I hate to admit it, but this year I just didn’t feel very inspired to decorate for Christmas.
I’m not sure if it was because we had hot weather for so long and it just didn’t feel like the holiday season, or if it was because the thought of dragging out all of the Christmas boxes was a little daunting. Or maybe it was because life has been so crazy busy lately!
Whatever the reason, I finally snapped got my holiday cheer on and started getting excited about decorating.
Today I’m thrilled to finally be sharing my Christmas home with you along with four of my friends — you might recognize them from the Share it One More Time Link party — they’re my co-hosts — and, like me, they’re BUSY!
To see every home on the tour, follow the links at the bottom of this post. PLUS, we have a giveaway for you today so stay tuned!
Let’s get started — Welcome to my home!
If you have been hanging around here for awhile you know that simple is my mantra lately.
Because life is so busy lately, I am opting for uncluttered and easy decorating.
It was so easy to add a few greens from my yard to this pot that I keep on the entry table. I found a paperwhite bulb at the grocery store and decided to set it here for the great light it receives. I added a cute little Santa candle and called it done!
I also switched up my louvered door that’s in the foyer a little bit. A few days ago, it said “God Jul” (Merry Christmas in Norwegian) today it says “Silent Night.”
Unlike me, my kids aren’t being raised with a lot of Scandinavian influence so “God Jul” was just plain weird to them. I probably should have stayed the course, but I decided to let my daughter have her say and we changed it.
By the way, last year the louvered door was an advent calendar!
I’m keeping a small basket in the foyer for all of our Christmas cards. I just added a simple tartan plaid ribbon to a basket I already had and set it on the bottom step.
To the right of the foyer is the dining room.
I kept it as simple as I’ve ever decorated it for Christmas.
I didn’t want to mess with greenery in the chandelier and fussy decorations.
And, we are not hosting any family this year, so I didn’t create a fancy table setting.
I added just a few easy touches — like this Swedish Santa print I got from The Graphics Fairy — and my Fitz & Floyd Santa plate.
Truthfully, I am loving this simple decorating more and more and feel like I could keep this Christmas decor long past December!
You may have noticed that I moved my window pane that is normally over the fireplace to the dining room. Hmmm….I think it may have found a new “permanent” home!
In the living room I added very little besides the tree and some garland to the mantel.
I loved my chalkboard art from last year so I used it again, but decided to change it up a little. I drew an evergreen-type wreath this time around. I’m not sure if I love it, but it’s going to stay for the season!
If you have been visiting me this season, then you have already seen the following rooms, so I’m just going to show a few pictures. You can click on the links to see the full posts with more pictures.
This is the den and it is the “new” room in our house.
I say it’s new because it’s a bedroom that we are now using as a den/TV watching space. It’s supposed to just be for the grown-ups in the house because as our kids grow they use the media/game room upstairs with their friends.
So we created this space for ourselves and it’s filled with furniture we already owned. I did paint the walls and we had new carpet installed.
It’s not completely finished but it doesn’t keep us from enjoying nearly every day!
My kitchen was one of the first rooms I decorated for Christmas.
I kept it simple with bright pops of red.
The butler’s pantry is my kids’ favorite spot!
They can make themselves a cup of hot chocolate any time they want and I can make a cup of tea or coffee (actually hubby makes the coffee…I’m a tea girl).
Finally, this is my breakfast nook all set for a very casual meal. We are enjoying using our Christmas dishes every day this season.
It just makes every day so much more festive and fun to use seasonal dishes.
I don’t know why I have never done that before – -maybe I was afraid it would be too much work to move dishes around from one cabinet to another? I’m not sure why, but I am loving it and think I will do it every year from now on!
So, there you have it — my 2015 Christmas Home Tour!
Now it’s time to visit my friends AND enter for a chance to win our giveaways! Use the Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway.
The farmhouse milk bottle tote is from The Farmhouse Decor Shop and the pillow is from The Everyday Home Blog Collection.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now, visit four more Christmas home tours!
Perfection! Think I will use my Christmas dishes every day through New Years! Love your kitchen!
Beautiful! Love all of it! I also love pops of red…:) Your home is gorgeous!
Julie Your home is done up so nice…love the butler’s pantry so cute!
Julie I love every single thing! Your shutter and window pane are simply amazing. Your home looks festive and fun. The perfect setting for a family Christmas. So lovely!
Julie, I ♥♥♥ your decorating style, simple but beautiful. Your home is so welcoming.
Merry Christmas!
Julie, your home is lovely. I love that window in the dining room gorgeous. I love your take on decorating – simple and the pops of red throughout are just perfect. Your home looks so cozy and inviting. Cathy
Julie, I so love the restrained approach you’ve used. It’s cheerful and celebrates the season without taking away from the beauty of your home in it’s everyday state. Your kitchen is gorgeous and that piece in your entryway is fabulous, so your lovely touches enhance what’s already there. Well done!! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas… 🙂
So pretty Julie ~ I love your kitchen
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Much love,
Rose
For someone who had a late start, you certainly did a most beautiful job in decorating your home for Christmas….you created a warm and cozy and festive environment for your family….I love all of your wonderful details and enchanting vignettes!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Julie!!
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