Our Christmas Decor | Part 1

Good morning friend!  Happy Friday!  I’m super excited to welcome you into our wintery, Christmas home this year!

I always start decorating early because it takes me a long time to settle in and call it done.  I’m actually still not there yet, but I wanted to at least give you a peek at what I’ve done so far on the first floor.

Hopefully, this gives you some holiday decor inspiration for your own home and if there’s something you’d like to add to your home I tried my best to link everything for you so you could easily find it online.

This weekend we plan to work on the second floor, and James said he wanted to help decorate his room.  I’m excited for that!

I ordered him this tree and he has lots of special ornaments to decorate it with.

OUR CHRISTMAS DECOR

This year, I wanted to create a warm and cozy environment with lots of texture and a sense of calm.

I’m embracing my cozy minimalist style more and more and leaning into the fact that my visual clutter threshold is low.  I kept putting up decor, then editing and scaling back because it felt like too much.

I feel like I’ve achieved a look and feel that welcomes the winter season and celebrates the birth of Jesus and the Christmas holiday.

I have young kids at home (ages 5 & 11), so I still like to have magical moments and whimsical, playful elements in my decor.  They delight in seeing those things and that brings me a lot of joy.

THE LIVING ROOM

Let’s start in the living room, since that’s my favorite part of our decor this year.  I’m crazy for that rich, dark green color, mixed with cream and contrasted with black.

Green Velvet PillowLeopard PillowGingham PillowCream PillowLampPottery Barn Sectional • Chunky Knit ThrowLeopard BlanketSimilar Rug • Coffee Table/OttomanWooden Tray

I found lush, dark green velvet pillow covers at Pottery Barn and simply added them to the combination of pillows already on my couch.

Add in an oversized chunky knit throw and I was already on my way to a new look that I love!

I layered one six-foot garland on the mantle, sprinkled in twinkle lights and beaded garland, then added three faux fur stockings to the end.

Stocking Holders

To create a more wintery feel, I replaced the fiddle leaf fig tree with a skinny Christmas tree.  I really like the look of those woven tree collars, and got the same look by putting the three in a big woven basket I already had.

We’ve lived here for 11 years and have never put a tree in that spot, but I’m really liking it!  I’m loving the look of those woven tree collars, but I don’t have any, so I just used a large woven basket as the base.

We don’t have any ornaments on that tree, but the minimalist in me doesn’t think it needs any.  I adore how she looks just with the warm glow of the lights!  Maybe we’ll add some later . . .

Black Candle HolderLinksWooden Trees

I already really like the look of our coffee table styling, but adding these two simple wooden trees added more height and created visual interest there.

I plopped in a sprig of greenery to my amber vase and we’re calling it good.

The one thing throwing me off was the business of the pink and blue rug that I had in here.

I’ve enjoyed it for a few years for the pretty pattern softness it adds, but the colors weren’t vibing with the clean look I was going for.  So, I rolled her up to reveal the natural rug we have underneath.

That rug was one of the very first things I bought for this house 12 years ago! It’s from Crate & Barrel, but I think it’s been discontinued because I haven’t been able to find anything with that chevron pattern.

Trust me though, after 12 years, the rug has seen better days, which is why I like layering another rug on top.

So, I hopped online and found two really pretty plush cream rugs that may go on top.  They were such a good price that I couldn’t pass it up.  I’ll be sure to report back on how they look.

Green Velvet PillowLeopard PillowGingham Pillow • LampPottery Barn Sectional

Wine & Food BookPerfect Neutrals BookThis is Home BookClocheLampCandle Trimmer Set

On the end table, I added some books and filled the cloche with faux snow and my favorite green ornaments.

Arrangement • Marble Tray

Gotta keep the remotes handy and everything looks better on a tray!

OUR CHRISTMAS TREE

It’s never Christmas until the tree goes up!  This is the same tree I’ve had for the last three years and she’s a beauty! 10 feet tall and full of flocked goodness!

Amazon TreePottery Barn Rug

I kept the ornaments neutral and sparkly in a mix of silver, gold and white.

The ornaments are from various places like Target, Homegoods and Hobby Lobby.

Similar Train

This galvanized train has been making an appearance for so many years.  He’s a Homegoods find, but this one on Amazon looks nearly identical.

One thing I was so happy to add this year was this darling bar cart!  I searched online to find one that would perfectly fit the space and also be functional for decorating.

I’m so happy with the gold one I found and I was able to assemble it in a jiffy!

Bar CartMercury Glass Candle holdersOrnamentsHouse OrnamentHoly OrnamentVases

Wooden Nutcracker

 OrnamentsHouse OrnamentHoly Ornament

DINING ROOM

Our dining room is still set for Thanksgiving, but I did add this little tree to the table that was where our big tree lives.

Wall Tile LettersPotChristmas TreeSnowflake Pillow

This is the first year I’ve put a tree on a table, but I adore how it looks and you can really see it better since it’s at eye level.  It was in Jordan’s room last year.

I also put the tree in a decorate pot I had on hand.  I used floral foam to secure tree pole so it would stay put and not wobble.

THE FOYER

This year, I wanted our adorable stockings to be displayed where we could enjoy seeing them, especially since I went the extra mile and had them monogrammed last year.

Stockings • Merry Christmas Stocking Holder  • Similar Stocking HoldersVases • Similar Branches with Berries

Round MirrorTruck

I bought that big round wooden mirror and set it here to see what it would look like if I replaced the taller rectangular mirror, but kinda liked how it looked layered like this for now!

Vases • Similar Branches with Berries

THE KITCHEN

Of course the kitchen is the heart of the home and sees the most action.  I always struggle with wanting it to look festive, but I like clean counters, so it’s a balancing act.

Similar Advent CalendarRugTopJeansHeels

TraySimilar Pine FillerSimilar Amber VaseMarble Mortar and PestleSimilar KettleSimilar Cutting BoardSimilar Art

Similar ArtKnife SetSimilar Salt Mill

I found this beautiful art on a wooden canvas at our annual Nutcracker Market this year.  The colors are soothing and I love the minimal art.

Jordan was quick to point out, “no one has eyes.” Love that girl so much! ♥

TraySimilar Pine FillerSimilar Amber VaseMarble Mortar and Pestle

I’m keeping it functional and pretty with a crock filled with wooden spoons and the easiest way to add a bit of winter is by adding greenery to a vase.

Similar FillerVaseSimilar Cookie Jar

 Cocoa Bar Essentials • 3-Tiered TrayHot Cocoa Sign • Jura Coffee MakerStriped MugSimilar Plaid Plates

Nothing happens here before coffee, so naturally this is one of my favorite parts of the kitchen.

Similar Mug

BREAKFAST ROOM

We eat the majority of our meals at the breakfast table, so I like to keep it clean and usable.  I added a simple centerpieces on a tray and filled it with Epsom salt to look like snow.

 TraySimilar ArrangementSimilar Candle Holder

Salt and Pepper Grinders

Similar Nativity Scene

The Nativity Scene is the first thing we put up this year and it’s so special because it was a gift from my parents.

Vase

Console Table • Plaid Picture FramesGinger JarBlack VaseWhite Berry BranchesMercury Glass Candle Holders

The plaid frames with pictures of the kids and Santa is one of my favorite holiday things to display.  I love to see how they’ve grown each year.

I even found a pic of me and Santa from when I was Jordan’s age – I want to get that one framed too.

Black VaseWhite Berry Branches

JORDAN’S PLAYROOM

We’ve just started decorating Jordan’s playroom, and this is where our collection of nutcrackers lives this year.  The kids usually pick out a new one each year and it’s fun to see what they choose.

 MirrorConsole Table

Similar Nutcrackers

Those Grinch framed photos are so fun, they’re from Hobby Lobby.

TopJeans

Similar Snowman

I hope you enjoyed coming inside our wintery, Christmas home!  Until next time, this is where you can find me this weekend!   When I’m not here, I’ll be decorating the rest of the house and I can’t wait to bring you Part 2!

If you missed it this week on the blog, I shared three yummy Thanksgiving recipes, Thanksgiving decor you can get on Amazon Prime, the best sales this week, and winter styles under $50!

Tuesday Goodies are here and my latest Amazon Live is here!

Looking for gift guides? Those are all in one handy spot here!

WEEKEND STEALS

Below is a list of sales (and discount codes) for the weekend!

Abercrombie • Up to 30% off select styles + FREE ship on orders over $75

Amazon • Shop my Amazon store HERE

Anthropologie • Shop all Sale items HERE + FREE ship on orders over $50

Athleta • All sale items up to 60% off

Banana Republic • Extra 50% off sale styles HERE

BackCountry • 20% off one full priced item

Evereve • Shop sale items HERE + FREE ship on orders $50+

Express • $20 all Women’s bottoms

GAP • 40% off your purchase with code: TREAT + extra 10% off with code: MORE

Gibson • Use code HONEY15 for 15% off sitewide

JCrew • Up to 50% off holiday ready to wear styles

Kendra Scott • shop sale items HERE

LOFT • 30% off full priced items with code: GIFTS

Madewell • 30% off your purchase, use code: OHJOY

Nordstrom Rack • gift finder shop with up to 65% off

Old Navy • 50% off storewide sale

Target • Shop Targets top deals HERE

Victoria Emerson • 75% off sale styles HERE

Have a fantastic weekend friend!

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

14 Comments

  1. Lovely!
    I was SO afraid of my Grandma’s nativity set when I was little because no one had eyes!!! That cracked me up when I read your daughter’s comment!
    In that little girl pic of you and Santa I sure see your sweet son looks like his mama
    My ex husband stocking always goes up on our mantle- it is a Grinch too!! It fits him- ha!
    Your home look so inviting- have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thank you for sharing everything with your readers

    1. Yep! We’ve affectionally nicknamed him that so it fits!;) My mom bought Jordan googly eyes for the angel in her room that doesn’t have eyes. 🙂

  2. Am I the first to comment on how much James looks like you? Have never seen it till that Christmas picture if you when you were a child!

  3. This is probably a really dumb question but I can’t figure out how you got the snow and Christmas balls in the cloche. I would like to re-create this look but I don’t know how to do it without the snow going everywhere. Did you turn it upside down? It’s probably something very simple but I’m not seeing it.

    1. Yes! Great question. I put the snow on the wooden base and left it upright. I turned the cloche upside down and placed the ornaments inside. I kind of held the ornaments in place as I turned it back over and placed it on the wooden base with the snow. I hope this helps!

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