I’m so excited to be joining nine other fabulous bloggers for a Merry Little Christmas Blog Hop, and sharing with you the holiday decor in our family room.
The images of gorgeous Christmas decor has been floating around the internet, blogland, Facebook, and Pinterest for weeks and it is amazing! I’ve been blown away with all the beautiful homes decked out for the holidays, and I have to admit, it’s also been a little intimidating!
I keep our holiday decor pretty simple these days, even though I have tubs and tubs of Christmas ornaments and various decorations stored away in the attic, that have been collected over the years.
But several years ago, after spending days and days decorating, I realized that I wasn’t enjoying it much. Holiday decorating had become stressful. It was taking so much time to get everything decorated and I began to dread getting it all out, putting it up, and then dreaded the time it was going to take to get it all down, once Christmas was over.
I wasn’t enjoying what this season is really all about, so I decided that I was going to simplify things and bring the quiet and calm of Christmas back into our home. I started decorating with natural elements, keeping it simple, and easy to do, leaving time to enjoy and breathe in the season.
Most of the decor that I used in the family room came from cuttings from our yard; oranges, pears, lemons, and nuts from the grocery store; and pine clippings from the scrap pile at the tree lot.
The tree was dressed in white lights, and I considered leaving it that way. There was something about the simplicity of it that I loved, but in the end I did add a few more elements.
I cut small sticks and branches from the yard, as well as some leaves and pinecones, spraying them with gold metallic paint and poked them in throughout the branches, and also added a few dripping chandelier crystals.
And of course, there is a bird’s nest in the branches, as well as one perched on top of our clock. My mama always believed that if you had a bird’s nest in your Christmas tree, you would have luck all of the following year, so there is always at least one or two in our decor every Christmas.
Our mantel is dressed with a natural pine garland, oranges, white lights, and a few ornaments and moss balls. I placed my century old Holy Family statue in the center with a couple of larger chalkware nativity sheep on each side.
My big cement lamb got a little dressed up with a burlap scarf, a few old ornaments, and a sprig of pine greenery. He stands on the hearth of the fireplace all year long, so it’s easy to “dress him up” for what ever season it is.
I collect antique religious pieces, so I pulled out a couple of my favorites and used them in a smaller vignette on the coffee table.
One of my favorites is this French plaster statue of little St. John the Baptist holding the Lamb in his arms.
I use boxwood wreaths and moss balls in my decorating all year long, so it was really easy to give them a little Christmas pizazz with the addition of a simple ornament and gold ribbon.
A few ornaments scattered on a side table, with some sprigs of greenery in a little vintage pitcher, and I’m close to being done!
Using fresh pine garland is perfect for adding holiday touches to mirrors, tables, or architectural pieces, and it makes your home smell just like Christmas!
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my simplified decorating in the family room!
Be sure and head over and visit the other blogs on the Christmas blog hop and take a peek inside their beautiful homes to see how they decorate for the holidays!
Cheers,
Cindy
Your house looks gorgeous! I’m also going simple this year . . . hope my simple is as elegant as yours!
Leslie Anne
Thank you Leslie Anne! Merry Christmas!
So elegant and beautiful, Cindy!
love and blessings~
Lynda @ Gates of Crystal
Thank you Lynda!
Hi, Cindy–Your Christmas home is warm, lovely and elegantly simple. I’m in complete agreement with you about scaling back…Christmas is not a competition. It’s a time to share happiness and cheer. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home through this blog!
Thank you so much Marie, Merry Christmas!
What a lovely elegant room! Love your mantel!
Thank you Kathy, Merry Christmas!
Simplified hardly but absolutely amazing indeed! Cindy your home is just gorgeous my friend. I can not pick a favorite because it all is my favorite.
Thank you Pamela, Merry Christmas!
How do you secure a Christmas tree in an urn?
Hi Mildred! This urn is designed specifically for a Christmas tree stand. We purchased it from a specialty Christmas shop several years ago.
Cindy, your decorations look lovely. I, too, have simplified my decor for Christmas for a couple of years now. My husband got tired of putting up our 9′ faux flocked tree. The flocking would stick all over him and he would get so upset!! So we gave it away after Christmas last year and now we need to get a real one! I’m voting for a cute table top one to make it simple. Do I spy a new painted clock and also What is on the wall where your mirror was?
Hi Linda! I’m loving all the table top trees floating around Pinterest too. I think next year, that’s exactly what I’m going to do! The new clock in the family room was a Goodwill find that I painted. It turned out wonderful and it works perfectly…and chimes! I’m not sure I’m keeping it, it may go into the online store. I love it, but I actually have another clock that I think I want to hang there. I’m on the fence though, that’s why I’m “living” with it for awhile until I decide. I replaced the mirror with a plaster Station of the Cross frame from a closed church in Kansas. It dates to the late 1800’s and the center station piece is missing, but I loved the salvaged frame. I placed a grain sack in the center and hung vintage cherub pieces. It’s an old, old beauty. Merry Christmas!
I love the clock and the old salvage piece too! I actually have that same mirror and am looking for something to put on either side of it. If you decide to sell the clock, could you please let me know? What color did you paint it?
Linda, the clock has layers of Annie Sloan chalk paint in French Linen, Paris Gray, Old White, a little bit of gilding wax, and the inside is painted in Aubusson Blue. If I decide to sell it, I will send you a message!
Wow, everything is just breathtaking! I love your fireplace especially. Everything is so elegant and wintry. Lovely:-)
Thank you Anita!
Cindy your home is exquisite! I love how simple yet absolutely beautiful your Christmas decor is! You did a beautiful job keeping it simple and so elegant! Merry Christmas!
Thank you Anne! Merry Christmas!
Your home is always beautiful, but you have taken it to the next level for Christmas! The religious statues are stunning with the greenery.
Eilis@MyHeartLivesHere
Thank you so much, Merry Christmas!
Cindy, Absolutely lovely! You have such special, charming pieces. Very inspiring. And I appreciate what Joanna said-I’ve definitely simplified this year in terms of decor and will plan to raid the attic, donating and giving away those items that are simply sitting up there collecting dust.
Merry Christmas! May the new year bring you a new furry friend to brighten your days.
Thank you so much Gloria! We are thinking that after the New Year, we might be ready for a new fur baby. Merry Christmas!
So beautiful! I am using a lot of natural elements this year as well.
Thank you Penny!
Your Home is gorgeous and your holiday decorations are perfection! Truly Lovely.
Thank you so much Robin! Merry Christmas!
I like your simplified Christmas decor. It really speaks of the season.
May I make a suggestion? Last year I went through my decorations and gave some to my cleaner and donated the rest. This year I was able to sort through some more and do the same. My totes are getting fewer and someone who has less gets to enjoy those decorations. Now, there are some treasures that I am holding onto.
What a wonderful suggestion, Joanna, thank you! Merry Christmas!
Simple maybe to you but oh SOooo Eleagant and Beautiful…..I collect religious etc. and just love all of yours. Those French brass and porcelain candleholders make me sad. Why? I had a pair years ago and sold them because I did not know what I had….
Merry Christmas
Thank you Nancy! Those lovely French altar candelabras are actually for sale in my online shop….and I’m half afraid that they will sell! I’m getting pretty attached to them! Merry Christmas!
Your house looks beautiful! We lived in dry west Texas and our Christmas trees were shipped in on trucks from faraway states like Michigan. One year we had such a dry tree that almost all the needles fell off. And then I found a little bird nest nestled in the tree that had not fallen off when it had been cut down and thrown on and off the truck and in and out of the back of our car! The mother bird had worked so hard making this home for her baby birds! I sprayed it with something so I could keep it and put it in our Christmas tree for many years! ❤️
What an amazing story Barbara, I love it! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Cindy, Your home always says Peace to me. I love all of your decorating, and I’ve gone back and looked at all your posts many times. I am at the same point In my life as you, in that less is ok. One of the things I remember from homemaking class in high school many moons ago is, simplicity is the keynote to beauty, and it’s so true. Your decorating is very elegant! Thank you for sharing your home and heart with us.
Thank you Karen! Simplifying the decor has helped me to refocus on what the season is truly all about. Thank you so much for following along. Merry Christmas!
Wow, your family room is anything but simple, for me it’s totally gorgeous and elegant with loads of sparkle and class! I love your tree inside the urn is it a real tree?? My tree is faux due to the fact that I have bad allergies to evergreens…..so all my greenery has to be faux…any who I enjoyed viewing your lovely family room all decked out for the holidays…
Smiles~
Mari
Thank you Mari! The tree is faux, we’ve had it for years and is pre-lit so it’s really easy to put up. The urn is actually designed as a Christmas tree stand, purchased from a Christmas shop several years ago. Merry Christmas!
Oh my goodness, so so pretty. I love using a lot of natural elements too, until its time to clean them up afterwards and then I question my judgement. LOL But natural is easy and oh so pretty isn’t it. Your home is simple spectacular and I love every detail. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas. ~Barb
Thank you Barb, Merry Chirstmas to you and yours!
I very much like your approach. Cindy, It’s all very tasteful and classic. I’m approaching the same plateau as you’ve reached – I pulled it all out this year, but feel like next year will be different. Merry Christmas.
Thank you Rita, Merry Christmas!
Oh, my goodness! Well, maybe simply gorgeous! Your home is just stunning and decorated so beautifully for the season.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Thank you Shelia, Merry Christmas!
Cindy,
It is still stunning even in a simplified way, I love your style! I feel how we decorate shouldn’t be based on pressure to impress but reflect how we are feeling in that moment. Whether we want to scale it down, simplify, or be over the top, or somewhere halfway in the middle, just do whatever makes your heart filled with joy in that moment. The holidays should be about family, love, celebration, being together, giving, sharing, giving of the heart, simple pleasures,traditions and whatever brings you peace. Cindy, your home is to beautifully decorated and filled with love and peace!
Thank you Lisa! I agree completely! Merry, merry Christmas to you and yours!
Of all the blogs I read yours is my favorite. I love everything you do and your Christmas decor is perfect. I am with you on keeping it simple,so much work and not much fun when there is too much. Love all your religious statues. Enjoy your Christmas in your beautiful home.
Thank you Diane, that means so much to me. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Merry Christmas!
Cindy….your home is simply breathtaking and I love your style! I know what you mean about the holiday pressure on the internet. There is something to be said though for not being trendy and realizing to follow our hearts that we more “seasoned” designers know 😉
Thank you Janet! I love visiting your home, it’s always so beautiful, and I love all the layers of details.
Oh I am not sure I would call it simple….”simply exquisite” …. “simply elegant” … “simply amazing” …… I think if I had your home and decor, I would do the same… embellishing it with natural elements and a little bling as your rooms stand alone in its beauty….I am with you Cindy…I gave away many, many boxes of decorations and ornaments this year. I must admit that I have scrolled this post several times to take in all of its beauty and details….Love your French statue of the little St. John the Baptist…so beautifully showcased. Merry Christmas Cindy!!!
Thank you Shirley! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Cindy, you took the words right out of my mouth about Christmas decorating being stressful so I started scaling way back a couple years ago. Having a smaller tree was the biggest change. It takes so much less time. Your decor is simple yet stunning as I knew it would be. Love it!!
Thank you Kim! Merry Christmas!
Your home is absolutely stunning!! You’ve created such elegance throughout your home. Loving your use of fresh greens!
Mary Alice
Thank you Mary Alice!
Well, you might say it’s “simplified,” but it’s still “over the top” stunning to me! I love your fresh cuttings … lovely statues … and beautiful holiday sentiments. I’m happy to be joining you on our blog hop … Happy Holidays!
Thank you Becca!