Welcome to my Christmas home tour! If it’s cold in your neck of the woods, I hope you can take a moment to grab a cup of cocoa, curl up on the couch, and enjoy this new post I’ve been working on. If you’re like me, you’ve been decking the halls for the past couple weeks. For someone who loves all things design and décor, I feel like a kid in a candy store when decorating during the Christmas season. Because we are in a newly renovated house, I decided to pull out ALL the boxes (if you know what I mean). I have to admit, scrolling through Instagram décor accounts will entice just about anyone to buy all new décor. The beautiful flocked trees, fresh greenery, and neutral color scheme is on point and oh-so- pretty! Even though I was tempted to buy new decorations, I chose to make some budget friendly decisions by mixing in a few new pieces with what I already had. After all, it’s the traditions and sentimental ornaments that make the holidays meaningful and personal. I hope you find some inspiration to help you prepare for the holidays as you take a peek inside my home. FYI – I will be updating this post again soon as I take more pictures…so be sure to check back often.
Living Room
While I would have loved a brand new flocked Christmas tree, I opted to pull out the tree I have had for several years. As I began decorating it, I realized it is just as beautiful as a new one. Let’s face it, after hanging a MILLION ornaments, it’s hard to even see the tree. As a finishing touch, I tucked poinsettia stems in the bare spots to add a pop of traditional red color!
See those cute Christmas pillows? Those are inexpensive pillow covers I ordered from Amazon. This is an affordable way to change your seasonal décor. I have linked the ones I ordered at the bottom of this post.
The entryway table got a makeover for the holiday season as well. To spruce up the lampshades, I added small wreaths tied with ribbon. I love how adding something so simple to a lampshade can completely transform the look and create a festive vibe! Yes…you are seeing more pillows. I just can’t help myself! The “Let it Snow” sign is a new item I couldn’t resist. I found it at Walmart for less than $20.00. It is the sweetest sign, made of metal, and I honestly can’t decide where to hang it. I have had it in the living room, master bedroom, and front porch. I’m sure it will settle in somewhere and look just right. In the meantime, I’ll just keep enjoying it throughout my home. Another purchase I added to this year’s décor are the little trees I have scattered throughout the house. I bought mine at target, many of which were in the Dollar Spot.
Here is another view of the fireplace and Christmas tree. When we bought this house last spring, I just knew the fireplace could be transformed into a beautiful focal point. Its original state was natural brown fieldstone. A fresh coat of paint gave it an updated look while maintaining its cottage charm. I just love it! Even though I did not get my new flocked tree (sigh), I did find an inexpensive way to update some little trees I already had. I simply bought “snow spray” for less than $2.00 a can at Walmart. I used this spray on several little trees, wreaths, and garland. I will post pictures of the front porch soon to show you how it turned out! Walmart for the win!!!
I have had this European prayer bench for many years. It was originally painted green, but I decided to freshen it up with this pretty shade of blue. I love the new updated look! More Amazon pillow covers were used to achieve a cozy spot to sit during holiday gatherings. Here’s another budget friendly tip. Rather than purchase a tree skirt, use what you have on hand – tablecloths, blankets, tulle, and decorative throws. Creating a faux skirt using these materials is easy and inexpensive. Plus you can continue using the “skirt” throughout the year.
I couldn’t resist! Daisy has been in the middle of all my decorating, so she deserved her own feature.
Kitchen
Mixing old with new is always a great combination. The Blue Ridge plate you see here was made by Southern Potteries. Many years ago, a dear friend introduced me to Blue Ridge dishware. She had been collecting the pottery for years and I fell in love with all the patterns she had in her personal collection. She inspired me to start my own collection. I have been treasure hunting these unique designs for nearly three decades and love how these beautiful plates have become our daily dinnerware. For those of you interested in starting your own collection, Blue Ridge was a type of American dishware manufactured by Southern Potteries Incorporated from the 1930s until 1957. Well known in their day for their underglaze decoration and colorful patterns, Blue Ridge pieces are now popular items with collectors of antique dishware. While basic patterns were reused consistently, the fact that each piece was hand-painted means that no two pieces are exactly alike. First of all, I love my wood island! This island originally had a piece of granite which did not allow space for seating. Because we wanted seating around the island, I decided to have a custom wood island built and installed. I couldn’t be more happy! We can now sit four people comfortably around the island. This has been a game changer, especially when we have company. After all, everyone wants to gather in the kitchen. As previously mentioned, there’s something to be said about mixing old with new. The vintage cookie cutters and petite cake stand are not only functional for the season, but also quite decorative. The snowflake placemat was found at TJ Maxx as a set of four for less than $5.00. Merry Christmas to me! I have had these vintage Santa mugs for years. I think I found them at a flea market or thrift store for next to nothing. However, it has come to my attention…as I scroll through my favorite Instagram Christmas décor feed, these are a HOT item right now. So, if you are out treasure hunting and run across these cute little mugs for a good price, you should grab them! Seriously, buy them! I’m certainly going to keep my eye out for these sweet Santa mugs!!! If you want to make an impact within your home décor, you must consider texture. Texture adds dimension to a room. It appeals to our senses — both visual and tactile — which makes the room interesting. From this vantage point, you can see the seating around the island. Selfishly, I wanted to create space for people to sit, so that I could entertain among my guests rather than be separated from them. For those that haven’t read my earlier post regarding the kitchen renovation, I purposely left the cabinet doors off on either side of the oven/cooktop to create an open shelving appearance. This has been a fun spot to style for the seasons. I still plan to add a bit more red, so another picture will be coming after I add a few finishing touches. In addition to the Blue Ridge plates on the table, you will see quaint little galvanized farm houses nestled among greenery. These were purchased at Target Dollar Spot for $3.00. If you are wanting to update a mantel or tabletop (at a low cost), I would highly recommend these sweet little houses. They create a cozy and romantic ambiance when a tealight candle is lit from within.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom is all decked out with cozy linens including a few holiday pillow covers from Amazon (linked below). The bed tray is adorned with a collection of bottle brush trees, and the lampshades have been transformed by tying holiday ribbon to wooden letters to create a festive look. Both of which were purchased at Target Dollar Spot. When deciding on bed linens, I love to mix and match to create a custom look. Don’t be afraid to mix pattern and personality! If you stick to a neutral color scheme, you can take risks with the texture, pattern, and pops of color. Coordinating a variety of linens to create cohesive bedding is fun and creates a unique look. A few of my favorite places to shop for bedding is TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, and Home Goods. The master bedroom should be tranquil and personal. Find ways to personalize this space. Consider comfy linens (including a soft, decorative throw for napping purposes), meaningful photos, softly scented candles, and a stack of books you can’t wait to read. Remember, the details make the difference. As with all the rooms I decorate, I feel an eclectic mix of old and new provide a comfortable and inviting space. Most of my furniture and home décor are second hand and there’s nothing I like better than hunting for the perfect piece to complete a room. Whether it’s a pair of mix-matched chairs, a shabby chic storage cabinet, or a couple of old window mullions, the end result creates a personalized retreat that makes a house a home.
Master Bathroom
I don’t know about you, but I am a bathtub kind of girl. This master bath did not originally have a tub, so a clawfoot tub was added during the renovation. Taking a bubble bath in this beauty has been a game changer. Goodbye stress…hello relaxation! A freestanding tub was necessary for the design and space and I couldn’t be more happy with my choice. However, I quickly discovered a bath caddy was mandatory. I found this expandable caddy on Amazon and am in love with its beauty and functionality (linked below). Adding holiday décor to this space was so much fun! A freshly frosted wreath on the barn door, a variety of bottle brush trees, candles, and a few icicle ornaments help to complete a space that is the perfect balance of whimsy and romance. I hope you have enjoyed this home tour. I will be adding more photos in the next few days as I put finishing touches on the front porch, spare bedroom, and guest bathroom. Until then, I pray time spent preparing for the holidays allows you to slow down and truly enjoy the beauty of the season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior with friends and family.
