Welcome to Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours Christmas 2015, friends! Today really kicks off the Christmas season for me. 37 bloggers are all sharing how they’re decking their halls and getting ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
Decorating for Christmas is always one of my favorite things. I usually choose a theme and color scheme, buy a good bit of new and DIY, and no nook or cranny is left untouched. I love it. But this year, I’ve been craving simple. While I love my normal decorating, it can sort of take over the season. I decided that I wanted to focus on the purpose behind the season and enjoying it with our family. I made a rule that I wouldn’t buy one single thing for this tour other than the live greenery we buy each year. No pre-planned color palette, no new pillows and throws, nothing other than items I already had. I wanted to just have fun creating with what I had and I think it’s the most fun I’ve ever had decorating for Christmas!
Our house is still “unfinished” and you’ll definitely see glimpses of that in this tour. But I decided to let that go and see the beauty in the imperfect. That really symbolizes what the meaning Christmas is all about to me…something special comes into the unfinished and imperfect and makes it beautiful.
Nothing says Christmas to me like live pine garlands. I buy some every year from Trader Joe’s and at $6 for 20 feet, you can’t beat it! I love draping them over every doorway and surface that I can.
We finished up our entry recently, just in time for Christmas. I really wanted to give it some Christmas love to greet us right inside the door.
I put our nativity on the entry table so that it’s the first thing you see and it reminds us of the reason for the season. I bought this nativity six years ago when we were engaged. I was so excited to have it for our new home and our first married Christmas and now, I love putting it out each year.
Each year, I get questions about it. I found it clearanced at a small Christmas shop. I love how the old, rustic nativity pairs with the modern Britt Bass abstract. On the other side of the entry, we have a little mudroom that’s getting a lot of use now.
I’ll talk more about my new cotton finds in a minute, but I’m in love with this simple cotton wreath!
I went simple in our dining room this year. No tablescape or elaborate centerpiece, just a magnolia garland and some candles.
I know the dining room looks very different than the last time y’all saw it! We just recently made a few changes and I’ll be talking in detail about it later this week!
On the other side of the dining room, we moved in our hutch from the last dining room. And I jump at any opportunity for an extra Christmas tree.
While I didn’t plan an overall theme up front like last year’s tour, you’ll see that themes in certain areas still emerged. That’s just naturally how I work as I started decorating. I wanted a berry colored garland on this tree to pull out the reds and pinks from the thrift store floral behind the table. I cut strips of some fabric I had in my stash and tied them together to create long garlands.
I kept all of the ornaments neutral: pinecones, gold and silver. The buffalo check “tree skirt” is a throw from Target that I love! I know you’ve seen it in a lot of different spaces in my photos – I love moving it around!
The kitchen is the biggest example of making what you have work. I know many of you will remember from my last kitchen post that this room is still very much unfinished. We really wanted to finish it (install lights, sconces, the hood, and shelves) before Christmas, but we just ran out of time. Instead of stressing about it or taking our holiday weekends to put towards it, we decided to push it until after the new year and make it work for now.
On the sink wall, we hung artwork over the electrical boxes where the sconces will go. Don’t worry, the hubby is an electrician, so he made sure we were safe. A little garland over the window and one of my favorite childhood Christmas keepsakes in the window sill make me happy.
On the wall over the stove, we just had a big, empty space. A hood and shelves will fill this space soon, but instead of staring at the blank wall until it happened, we decided to dress it up just a little. Thrift store art takes center stage over the stove and live wreaths hang on each side. My Christmas tree collection is the perfect centerpiece for our island. It still leaves plenty of room for cooking and serving.
Even our bedroom got a little Christmas cheer. While I love using color, I also love having a very neutral space where I can really change things up for different seasons.
We still don’t have a headboard or really any decor in this room, but big euro shams, art, and colorful patterns create a statement.
I love this mix in our bedroom right now and I especially love that every single item was either handmade or purchased at a thrift store (other than the white comforter). That’s right up my alley.
And now for the main event. The living room steals the show, for me.
I’m so happy about the new chandelier. I’ll share details on it later this week, too, but I sure do love how it turned out and how it sets off this room.
I got the art for the fireplace a little while ago, but haven’t shared it yet. It’s from Minted and I love how it ties this whole room together. It’s not technically “for Christmas,” but I love how it looks with my decorations this year!
The fireplace is painted my new favorite shade of dark green, Benjamin Moore Hidden Falls and I love how things pop against it. I love statement and sort of haphazard garlands on a mantel. I first layered on a live pine garland and then this cotton beauty. I’ve been hunting for a cotton garland and wreath for the last several years and finally found some that are decent priced. I picked them out for my Thanksgiving tablescape, but they didn’t get here in time. Perfect for my Christmas decor!
The stockings are our “traditional” stockings. My mom made the “L” and “C” stockings for our first Christmas. I painted on the letters and was so proud when we hung these up! In other years, I’ve considered using something else that matched that year’s decor, but I’ve decided that hanging these year after year and remembering their history is most important to me. The other two are for Gracie and Rosie and I purchased them last year.
For this tree, I made a tassel garland out of plum fabric that I already had just by cutting and tying.
The skirt is a woven thrift store throw I found years ago that has a variety of colors in it. For the ornaments on this tree, I decided to stick to colored balls. I’ve collected a variety over the years from thrift and antique stores and Hobby Lobby. I put them all together in here and I love the classic, but colorful look it has.
We had to move the new living room chairs to the opposite side of the room to make room for the tree and I’m actually loving them there! They may stay after Christmas, but for now, I love that all attention goes to the tree. There’s just something so magical about twinkling lights and glittery ornaments.
Even little Rosie is captured by the magic of her first Christmas tree.
Thanks for touring our Christmas home, y’all! I had the best time creating and decorating this year and I’m still going! I’ll be sharing our family tree and Rosie’s room decked out for Christmas next week.
For now, I’m just soaking up every day of this magical season here with my family.
Head on over to the next stop on the tour, my talented friend Anissa from House Seven Blog.
And make sure you check out the rest of the tours with the schedule below:
MONDAY:
The White Buffalo Styling Co.
TUESDAY:
WEDNESDAY:
THURSDAY:
FRIDAY:
lindsay, it all looks so beautiful- i love the cozy new look of the bedroom with its textiles, and the kitchen is coming along fabulously! i adore the living room- the garland you made for the tree is awesome! and the cotton on the mantle is so fun!
Thanks so much, Cassie! I actually thought about you when I put the bedroom textiles together – I thought, Cassie will like this…it looks like her bedroom haha!
So so beautiful Lindsay and I love the photo of Rosie looking at the tree. Thanks for having me again too.
So happy to have you, Julia! That’s my favorite photo too 🙂
It all looks really, really beautiful, Lindsay. I love that last picture of Rosie staring up at tree – I still kind of feel that way when I turn the lights on 🙂 And I love how into the decorating my girls are. It’s the best part of the Christmas season for me.
Jennifer, that has to be so fun when they’re old enough to really get into everything! I don’t want to wish her little life away, but man that will be awesome and exciting!
It’s beautiful! Your photography never ceases to amaze me.
Oh my gosh, Julie, you’re sweet. I feel like that’s the area I most need to improve on! You made my day 🙂
It looks gorgeous and so cosy! I adore the pine garlands and can’t believe the price!! Wish we had those here! Thanks so much for hosting again, I seriously don’t know how you do it!! Your home looks fab xx
Thanks so much, Kimberly! I know, they have the best prices on greenery! I love it 🙂 I couldn’t really justify buying live each year until I found that! So happy to have you 🙂
It’s all so beautiful Lindsay! That chandelier in your living room is gorgeous too! Your home is full of so much love! Merry Christmas!
xo,
Shauna
Thanks so much, Shauna! The chandelier makes me oh so happy! Merry Christmas to you too!
I love seeing these peeks of your new home! It is all looking stunning! We were definitely on the same page again this year as far as where our hearts and minds are at. I didn’t buy anything new either except some gift wrap and cedar garland. We have a nativity on our entry table too 🙂 The living room is just stunning! It is coming together beautifully! You must be loving this Christmas season most of all 🙂 xo
Thank you, friend! I am loving it and I’m loving this season so far with our family! The simplicity is refreshing 🙂
Oh that picture of Rosie just melts my heart!! Your home is beautiful, too…:)
Thank you Amber!!! It’s my favorite for sure 🙂
Everything looks so pretty and cozy, loving your tree in your living room! You’ve found the perfect spot to showcase its beauty!
It’s gorgeous, Lindsay! I’m dying over that chandelier. Love it all.
Can you do me a favor and email or text me your new address please? I want to make sure to get you a Christmas card!
NICE! Your dining space, and those club chairs, are my absolute fave!!!
It looks so cozy and pretty! Loving what you did in the kitchen until you get your updates done 😉 The cotton garland with the pine is spot on!
Thanks so much, Whitney! I’m actually liking the kitchen now, which is so nice for the holidays! I’m so bad about just seeing the to-do list and I’m trying to let that go!
Simple is my mantra as well. This is my first Christmas to decorate our home so I invested in a few things, but made several things too. Love seeing how your home is coming together! It’s beautiful. The tassels remind me of some ornaments my mom made for their first Christmas!
amandakatherine.com
Thanks so much, Amanda! I’m loving simple this year. I usually put pressure on myself to do so much for Christmas and this year with moving and a baby, I just needed to dial back, but I still loved decorating! I had a blast 🙂
Lindsay!! So many beautiful things here!! I love the dark grey of your walls….yum! Your nativity scene is precious, and I love that you have two trees! But most of all I love the light blue chandelier! What a great color. It sure makes everything pop. And your new chairs are spectacular. xx
Thank you so much, Albertina! So happy to have you in this tour 🙂
Seriously, your use of color and pattern gives me goosebumps. I can’t even. Can we talk about that fireplace? Like, I would never have the guts, but it’s magical. Throw in a baby blue chandelier and that’s GENIUS!! SO in love. 🙂
Thanks so much for hosting this beautiful tour. It’s an honor to be a part of it!
xo Michael
Michael, I can’t tell you what an honor that is coming from you!!! I admire everything you do so much! Thank you 🙂 So happy to have you!
Beautiful Lindsay! I love love love your fireplace – the color, the tile, the lights, the art, and the cotton garland! Your whole home looks lovely and joyful and that last photo just takes the cake!!
Thanks so much, Lisa! The last is by far my favorite 🙂
PPPLLLLLLLLELASE come decorate my house!! I’m obsessing over every photo in your tour and feel the need to just start all the way over so that I can do it like you did 🙂 xoxoxo
Oh my gosh Carrie, you are so sweet! Yours is always amazing! You made my day, though 🙂
I love your usage of simple raw garland and the wreaths in the kitchen! Beautifully done!
Awwww, Rosie looks so precious next to your gorgeous tree! Beautiful home tour as always! Thanks for having me this year 🙂
lindsey, i’ve really been enjoying the christmas home tour so thank you for organizing it. i just wanted you to know that i’ve seen many beautiful homes but i keep coming back to your house, it’s easily my favorite! i love your choice of colors and the fresh greenery. thanks for sharing it!
Your home is beautiful. I love all the simple touches. The mantle with the art and cotton garland is perfection and so unique.
Everything looks stunning, Lindsay! I especially love your mantle! Just perfect! Thank you for having me on this awesome tour! Xo
I love it all! The colors on your tree, the tassels, and the color of your fireplace! FABULOUS!!!
Hey Lindsay!
I’m new to your blog but found my way here via Mimosa & Lane, one of the bloggers you’ve featured on your Christmas Home Tours. You’ve done such a lovely job decorating your home for the holidays! I love how you’ve decided to keep it simple and focus on the reason for the season.
Anna
Aww thank you so much Anna! I’m so happy you’re here 🙂
Lindsay, I went to school with your mom and dad. I don’t know if you remember, but I invited you to be a judge in our womanless beauty pageant at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church about twelve years ago. My, how time flies!. I so enjoy keeping up with your sweet family on your blog. You are such a talented young lady! I can just feel your love for God, your family, and for making your house a home for your family and others to enjoy .Your house is just beautiful and so full of love! I wish you and your family a blessed Christmas and wonderfully happy new year!
Aww Rebecca, thank you so much for reaching out and saying that. I’m so grateful to hear that today and it really brightened my day!
Love how simply you chose to decorate your home this year and the reason behind it! What a inspiring message 🙂
Thanks so much, Brenlee! That made my day 🙂
Ohmywow!! It’s all so so gorgeous, and I love every detail. And congrats on assembling another great round of talented bloggers…your tour has filled my weekend with hours of delicious eye candy!!! xoxo
Thanks so much, Cassie! That means so much coming from you 🙂
I love your home and have got a serious crush on that green color as well! Thanks for sharing!
Love the magnolia leave centrepiece and how the garlands aren’t all fluffed to “magazine perfection.” Looks nice and inviting!
Love that Christmas Nativity decoration set, so sweet!