We asked ourselves, who's house would we love a nosy round at Christmas? Answer: our Home Buying Manager Nicola, obvs (the clue's in her title). So, we invited ourselves over to find out her top tips for decorating this season, how she does Christmas and what's new in homeware for 2020.

Tell us about your home style… my décor and furnishings are minimal and fairly mono – these act as a blank canvas for all of my things – vintage furniture, art, vases, magazines and books that I collect from my travels. I surround myself with artefacts that mean something to me, but also make me happy. Whilst my dress sense is navy and black, I love surrounding myself with my favourite accent colours of green and neon pops.

Being a buyer has taught me… to be a shopaholic.

How considered is your home style? My home is very considered, but I also like to have fun and buy what I like.

Describe your dream house if money was no object… it has to be a farmhouse in Ibiza, filled with lots of dreamy textiles.

My favourite UO home pieces this season are… the crochet blankets and cushions which have been handmade in Turkey by talented women who have not the opportunity to work outside of their homes. This project allows these women to not only start a hobby but also have an income. I will definitely also be buying Chilly’s reusable bottles and straws as gifts this year.

What are your expert tips for adding a festive feel to your space on a budget? Get eclectic with the decorations and don’t worry if it doesn’t match – use what you have. For small spaces, the UO Christmas tree tapestry saves both space and money – also ideal for student houses when everyone heads home for Christmas. Find a wall space and pin lights, photos and decorations and get creative with plants - cacti make a good alternative for mini trees. Another great tip is to make your own table decorations for free - gather winter berries, twigs and eucalyptus and display in old jam jars.

What I love most about Christmas… giving gifts! I love watching people open pressies but hate people watching me open mine in case I hate them!

Christmas décor: tacky or tasteful? Tacky.

Tinsel: hit or miss? Miss – even though I have seen it being made in a factory in Helsinki!

This year I’ll be celebrating by… spending Christmas Day with close family at home; eating and drinking far too much. Christmas is the time we satisfy all family traditions; my husband Neil is from West Yorkshire and I’m from Dorset. In my house we always had a tin of Roses, and in Neil’s they had Quality Street - so I always have to buy both! His Christmas pudding is always smothered in custard, and mine in brandy cream. We laugh about our North / South divide and {our daughter} Ruby just embraces it all! For New Year we’re off to Copenhagen and Malmo.

Tell us about your fireplace collection… I started collecting Studio Arhoj Ghosts when my daughter Ruby started giving me one for every birthday and Christmas. They’re made in Copenhagen and mix Scandinavian simplicity with traditional Japanese culture. The gnome was a leaving present from my old job.

What’s your favourite space in your house? The bathroom – in comparison to our small cottage, it’s enormous and we can all be in there and get ready at the same time. I also love to entertain in the garden during the summer; being outside surrounded by all my plants is when I really switch-off.

An iconic piece in the house is… the neon paint splattered head in the bathroom, which I bought it from an art car boot fair. I love head sculptures and neon, so I couldn’t leave without buying one!

Tips for updating a room on a budget… you don’t always have to spend money. I get great satisfaction in re-arranging books, magazines and your personal stuff around, it looks completely different in a new space. My biggest pleasure is flowers – treat yourself to a cheap bunch to instantly brighten-up any space.

How often have you refreshed or updated your space? We’ve lived here for 13 years – we’ve refreshed with a lick of paint and updated furniture and textiles over the years, but the house has naturally evolved and developed its style through the art, possessions and trinkets I’ve collected over the years. I try and buy things that I will love forever.

What direction will homeware take next year: Expect to see more patchwork, tie-dye and conscious living ideas.