It’s Christmas week – hard to believe! Welcome to my home, all decked out for Christmas. I hope this mini-tour sparks fresh ideas to bring you holiday cheer.
Just like last year, I hung my favorite pre-lit wreaths and garlands inside and out. Transform your entry way with this elegant combo from Improvements. It’s realistic with many lights that shine really bright at night, adding to the magic of the season. The garland is enhanced with weather-safe faux berries and real pinecones, giving it that rustic, holiday feel. I love it’s simple beauty that can be used over and over. People always want to know how I hang the garland around my front door; I use teacup hooks, making it simple and easy to hang.
One of my favorite rooms in the house is the entryway, partially because of the alluring gallery wall. I just love how the photo gallery I installed earlier this Fall is set off by the holiday decorations. The holidays are a perfect time to finish those projects you’ve been meaning to get to, such as a picture gallery. In case you are interested in learning a simplified way to hang a picture gallery – or really anything in your home, here is a link to my tutorial How to Hang a Photo Gallery Wall.
Create a welcoming, cozy feel in your living room with soft couches, while adding a holiday touch with mix-and-match soft pillows that give a pop of color to the room. I love pillows! The more the merrier!
If you’ve been reading a while, then you may be familiar with many of the decorations shared in this post. I love to re-use my decor year after year. The hearth area is the quintessential setting for rustic accents such as a minimalistic tree with pinecones, dried branches tied with jute and old-fashioned lanterns filled with white candles and dried red cranberries.
Transform your mantle into a focal point using my ideas for simple Christmas decorating. No mantle? No problem! Learn how to easily install a mantle and decorate with my Simple DIY: Man’tle Up Tutorial.
White and gold are classy holiday colors, and a dash of red on this dazzling Christmas tree adds a little interest and that Christmas-y feel.
My favorite new addition this year this paper banner. It comes as a set of 3 from Pottery Barn. In typical Sam fashion, I opted for minimalist tree decor. But when I saw this set of banners I thought it would add the perfect touch, instead of a ribbon strung around. It was easy to nip and tuck to get the banner in place. Love it! The monochromatic color scheme creates a sophisticated look.
Most of my ornaments are well-loved; I’ve owned them for a long time.
A touch of France helps to create a chic, fashionable look. Love this one from Pottery Barn.
Any new ornaments this year were purchased from Pottery Barn in Corte Madera. They invited me to join them Saturday, December 3 in their beautiful store for their Every Room Event. I met with customers to talk about holiday organization and assembled a great grouping of gifts. I look forward to partnering with them again in the new year when organization really ramps up!
One of my favorite new additions are a few pre-lit, battery operated houses. They are so pretty!
The ornament that says Alice and Jim is from my late grandparents home. My grandmother passed away on November 28th and we are each taking home special items – I took in quite a few Christmas items as well as all of her photo albums…which I look forward to organizing and sharing in the new year! They have everything in albums and nothing saved digitally. Big project in the works!
I’ve collected some unique, rustic decorations that give Christmas that old-fashioned, vintage look. If you love that country look, and want nothing more than to create that look for your holiday celebrations, look for natural items with that down-home look like pinecones, shells, burlap, and candles.
2 of my favorite books are on display here…
I still owe you my Better Homes & Gardens Stylemaker event recap. Soon, I promise! I was given these 2 lovely books on my trip which I will share more about in the New Year; In The Company of Women by Grace Bonney and Spices & Herbs by Padma Lakshmi. Both were in attendance / spoke at the event and can’t wait to share the details. If you are in need of a great last minute gift, either of these books are incredible! And both ship Prime from Amazon!
Holiday greenery compliments any space…including a playroom!
This set of wreaths have be in the family for a long time. Each year I’ve hung them in random spots, inside or out. I love their simplicity, natural leaves, and silvery white globes – they are the perfect accent and so easy to place on my white china cabinets using Command Hooks.
Keep your Christmas decorating simple – that’s the joy of rustic decorating – keeping everything simply elegant! And the simpler your decor, the easier it is to put away at the end of the season.
If you’ve missed my previous years home decor tours you can see each of them here:
I couldn’t wait to share my decor of Christmases present and past as my friend Emily at Eleven Gables is hosting a wonderful round-up of home tours. You must check it out…including her stunning tree!! Seriously, magazine worthy!
Happy decorating, everyone!
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