The Coziest Christmas Decor
I spent this weekend nestled up reading books and baking delicious sugar cookies for the holidays. I love this time of year and try to fully immerse myself in as many festive activities as possible. Although this year is already looking different than last - no large holiday parties or gatherings, I’m determined to make it count. I’ve been adding little touches all over the home to bring a cheerful atmosphere no matter how cold it is outside. From sequin embellished pillows to colorful tiny bottle brush trees the space is filled from ceiling to floors in sweet holiday decor. You can have a beautiful home no matter what your budget may be if you are thoughtful and creative. Surprisingly many of the little trees I’ve picked up over the years were found at dollar stores or discount stores. Keep your eyes open and look at new ways to use items.
Display Holiday Dishware
I love pulling out all of the dishes, cups and mugs I’ve collected over the years during this time of year and put them on display. I love eating on them but I also like to use as a decor item. I lined underneath the bar area with bookshelves in my kitchen so that I could display things throughout the seasons. Although my home is mostly decorated, I enjoy changing things up from time to time. Having a designated display area makes it easy to swap things out. Little holly embellished tea cups sit pretty in a row against the wallpapered bookshelf. I also keep freshly baked cookies sitting out on Christmas plates so that as they are eaten you can see the pretty painted Christmas tree.
Buy a Christmas Cactus
Growing up my mom kept one of these all year round. I specifically remember her having one in the house they’ve lived in for the past two decades full of natural sunlight and sprawling over the edges of her garden tub. I love gardening although I no longer have a yard to tend to I do have two plants - Fred the Hibiscus mutabilis, and now Rachel (my daughter named her) the Christmas Cactus. Yes, we oddly name our plants and talk to them. After all, they are living too. The bright pink blooms of the cactus match perfectly and add beautiful color to the coffee table. I am currently searching for a different pot for it, but for now it lives in pretty gold printed paper around a simple pot.
Add Holiday Books to Your Coffee Table
Just as I rotate dishes over the seasons, I also rotate books and what I display on my coffee table. I collected this Martha Stewart Christmas books with red binding over 15 years ago and they still remain a favorite in this home. Turning the pages filled with whimsical craft, food and home keeping ideas gives me a break from technology. I love getting lost in ideas and it’s refreshing to view in print not on a screen. Sometimes all that is needed is a warm cup of mint tea and a half hour gathering ideas in the late afternoon to ease stress. I love websites, blogs and Pinterest - but nothing can replace a good book.
Decorate with ornaments and bells
One of my favorite tricks is to use ornaments and jingle bells as decor off the tree. Every year I theme my tree so that it has a cohesive look. This year I stuck to soft golds, pinks and greens. I happened to have bolder hued ornaments and lots of gold and silver ones left over. It was really simple to reuse these in baskets, bowls and vases. It takes no time to put a few baubles in a container. Another tip: Use color coordinating wrapping paper! Keeping everything in a simple color scheme gives a look of luxury.
Take your time and enjoy the process of adding special touches. Since we are all spending so much time indoors these days it’s nice to have a warm and cozy setting. With just a few weeks until Christmas Day there’s still plenty of time to add pretty things around the home. If you want additional tips for setting a pretty holiday table see this post or build your own DIY wreath for under $20 in this post! No matter what your budget is you can make this season special for you!