The Essentials: Colour for Christmas

The Time: Christmas

The Place: Your home

The Essentials: OK, so it's 24 days away, but ... whether it's dressing the tree, wrapping the presents or picking the right cards, presentation is the key to making Christmas look stunning. To help you get it right, we've picked the following festive essentials:

Anyone will welcome receiving one of these beautiful fine-art luxury cards from Boots. They cost pounds 5 for 10 with a 50p contribution to the RNIB.

Clearly this tree, priced pounds 59, has been given the Midas touch. Assorted decorations from pounds l.25 to pounds 2.95. From the John Lewis Partnership.

These hexagonal silver and gold gift boxes, priced pounds l.50 each from Paperchase, will make any gift look a million dollars. Mail order 0171-580 8496.

Wrapping paper, like this stylish design from Boots, makes a big impression. It costs pounds 3 for four metres or pounds 6 for 12 metres.

Coloured baubles from 99p to pounds 2.25 from the John Lewis Partnership.

Decorate the tree with these gold cherubs from Boots (pounds l.25 each or pounds 2.50 for three), along with these coloured baubles (99p to pounds 2.25 each) from the John Lewis Partnership.