Christmas time is here! Well, sort of. Anyway, it is after Thanksgiving and that definitely makes all kinds of Christmas decorating acceptable.
This week I gathered some of my favorite creative bloggers to join with me in sharing their Christmas décor.
Today I am sharing how we spread Christmas cheer throughout our home and like all of our other decorating, it involves lots of handmade projects, vintage finds, and meaningful décor.
I’m not one to buy all new Christmas decorations each year, but I do like to mix things up a little by using what we have in different ways and sprinkling in some new handmade décor.
So welcome to our home!
You can probably already see that I don’t exactly stick to traditional Christmas colors. Our foyer is dressed up with a sweet little wintery forest and nativity.
The trees were clear glass candy jars I collected from thrift stores and painted silver and aqua and the nativity is a discount store cheapy that I added a bit of sparkle to.
In our family room, the Christmas tree definitely steals the show.
I just want to grin every time I look at it – the snowy DIY flocking looks amazing both with and without lights.
The Christmas mantel is a hodge-podge of things gathered from around the house mixed with colorful aqua and red Christmas ornaments.
Of course, it would be much more fun to decorate without the TV, but this is real life and that’s where our TV lives.
I wish our stockings were knitted by someone we love, but actually they were collected over the past few years from various stores. I love that they all go together without actually matching.
(And it makes it much easier to add stockings as our family has grown.)
The blue and red pom pom garland is new this year – I was amazed at how easy it was to make!
The rest of the mantel is similar to how it has looked the past few years. I adore candlelight at Christmas time so these silver candelabras tend to go on the mantel each year.
I thought about doing something totally different this year but it seemed silly to give up something I really like just for the sake of change. There is definitely something to be said for seeing the same familiar things each Christmas.
The kitchen didn’t get a whole lot of Christmasification but it did get a sweet little tree on the chalkboard wall. I’m planning to stick our Christmas cards there and I got things started with a few cards I saved from years past.
Which brings us to the dining room.
This light, bright arrangement on our antique buffet might just be my favorite one in the house. The big gray mirror lives here all year round but I added the white mirror that I made for the foyer last Christmas and the glittery blue Merry sign that was hanging over the mantel last year. And a glittery star garland to top it all off.
And finally, my husband’s nutcracker collection needed a home.
When he was little, his grandmother began a tradition of giving him a nutcracker every year for Christmas. When she passed away, I carried on the tradition. Others have also added to his collection over the years and he now has close to 40 nutcrackers.
I didn’t pull them all out, just a few favorites to decorate the wall of bookshelves in the living room.
A few thrifted mirrors, some ornaments, and a handmade sign help break things up.
And now don’t forget to visit the rest of the homes on the tour – there are some amazing homes here! Catch a sneak peak from the photos below and follow the links to see everyone’s homes.
Lovely Etc. * Thrifty and Chic * Bigger than the Three of Us
One Krieger Chick * All Things With Purpose * The Happy Housie * Blue I Style * Little Red Brick House
Southern State of Mind * Seeking Lavender Lane * Designing Vibes * The Tale of an Ugly House * Domicile 37
It All Started With Paint * Little House of Four * Boxy Colonial * The Turquoise Home
A House Full of Sunshine * Making it in the Mountains * Casa Watkins * Shabby Grace Blog
cassie @ primitive & proper says
love your tree and the pom poms! so cheery!
Carrie says
Thanks Cassie! The pom poms were inspired by your recent post!
Linda @ It All Started With Paint says
I love your Christmas home! So cozy and cheery! And that flocked tree is amazing — as well as your husband’s nutcracker collection!
Thanks for organizing this amazing tour!
:) Linda
Carrie says
Thanks Linda! I love my tree! And I love that my husband lets me do what I want with his nutcrackers each year. :)
Anne Davidson says
Love the DIY flocked tree–especially with the lights on! The chalkboard christmas card display is super cute as well!
Carrie says
Thanks Anne! There’s nothing like Christmas lights!
Sara @ Shabby Grace Blog says
WOW! So beautiful. I LOVE the christmas tree on your chalkboard, so cute!!! Thanks for hosting!
Carrie says
Thanks Sara!
Alicia @ Thrifty and Chic says
Carrie, This is beautiful! I love the aqua and red theme. It looks gorgeous in your house. Love the pom poms!! I need to make some of those…in white of course :) lol
And your tree, this really makes me want to flock mine but I’m so worried about the mess of putting it up and down each Christmas :( Yours looks beautiful!
Carrie says
Thanks Alicia! I love my flocked tree and I know a flocked tree would look beautiful with all the white in your home. But it is messy for sure. And I am loving the pom poms too! I just made those a few days ago and they were so much easier than I thought. I made some big fluffy white ones too but haven’t decided where to put them yet.
[email protected] says
Everything looks great! I’m all about bringing the same things that we love out year after year :). And I LOVE that chalkboard tree. I meant to do something with our chalkboard wall for Christmas, but I suspect I’m not going to get around to it at this point. Next year!
Carrie says
Thanks Gretchen! There are so many things I was thinking about doing that will have to wait for next year too. I finally had to just say enough was enough! Now for the fun part – sitting back and enjoying it this month.
[email protected] says
Words can’t describe how much I love that tree on the chalkboard. I adore it! Love your flocked tree as well.
Carrie says
Thanks Ashley! I really love how it turned out too! And I love that it could seriously go anywhere – all you need is a little bit of wall and some garland!
Jessica says
I love your nutcrackers….I thought I was the only one, but you have a very unique collection. Love it!
Carrie says
Thanks Jess! I have so much fun hunting down a new one every year!
Deb says
Very pretty Carrie! I love it….your tree looks absolutely gorgeous! Thank you again for hosting this : )
Carrie says
Thanks so much Deb!
Sarah @ Little Red Brick House says
Carrie, I love your home! Such a fun idea doing an aqua and red theme. Your tree is so gorgeous and it totally inspired me to flock mine. Thank you, by the way! :) And how sweet is your little nutcracker tradition. Love!
Carrie says
Thank you Sarah! I just saw your tree and it looks gorgeous! Flocked trees may be messy but they are 100% worth it in my opinion.
Angela, Blue i Style says
I love the white, red and aqua color scheme! It’s so pretty and I love how the flocked tree looks next to your white brick fireplace! So pretty and fun!
Carrie says
Thank you Angela!
Karen @ a house full of sunshine says
Oh wow, Carrie – how utterly gorgeous in every detail!! Your entryway made my jaw drop. That planked wall is stunning, and the simple vignette of little trees is perfect against it. Totally magazine-worthy! And the flocked tree all glowing with lights – beautiful! I also adore your sweet chalkboard-wall tree as a way to display Christmas cards – what a clever idea that looks amazing. Thanks for the inspiration and for hosting this tour! xoxo
Carrie says
Thank you so much Karen! You are so sweet and I am so glad you joined in this tour with me!
Dawn Pinnataro says
WOW, your flocked tree and fireplace/mantle area are lovely. Love the colors of the tree when lit up.
Carrie says
Thank you Dawn! There is nothing like Christmas lights!
Krista says
Super pretty Carrie! I LOVE your tree and the yarn garland – so many soft and pretty Christmas touches throughout!!
Carrie says
Thank you so much Krista!
Laura @ The Turquoise Home says
I love the pops of blue and the Christmas tree on the chalkboard. I may borrow that idea next year. beautiful home!!
Carrie says
Thank you so much Laura! Borrow away!
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins says
Carrie your home is gorgeous!! I love your chalkboard tree!!!! So beautiful. Everything is spectacular. Can’t wait to see more details on your tree this week. Pinning and sharing!
Carrie says
Thanks so much Stephanie! I am looking froward to sharing my tree too – it took me a long time to figure out how to decorate it in a way that I really love.
Wer ruft An says
Absolutely adorable! I love it!