Home for the Holidays

If you know me, you  know that my personal decorating style is minimalist and clean. I don’t like “things”… “knick knacks” make me itchy… and visual clutter is my personal nemesis. My husband will joke that our house is the most clean, but most chaotic house in the world. I am constantly taking everything on our counters and throwing it in whatever drawer or cabinet is closest. Just seeing the paper towel roll sitting out on our kitchen counter is enough to make my skin crawl.

Believe me, I am aware how neurotic it sounds.

But then the holidays come around, and….

Something comes over me and my grinchy-clutter-hating-heart grows three sizes in a day. My minimalist style goes out the window and “the more the merrier” mentality takes over.  Literally. I love every second of decorating our home for the holidays. It brings back some of my fondest childhood memories, and that being said, I am so excited to share the process and the finished product with you. I hope you enjoy!

So to prepare… I flick on the fire and I simmer some of this on the stove. I put on some Christmas jammies… I cue up Celine Dion’s “These Are Special Times”<<< a cult classic… and I pour myself a hot cocoa cocktail — with extra marshmallows.  Duh. 🙂

Now we’re ready to begin. The first thing I take out – every year – is the garland for our mantle. To me, a house is not a home around the holidays without garland — both fresh and fake. I love to put a fresh wreath on my kitchen counter with candles placed in the center… and trim our front door with loads of fresh evergreen. However, above the fireplace, I use an artificial, pre-lit garland every year. This one here is a favorite of mine. The great part about garland is that you can dress it up however you want — I add pine cones and red berry sprigs for a little something extra. Next I put up our stocking holders (really loving these here as well), and then I hang our stockings. Joe and I have had these since we first started dating and it makes me so happy to see our fireplace mantle getting more and more crowded as our family expands.

Next, I take out all the little Christmas decor items that Joe and I have accumulated over the years. Maybe it’s a nutcracker from my grandmother, or an ornament that Joe made in the 3rd grade – whatever the case may be – I take our family heirloom holiday decor very seriously, and I love finding a place for everything.

As much as I love the old, I also love bringing in new items and touches of my own. These whimsical Santa mugs, this tortoise shell vase, and this magnolia centerpiece are just a few of the items we’ve added to our holiday decor this year.

Also…  I am a huge fan of magnolia leaves. The dark, glossy, green color is just so elegant. I love them so much in fact, that we used them in all the floral pieces at our wedding. Anyhow, they’re absolutely perfect for decorating around the holidays too, and we have this centerpiece on our dining room table. I’m obsessed. The best part is…  when you buy a piece with magnolia leaves, you can use it for many years to come. The leaves will dry and turn a lighter green, but they’re still just as beautiful. As with anything you love – take good care of it, and it will be yours forever! 🙂

I could go on and on about decorating for the holidays, but it’s probably better just to show you. Everything is linked – and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

Wishing you a very happy start to your holiday season… and happy decorating! XooX