable moments rarely involve perfect tablescapes. Instead, she shares grounded rituals: putting your phone in a drawer, watching silly movies, lighting candles, and choosing one or two meaningful traditions (not twenty) to anchor the day for kids and adults alike.​

There’s plenty of nostalgia and humour too. Tara recalls “all of the husbands that forgot” the Christmas present and childhood memories of sewing tiny dresses for her Baby Alive doll because “back in the day they knew how to thrift,” stories that quietly reveal how resourcefulness and creativity shaped her career. She and Elle explore the idea that “maybe I’m not just doing it for myself”—how decorating, cooking and setting a beautiful table can become an act of care for others, inspired by the teachers and mentors who once encouraged her.​

If you’re searching for Christmas calm ideas, stress‑free Christmas decorating, relaxed Christmas table styling or how to make Christmas cosy, not crazy, this episode is your gentle guide. Hit play to hear Tara’s practical tips on wreaths and garlands, small changes that make your home feel instantly more welcoming, and simple ways to give yourself time and space in the middle of the madness—because, as she puts it, “it’s not about it being perfect". 

Thank you for listening ❤️

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🙏 Our special thanks making 'The Edit' our new home:

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Tara Dennis - See more at Pepperwhites

Credits:

Edited by Phil Calloway 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL