A William Morris Christmas: Timeless Beauty for the Festive Season
There’s something magical about Christmas that goes far beyond twinkling lights and the rustle of wrapping paper. It’s a season that invites us to slow down, to gather, to create rituals that tie us back to the generations before us. And if there is one designer whose work seems made for this time of year, it is William Morris.
Morris, the 19th-century visionary who gave us the Arts and Crafts Movement, understood something profound about beauty. He believed that the objects we live with - from wallpaper to textiles to furniture - should not only be useful but also bring joy. His designs, full of intricate florals, curling vines and natural motifs, feel just as alive today as they did when he first sketched them. At Christmas, those patterns take on a special resonance. They echo the greenery we bring indoors (for those in the colder climates), the holly and ivy, the mistletoe hung above doorways and the deep jewel tones of winter celebrations.
In this blog post, I want to take you on a journey through what a 'William Morris Christmas' might look like - from decorations and table settings to gifts, traditions, and even the philosophy behind it. Whether you are a long-time Morris enthusiast or just discovering his work, you may find that his art and ideas offer a beautiful way to celebrate the holidays with depth, warmth and timeless style.
The Spirit of a William Morris Christmas
When you think about the modern Christmas, so much of it is about consumption: the rush to buy gifts, the frenzy of sales, the endless stream of things we don’t really need. William Morris, however, famously said: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” That principle feels almost tailor-made for the holidays.
A William Morris Christmas isn’t about more, more, more. It’s about slowing down, choosing thoughtfully, surrounding yourself with natural beauty and making things with your own hands. His ethos reminds us to step away from plastic baubles and mass-produced decorations and instead to reach for the handmade, the heirloom and the meaningful. Imagine decorating your tree not with glittering throwaways but with ceramic ornaments that can be passed down through generations or rustic wood carvings that feel like they’ve come straight out of a fairy tale.
Decorating with Morris in Mind - Patterns That Sing of Winter
William Morris’s designs were rooted in nature - hawthorn, acanthus leaves, strawberries, birds and flowers winding across fabric and wallpaper. At Christmas, many of these motifs fit perfectly into seasonal decorating. Think of the deep reds and greens of his 'Chrysanthemum' pattern, or the dark, romantic tones of 'Blackthorn'. They evoke the richness of winter greenery brought inside, the way ivy twines along a mantel or how holly berries pop against a frosty landscape.
For those who already live with Morris wallpaper or upholstery, the holiday season almost decorates itself. A garland draped over a Morris 'Willow Boughs' patterned wall creates a sense of harmony that feels utterly Victorian yet completely modern. For those without, bringing Morris into your Christmas can be as simple as using fabric or wrapping paper inspired by his designs. Imagine parcels tied with velvet ribbon, covered in 'Strawberry Thief' or 'Larkspur', sitting beneath the tree like little works of art.
A Tree Worthy of Morris
A William Morris-inspired Christmas tree is all about texture and tradition. Instead of a neon colour scheme, think of muted jewel tones: ruby red, deep forest green, sapphire blue, gold and rich plum. These shades echo the natural dyes Morris himself loved. Add ornaments made of wood, ceramic or even hand-stitched fabric. And of course, nature should have its place - pinecones, dried orange slices, sprigs of rosemary or lavender tucked into branches. The effect is both nostalgic and timeless, the sort of tree you might imagine standing in a grand Victorian home yet equally at home in a modern living room.
The Table: A Feast for the Eyes
Christmas dinner is as much about the setting as the food. Here, Morris-inspired design shines. A table dressed in a patterned tablecloth, layered with runners or napkins in botanical prints, sets the tone. Add brass candlesticks, mismatched vintage china and a centre piece of evergreens and berries and you’ve created a table that feels abundant without being overwhelming.
One particularly Morris-like touch is handmade crackers - the traditional paper ones that snap open with a small surprise inside. Instead of shop-bought versions, why not make your own using recycled paper printed with Morris patterns? Fill them with little treasures: perhaps a handwritten poem, a handmade trinket or even a tiny packet of seeds, a nod to Morris’s love of gardens.
A Morris Approach to Gifting - Quality Over Quantity
Gift-giving at Christmas can sometimes become a chore but Morris’s philosophy calls us back to thoughtfulness. The best gifts are those that combine beauty and usefulness. Instead of chasing trends, think of items that will truly last. A soft woven cotton throw, a hand-bound notebook, a set of hand-printed napkins or a lovingly chosen book all fit this ethos.
Wrapping as Art
Morris was a master of patterns and wrapping paper is an easy place to bring his influence into your Christmas. You can find beautiful reproductions of his prints as wrapping paper or you can get creative and make your own using stamps, block printing or even stencilled designs on plain brown paper. Tie it all up with natural twine or ribbon, and perhaps tuck a sprig of rosemary, ivy or cinnamon stick under the bow. The result is not just a gift but an artwork in itself.
Handcrafted Gifts
Morris himself was deeply invested in craft. He believed that making something by hand connected the maker to the object in a way mass production never could. With that in mind, a William Morris Christmas is the perfect excuse to try your hand at creating gifts. Perhaps you bake gingerbread and package it in tins decorated with Morris-inspired stickers. Or knit a scarf in rich, earthy tones. Even a handwritten letter or a simple ornament made with care can be the most meaningful of gifts.
Music, Stories, and Traditions
A William Morris Christmas isn’t only about what you can see and touch - it’s about atmosphere. Morris’s era was one of storytelling, carols sung around the piano and evenings spent by the fire with books and family. To capture this feeling, consider weaving some of those traditions back into your holiday season.
Carols and Songs
Morris lived during a time when Christmas carols were a central part of the season. Singing together, whether in a church, around a piano or simply in your living room, connects us to that same spirit. There’s something beautifully grounding about singing carols that have been sung for centuries - they carry history in their notes.
Reading Aloud
The Victorians loved storytelling at Christmas. Think of Charles Dickens’s 'A Christmas Carol', which was first published in 1843 and quickly became a seasonal staple. Reading aloud by the fire, whether it’s Dickens or another beloved tale, slows down the pace of the season and invites connection.
Crafting Together
Instead of scrolling through endless sales, imagine spending an afternoon crafting with family: making paper chains, sewing fabric ornaments or pressing leaves and flowers for decorations. It’s the kind of activity Morris himself would have approved of - art and life entwined, beauty created through simple, shared acts.
Nature at the Heart
One of the reasons Morris’s designs resonate so well at Christmas is his deep love for nature. He believed that beauty was rooted in the natural world and he often drew his patterns from the plants, flowers and animals he saw around him.
At Christmas, when we bring greenery indoors, we’re participating in a tradition that’s been around since long before Victorian times. Holly, ivy and mistletoe were all symbols of hope and life in the darkest days of winter. Morris’s work captures that sense of vitality. A William Morris Christmas, then, is really about honouring nature: choosing real greenery over plastic, using natural materials where possible and remembering that the season is not only about us but about the world we live in.
Why Morris Still Matters at Christmas
It’s remarkable how relevant Morris’s ideas remain. In a world overflowing with disposable goods, his call for beauty, usefulness and craftsmanship feels radical. Christmas can so easily become commercialised but through the lens of William Morris, it becomes something else: a celebration of art, nature, and human connection.
His designs remind us that beauty is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. It nourishes the soul in the same way food nourishes the body. At Christmas, when we are often stretched thin, that reminder is powerful. Surrounding ourselves with beauty - whether in the form of a hand-stitched stocking, a thoughtfully set table, or a tree decorated with care - gives the season its true magic.
Bringing It All Together
So what does a William Morris Christmas look like in practice?
The Home: Filled with greenery: ivy draped along mantels, wreaths made from local foliage, a tree adorned with handcrafted ornaments.
The Table: Laid with patterns and textures that feel abundant yet harmonious, with food presented as art.
The Gifts: Chosen with thought and wrapped beautifully, perhaps even handmade.
The Atmosphere: Warm and creative: carols sung together, stories read aloud, crafts made by hand.
The Philosophy: One of care - for beauty, for nature, for each other.
A William Morris Christmas is not about perfection. It’s not about Instagram-worthy shots or the biggest pile of presents. It’s about something much more enduring: the belief that beauty belongs in everyday life, that craftsmanship and nature are to be cherished, and that the things we surround ourselves with shape the way we experience the world.
This Christmas, perhaps the best gift we can give ourselves is to take a page out of William Morris’s book: slow down, choose beauty, make with our hands and remember that joy is found not in abundance but in intention.
