This season, I could hardly wait for Thanksgiving to end before pulling out the holiday decor. I made it, but barely. I bounced out of bed that Friday, cleared the pumpkins from the table and the front porch, and the man and I set to pulling our new tree out of the box.
I jokingly told Bryan that this year, I would embrace color as much as I could, and that we would pull out all of the random ornaments, linens, and funky decorations that we’ve never had the opportunity to use. We did, and I think it turned out amazingly well!
In our entry, past our pinecone wreaths that were tied in red, green, an seafoam-colored ribbon, a faux-cedar garland was draped across the rear of the console, and I sprinkled white porcelain trees among the books and photos. A fir-scented candle (a gift from a friend) stays lit, and the fragrance is so lovely this time of year.
Just beyond, in our formal living room, we recreated our mantle from a few years ago, with the addition of a metal “Merry Christmas” swag from Target. The stars, boxwood sprays, and the white cable stockings are all from Target.
We bought a new flocked tree this year from Lowes, and I was absolutely terrified at how messy it may be. I remember my parents having a flocked tree and the darn thing shed everywhere. Ev. Ry. Where. All the time. This one, however, put off a bit of flocking when we initially unboxed, but has been pretty perfect otherwise, and the multicolored garland from Mahonia years ago looks like gumdrops against the white backdrop.
The round ornaments were a find at Crate and Barrel after the Christmas season a few years ago, but the rest of the ornaments are a mix of finds from a mix of places. Most are dogs of some sort, but there’s Santa and those funky, spiked blue things in there. The simple gold star came from Target.
We swapped out the floral candle on our coffee table for a multi-wick pine number in a beautiful green mercury glass, and dropped a red poinsettia into the center of the room.
In the dining room (which you’ll see more of next week), a colorful floral centerpiece and candy-cane candles take center stage.
In the den, our other tree went up, unadorned, in the place of one of our floor lamps. Some cute ceramic trees went up on the mantle, creating a fun little forest below the doods’ dog bone-shaped Christmas stockings (found at Pottery Barn- are they not the sweetest things?) and a multi-colored Pawliday garland. Smaller wreaths make a statement on the bookcases.
However you decorated for the holiday season this year, I hope your home is feeling warm and cozy, making visions of sugarplums dance through your dreams.
** this post is not sponsored in any way. all thoughts and opinions are my own **
** photo by Don Lehman **
You both have done such a beautiful job renovating your house. Merry Christmas 🎄