Christmas Home Decorating Tour

Welcome to my 2020 Christmas Home Decorating Tour.

I am one of 31 bloggers in Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk that is taking place everyday this week.

If you are coming from City Farmhouse, Welcome.

The day my tree goes up, the atmosphere of the house changes dramatically. The everyday ordinary takes on a festive spirit with the glow of Christmas lights and Christmas music playing in the background.

I enjoy decking the halls in my own style – nothing formal or fancy. I go for simplicity, handmade, nostalgic touches, and all things cozy. The season is all about comfort and joy and I happily oblige.

I tend to go more vintage with my style at Christmas because old and traditional bring back Christmas memories of my childhood. I also like having the house filled with natural elements and the fresh scent of pine.

I didn’t buy anything new to decorate this year, except for the pointsettias that line my fireplace mantel.

Instead, I added a Christmas touch to everyday items using these items:

• White twinkle lights
• Candles
• Greenery from my yard
• Jingle Bells
• Ribbon
• Glitter and fake snow
• Ornaments

The Entry

I decorate 3 rooms for Christmas – the entry/foyer, living room and kitchen.

In the entry way, I wrapped red velvet ribbon around a basket filled with dead branches that I liked the color as they match the basket. I tied a jingle bell and sprigs of pine onto the ribbon with florist’s wire.

• Another length of the red ribbon also ties the sleigh bells onto the doorknob. I love when we open the door, the bells jingle. Nothing sounds like Christmas to me more than jingle bells.

Across from the door is a dresser I use as a foyer sideboard. I made this large lightweight bowl using two plastic bowls. To learn how I made it, here is a link to the post about it:

The faux cedar wreath I bought at HomeGoods. Candleholders are from Balsam Hill.

Simple Christmas Decorating TIP:

• Cut evergreen branches from your yard or the woods. Place in a basket.
  • If you want to keep the greens fresh longer, place a tray or large bowl in the bottom and fill with water.

I love the how the smell of fresh pine boughs suddenly make the house smell like a walk in the woods. Or how the twinkling lights on the tree cast a soft warm glow and dance on the ceiling after the sun goes down.

I placed a 6-foot tree in one corner of the entry and wrapped the base with a faux fur rug. The tree came pre-lit, but I added a few strings of twinkle lights.

We keep an antique music stand in the opposite corner. I changed the sheet music to “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.

Living Room

The living room is truly where we live. My house is small and this is the only gathering space. It is open concept with the kitchen.

I made sure to make the room comfy, cozy and full of Christmas color.

Red & Plaid Accents

I used red and plaid accents throughout the room. I made the plaid pillow covers using fabric I had leftover from last year. The fur pillow is from my guest room. It works perfectly with the look I wanted for the room.

On the sofa table, I made an ornament finial for the thrift store lamp I recently made-over. You can find out how I made the lamp and the finial:

Simple Christmas Decorating TIP:

• When any decorative item needs a lift, stack books to add more height like I did for the two candle hurricanes above. Cover the books in gift wrap for added style and color.

A glass vase and candle are placed inside a wreath on my mirrored Farmhouse coffee table. I filled the bottom of the vase with fake snow and faux sugared cranberries.

I made the match holder. The coasters I bought at Pottery Barn a few years ago.

Over the summer I found a few aged boards in my garage. I liked the patina and made a long wood planter box to sit on my mantel. I thought I would just use it for the summer, but I like the simple clean lines it creates and have kept it up, but have changed what is in it a few times.

I didn’t have a red tree topper, so I made one using a piece of scrap wood and paint. I will post how I made it next week.

I lined the inside of the planter with foil, so if I spill any water when watering the poinsettias, my mantel won’t get wet.

I made these stockings when I first started blogging. I change the cuff fabric every few years. You can find the stocking pattern here:

How to Make Merry Christmas Stockings & Pattern

On the side table, I covered a white plate with a seashell motif with sprigs of cedar and placed a candle on top. No more seashells… Instant Christmas decor.

I made the photo cube pedestal a few years ago to showcase Christmas photos from when I was a child.

Another way I decorate for Christmas is to cover table and sideboard tops with gift wrap. It is very budget-friendly and easy to do.

For instant decor, display a vintage Christmas card or a photo of you with Santa when you were a a child. There is a photo of Ed when he was about 4 sitting on Santa’s lap inside this card.

• Place nuts in small bowls and use as edible decor.

The Kitchen

As you enter the kitchen from the living room, this chalkboard wall is to your left. I like to change what is on it seasonally.

My kitchen is very small so I only add a few festive touches in the way of an ornament, a candle and sprigs of greenery tied with ribbon.

A few years ago I made these plaid paper doilies to accent the open shelves. I re-used them, but in a slightly different way this year. You can see how I used them originally in this post:

Simple Christmas Decorating TIP:

Turn food into decor. Pile fruit on a pedestal lined with greenery. Or fill a glass vase with candy canes.

Tie a ribbon around a pitcher and add a jingle bell or two.

Or tie the bells to a sprig of pine from your yard.

It may just be myself and Ed for Christmas dinner this year. No parties planned or guests coming this year. 🙁

I had fun rooting through my stash and found the pink/red glasses, fake trees that were on my mantel last Christmas, my favorite Kosta Boda Snowball candle holders and fake snow.

Pinecones with painted white tips becomes place card holders.

The best feeling of Christmas for me is the feeling you get when you fall asleep in the twinkling glow of a Christmas tree, or when you light candles at a dinner table… magical moments I look forward to every day in December.

More Ways to Add Some Christmas Jingle

I bought 3 ornaments a few years ago that say Joy, Peace and Hope. I don’t use them on the tree. I use them instead as doorknob jinglers. I tied the jingle bells to a garland tie with red ribbon. The garland tie then simply wraps around the doorknob.

Have you ever used garland ties? They are the best Christmas decorating secret. You can find out all the ways I use them here:

Christmas Sounds & Smells

Decorating is only one part of my getting my house holiday ready equation. Equally important for me is how my house smells and sounds like Christmas.

Make Your House Sound Like Christmas:

I have Christmas CD’s, Spotify playlists and more on my TV, computer, phone and car. Hearing my favorite holiday songs is something I look forward to come December.

Make Your House Smell Like Christmas:

I make homemade potpourri and have it simmering in a pot of water on the stove all day long. I don’t have a recipe and make it different every time. I like using a combination of water, citrus, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves.

Somewhere In My Memory…

The song from Home Alone, Somewhere In My Memory says it all for me on what I hold dear for Christmas. Holiday decorating comes second to memories for me.

What Christmas decor do you love? Decor that brings back fond memories of Christmases past?

Holiday decor that holds a special place in your heart that goes beyond decoration?

Have you decorated your home for the holidays yet? Do you have any creative ideas or tips to share that you do in your home?

I hope you enjoyed the tour and picked up a Christmas decorating tip or two that will help make decorating your house for the holidays easier.

Next up on the Holiday Housewalk is Jennifer from Tatertots & Jello.

Enjoy the tour. Happy Holidays!

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In My Own Style