I know, I know it’s pretty early to be thinking about Christmas decorating but with everything I have on my plate with our master bathroom addition in the next few months, I’m trying to get a jump on my holiday planning. Flipping through Christmas catalogs and looking at the new holiday pieces from my favorite shops is something I look forward to all year! My holiday decor is always a mix of traditional elements that I re-use year after year plus some new favorite finds. I thought I’d share a look back at how I decorated my home for Christmas last year plus a look ahead to my plans so far this year. Ready to take a peek inside my already-scheming-about-the-holidays head? (post includes some affiliate links; full disclosure statement is available {here})
Our Family Room Christmas Decor
Last Year…
Last year I set up our Christmas tree at the front of our family room for the first time rather than at the back of the room between our bookcases like I had in past years. I loved it since we got to appreciate our glowing Christmas tree lights while hanging out and watching TV in this space instead of only seeing them when we walked into the room:
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You can see more pics of our family room last year {here} to check out the rest of my holiday decorating in this space but two of my favorite things were the pretty wood ladder that I decorated to hold the Christmas cards we received and of course I always love the pillows! Last year I went with this mix of neutrals:
They included {this white tassel end pillow cover} which is my tried and true year-round favorite, {this textured gray pillow cover}, and {this lumbar fawn pillow cover}. I loved the warm, welcoming, relaxing vibe they created and will be re-using at least some of them in our living room this coming holiday season.
This Year…
This year our Christmas tree placement is going to go on repeat and I’ll be adding a wreath above my TV/art wall again but I want to mix it up with something different so have been on the hunt for a new holiday wreath! So far this wreath found {here} is my front-runner. I’m a sucker for anything with bells!
It would look gorgeous on a front door too! I’ll also be adding some new pillows to mix in with a few of my textured neutral pillows. I haven’t figured out an exact pillow plan yet but I’ve spent way more time than I should have searching and these are the ones on my possibilities list (links for each pillow are below):
1 – Plaid pom pom lumbar pillow cover – found {here}
2 – Red embroidered pillow cover – found {here}
3 – Candy cane stripe lumbar pillow – found {here}
4 – Patterned “frolic” pillow – found {here}
5 – Embroidered dot pillow cover – found {here}
6 – Red plaid pillow cover – found {here}
7 – Red geometric pillow cover – found {here}
8 – Light gray French knot pillow – found {here}
9 – Green washed velvet pillow cover – found {here}
10 – Red and black plaid pillow cover – found {here}
11 – Winter berry pillow – found {here}
12 – Candlewick pom pom pillow covers – found {here}
Our Living Room Fireplace Mantel Decor
Last Year…
Last year on our living room fireplace mantel, I used the same stockings as in the past several years (sorry – no link for those since they’re no longer available) that I dressed up with {this 2″ velvet ribbon} in dark grey:
If you’re a bit bored of your stockings, adding some pretty ribbon is sometimes all that it takes to give them a new look! I also used {these brass hurricanes} (a pair in each size) filled with two of {these 6″ x 6″ pillar candles} in white for the large size hurricane and two of {these white pillar candles} in the 4″ x 4.5″ size for the small hurricanes. For greenery, I used two of {these eucalyptus garlands} and intermingled some magnolia leaves, sparkly ornaments, frosted pinecones, and frosted blueberries throughout.
This Year…
This year those same stockings are going on repeat and I’m reusing the hurricanes on my dining room table. I’m also adding a few of {these adorable candlelight houses} – they’re so cute and will look beautiful with lit candles at night!
These cute houses also have a hook on the back so you could create a pretty little arrangement on the wall with them if you wanted to. For greenery I’ll either reuse my eucalyptus garland or I’ve been eyeing {this pre-lit gold-leaf magnolia garland} that would be beautiful too:
And I plan to incorporate {this pretty wood bead garland} that I just ordered!
Our Bonus Room Christmas Decor
Last Year (& This Year Too!)…
Last year I added a second tree in our upstairs bonus room outside of the girls’ rooms – it had a blue and white theme just like the rest of the space and we really enjoyed having it up there:
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Other than changing up the tree ribbon a bit (I’d love to find a beautiful blue plaid ribbon this year), this tree will be on repeat. I bought a new woven Christmas tree collar last year and I’m definitely sticking with that too:
It sold out several weeks before Christmas last year but I saw they brought it back again this year – you can find it {here}.
Our Front Porch Christmas Decor
My front door is one spot where I go traditional and do the same thing every year. I clip greenery from the ginormous tree in our front yard, berry branches from our back yard, and add {these bells} and some ribbon for a quick and easy door dec that I love! This is last year’s version:
For my wreath bows I always chose wire-edged ribbon (preferably 2.5″ wide) so you can fluff them up and give them a great shape! I found the 2.5″ watercolor red ribbon {here} (it looks like the red is no longer available but there is a lighter pinky-red “salmon” version). Last year I didn’t do a whole lot more with my front porch. I simplified things and simply filled my planters with a mix of greenery:
This Year…
I’d like to beef up my decorations on my front porch a bit this year by adding greenery to my new urn planters too and also by bringing this trio of lanterns found {here} back into the mix!
So that’s where things are at! I’m going super minimal with Halloween decorations this year since chaos is reigning supreme with people in and out of my house working on the addition. But I’m looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving up right with a table that I’m doing in collaboration with Macy’s gorgeous Martha Stewart Collection – here’s a little sneak peek of my plan:
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Such a busy time of year but also one of my favorites – do you love it too? Thanks as always for stopping by!
XOXO,
Everything looks so beautiful! Thanks for sharing your ideas.
I’ve been thinking of Christmas myself. I know it’s early but I’m in the mood so like you I’m planning this year’s decor. Your trees were lovely last year and I’m sure they’ll be equally as beautiful this year. I noticed the throw pillows are red. Are you going to incorporate red into your theme?
I think it’s the ideal time to start thinking of Christmas. Retail has pushed the date so that if you don’t order what you might like you run the risk of it being gone by Dec. 1st.
I love your selections and I really liked your TV/Family room last year.
xo,
Karen
Beautiful ideas! Those candlelight houses are simple, yet elegant. I really like your (last year’s) front door wreath, it’s Christmas-y but non-traditional. Thanks for sharing the fabulous pillow collection. I like to decorate with deep mossy green, cream and natural materials at Christmas. That cute ‘frolic’ patterned pillow along with the green washed, velvet pillows will be perfect in our den.
Such great ideas! I love the houses with the candles, they are so elegant.
Last year I looked locally and all over the internet for green/blue plaid ribbon and literally never found it. I had a whole theme I wanted to do and eventually had to give up and just use plain navy. Let me know if you find a blue plaid ribbon!