It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And today I’m joining a fun group of friends to share a little holiday decorating inspiration. From East Coast to West Coast, we’ll show you how we’re getting our home’s ready for the season.
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Images by Monica Vargas Photography
If you’ve already decorated for the holiday’s kudos to you.
But don’t worry if your house isn’t decorated, neither is mine.
I’m just getting started which means looking back through my camera role to see how I decorated last year, and the year before that. A good reminder of the holiday decorations I already own that are stored away in the garage. It’s easy to forget, over the course of a year, what’s in all those holiday bins.
Once I get the bins down and pull everything out, I probably have most everything I need. At least it will keep me from buying things I don’t.
These storage bins are lightweight, stackable, and affordable
Christmas in the Library
My favorite room to decorate for Christmas is our library. It’s also the easiest. A few years ago, Ali Bentz helped me create a holiday template for the library, just about everything I need is stored away in my holiday bins. The only additions are natural elements, like pinecones, branches, oranges (with stems and leaves attached) … things that can be foraged from the yard or easily found at the grocery store. Let me show you how simply I decorate this room and maybe it will give you an idea or two.
A few years ago I invested in pre-lit garland for both our mantels. Jim uses Command Hooks and florist wire to hang it. By the way, the garland has a battery pack, so no cords.
Fresh pine wreaths for both windows provide that wonderful pine aroma that lets you know it’s Christmas. Traders Joe’s has really good pine wreaths, usually in a few sizes (I used 22″ for the library windows). Jim uses a tack at the top of the window frame to secure the velvet ribbon (it’s 1 3/8″, similar here).
A punch bowl filled with fresh magnolia leaves and a few gold leaf faux stems or picks add a little sparkle. Trader Joes usually has a plentiful supply of magnolia leaves during December. I haven’t looked for them yet, but I did see magnolia branches at our local speciality grocer, Diablo Foods. We have a magnolia tree in the front yard, but I’m squeamish about cutting branches. And a couple of years ago a second, magnificent magnolia tree died so I’m not messing with it.
Similar stems and picks ~
Second hand stores and Etsy are good places to find once popular punch bowls. I use reindeer moss to line the bowl.
I collect brass candlesticks – old and new – and mix them together. Most of my vintage candlesticks are from Elsie Green and Etsy. I always have a healthy supply of unscented, ivory tapers and dinner candles on hand.
Similar candlesticks ~
I look for my holiday themed books and cookbooks, as well as those with holiday colored covers, to place front and center on the coffee table. Home A Celebration, edited by Charlotte Moss, makes perfect holiday decor.
Years ago I bought a set of mini-pinecone glass ornaments. I can’t find anything like them now, they’re a treasured favorite.
Also on the coffee table, I fill metal florist compote bowls with oranges (stems and leaves intact) sitting on a few magnolia leaves. Here’s a more modern compote. Most grocery stores have a bin of oranges + stems this time of year. The compotes are sitting on faux pine and juniper berry wreaths (similar here).
I wish I could remember where I bought my mini-pinecone tree. It’s another decoration I’ve had for years, maybe decades. Some years it sits inside a small green or cranberry red wreath, and other times it stands alone.
Dried citrus slices are something I have on hand throughout the season to use as drinks garnish. I also toss them into bowls and wine coasters. If using dried citrus slices for drinks, make sure to buy the food grade citrus (like this one and this one). This citrus cocktail garnish set is a great holiday hostess gift … I bought a few for exactly that. It’s also easy to make your own dried citrus.
Similar pinecone trees ~
These frosted glass tree cloches are so pretty, with flameless tea light candles underneath.
Similar glass trees ~
Pinecones everywhere … from those I’ve collected in our yard to painted and frosted. Tossed into bowls or sprinkled around trays, pinecones are the workhorse of holiday decor.
Pinecones ~
My mom’s crystal candy dish is filled with metallic gold painted pinecones (similar here). My friend, Shelley, would spray paint them herself. I’m so not crafty. These brass hammered coasters are beautiful year round, and are especially holiday festive.
My blue and white tree plate is available again! It’s sitting on a gold easel (similar here). You can find my navy ginger jars here.
Last but not least, Jim’s bar … a stray orange, a pinecone, and a St. Nicholas figurine. Gold bar accessories bump up the festive factor.
The library will be ready to welcome Santa when he slides down the chimney. Maybe we’ll have a glass of bubbles waiting for him (one of his elves can steer the sleigh).
Sparkling wine glasses | Similar cocktail napkins
A few holiday decorations I’m eyeing and buying ~
- My friend Elizabeth influenced me to buy these flameless taper candles for our tree. We’ll put our tree up this weekend.
- These pinecone placecard holders in gold or pewter.
- This holiday bow patterned pillow cover is a favorite purchase from last year.
- You can never have enough cranberry bowl filler … and sugared cranberry bowl filler.
- And, finally, my recent list of 37 holiday gift ideas.
Holiday Party Outfit
We have a few holiday parties on the calendar and I shopped my closet for a party outfit that will carry me through all three (the guest lists don’t overlap so no one will be the wiser).
Satin Slip Dress | Cashmere Sweater (similar here and here) | Booties | Mini Bag | Necklace | Earrings
My Michael Stars satin slip dress was a last year purchase. It’s truly a hero basic that I’ll be wearing year after year … on its own during the warmer months, and paired with a pretty jacket or sweater for the holidays. My sweater is an oversized cashmere turtleneck from J.Crew a number years ago. Similar idea here. Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman’s Turtleneck would be nice too (in rich burgundy, teak, or heather grey).
I considered a slingback kitten heel like this or this, but opted for booties instead … I’m a fan of warm feet. On past outings I’ve worn the dress with my Via Spiga booties with a 4″ stiletto heel. Totally fabulous but they’re not going to be comfortable for a cocktail party. Influenced by Kim, I bought these kitten heel booties during last weekends sales. Again with the versatility, these booties are just as good with jeans as they are with a pretty skirt or holiday ensemble.
I’m excited to visit my creator friend’s to see how they’re preparing for the holidays.
Click the links below, let’s go …
And there you have it, a few Christmas decorations plus my holiday party outfit.
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Happy decorating, friends!
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