Woman in Real Life

I started shopping for Christmas gifts pretty early this year, but other than that I can't say I'm mastering my to-do list. I tend to get distracted from my Christmas decorating goals by household projects (usually decluttering-based) like my recent craft room reorganization. As a result, I've been doing my Christmas decorating in (slow) stages. What you see here is stage one. What you don't see is the Christmas tree we cut down fresh from the Christmas tree farm this past Sunday. That is currently in the corner of our kitchen, decorated only with mini lights. The rest of the tree decorating falls into stage two. Bedroom Christmas decor will come after that.


For our Christmas mantel, in the family room, I went with very simple decor. Whenever I'm not sure where to start, I go back to my vintage brass candle holders and my milk glass collection. They work for every season. I added a white crystal garland, a few pine cones, faux floral berry pods and a couple of ornaments. I also hung a white twig Christmas tree from the mirror and kept up the little star-dotted wreath I put above the mantel for fall.


I also added a string of battery-operated mini lights for a warm glow in the evening.


I decorated the family room coffee table with a lacy table runner, two rustic tree bark candle holders and all sorts of trees - green trees, a little metal tree and a bunch of small wooden trees I got at a basket sale. For a touch of sparkle, I also added the glittery gold cardstock snowflakes that I cut for this DIY Christmas napkin post.


Oh, and there's a garland of white stars too. (I have lots of Christmas decor items and not enough places to put them. It doesn't make for a minimalist look.)


At least a couple of times each December, my family and I will have a picnic dinner at the coffee table while watching Christmas movies. (Be sure to check out my behind-the-scenes interview with Elf actor Claire Lautier if you're a fan of that movie, like we are.)



I decorated the TV armoire with our homemade pom pom garland. The instructions to make this festive pom pom garland can be found here. I want to make a pink pom pom garland for my office area next.



I would love to use all sorts of cute cushions and throw blankets on the sofa, but the dogs have claimed ownership of the family room and I get tired of laundering all the blankets and pillows. This polar bear blanket was out for approximately five minutes before Ace discovered it.


In the dining room, I kept the Christmas decor to a minimum. The room already has a fair bit of colour and pattern so I try to decorate with a gentle touch. Sometimes.


I laid down a table runner with a pine tree motif and then added a cream-coloured knit table runner. I used a rustic tree bark candle holder (that was previously on the mantel) as a centrepiece.


I added a few green bottle brush trees and some glittery teal and silver ornaments for a touch of glam.


I then hung an "Xmas" sign on the china cabinet and called it a day. In that room anyway.


My newly redecorated living room is black and white, with touches of pink. I wanted to continue the element of fun in this room. I started with a wire basket full of ornaments in blue, silver, white and pink. I strung mini lights around the basket for warmth and sparkle. I strung a couple of Scandi-inspired white tree garlands from the top of the bookshelves, as well as another set of mini lights.


I put a pink glittery tree on my pink side table and cut branches from one of our evergreen trees for a white vase that sits in a silver tray on my pink ottoman.


I decorated the cork board above the side table with a Christmas coaster and stickers, and hung a white light-up Christmas tree from the board as well. In the evenings, we will have an abundance of mini lights and other light-up decorative elements to add that special glow that Christmas calls for.


The other side of the living room space is my home office area. For this creative space, I decorated with a few fun touches, like a Christmas sweater garland and a white metal tree with silver ornaments on the side table.


I also chose a fun teal and pink paper tree for my desk.


Oh, and the artwork is wearing a Santa hat. Naturally. 

I hope you enjoyed this tour of stage one of my Christmas decor. I've already made some additions since I took these photos. Like a string of lit-up stars hanging above the dining room window.  If I ever get stage two finished, I'll be sure to share.

Questions for you

Do you decorate in one go, or in slow stages? Are you a minimalist when it comes to Christmas decorating or do you have an abundance of collections to display?

Canadian Bloggers Christmas Home Tour Hop

Now it’s time to tour all of the other beautiful homes in the Christmas Canadian Bloggers Home Tour hop this season! Click on the links below from Tuesday to Friday this week to get beautiful Christmas decor inspiration from my Canadian blogging friends.

Monday

Home Made Lovely | The Creek Line House | Lemon Thistle | Love Create Celebrate | So Much Better With Age

Tuesday

Woman in Real Life | Clean and Scentsible | A Pop of Pretty | Making it in the Mountains | The Learner Observer

Wednesday

PMQ for Two | Joy in Our Home | Amidst the Chaos | One House 2 Barns | The Dreamhouse Project

Thursday

The DIY Mommy | Life is a Party | Satori Design for Living | Rambling Renovators | This Mamas Dance

Friday

Fynes Designs | A Pretty Life | Emmett's ABCs | Harlow & Thistle | Northern Style Exposure


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