Christmas Decor

Can you believe it? In a month it will be Christmas?! I’ve already been head first into a few Hallmark Christmas movies and enjoying my peppermint mocha coffee flavor in my coffee. I love switching out the flavor with the seasons. Do any of you do that too?

Get ready for Christmas photo overload…..;)

Christmas 2020

These photos are from last Christmas but I loved how it looked so it will be pretty much the same this year, aside from having to puppy proof things! We have a new addition to the Shea house. Her name is Rosa, our 10 year old Wally is still here, we just added an unexpected, unplanned active puppy, because, why not?! Haha. If she sits still long enough I might be able to get a good picture of her.

Every time I sit and write a blog post I can’t help but wonder why I don’t take/make the time to do it more often. I love taking pictures throughout the house of pretty things, trying to make things look pretty and any tips etc. that I’ve learned along the way and sharing with all of you.

It has been since February that I took the time to write and put together a post and I was way way overdue!.

I put out a Facebook post a couple of days ago to see if people prefer just photos or photos with links to the items in them. Links was the winner so I will try and find the same or at least similar items as in the pictures.

Some of the items I bought last year, some are a couple of years old but I did notice at the first of the season they were still available. Now, as I check again, most of the items are sold out. I don’t know if stores have lower stock of items or if people are buying more than usual, or some combination of both and other things. The links will be at the bottom of this post and I will post links to what I can find, some of them may be available later!? 🙂

The round mirrored tray is from Canadian Tire from several years ago (was still available in the Charlottetown store for sure this year) I have it out year round, not just at Christmas.

Ribbon candy in a glass jar makes a pretty accent and simple decoration. Bulk Barn is my favorite place to get candy and chocolate to have displayed in glass jars.

I thought I would start with showing the main area of the house. I always have decorations in the entryway too but last year I must have forgotten to take pictures of them. If you can’t tell from these, I like a more neutral color scheme 😉 I do love red at Christmas too but I usually decorate before the end of November and I tend to get tired of too much color if it’s out too long.

Last year I made dried oranges to use as decorations. They were really easy and smelled so yummy. I may make a blog post on those soon. They are super easy, make pretty natural decorations and smell yummy.

I love swapping everyday items for seasonal ones. Like the green dish soap it’s also pine scented (I have a problem) haha, balsam or pine scented hand soap in the bathroom. Little touches that remind you that this is a special time of year. Christmas dishcloths as a decoration, I also use a lot of scented candles and essential oils. Pine, cedar, woodsy smells this time of year are some of my favorite.

A slim tree in the corner of the kitchen adds a bit of sparkle. Flocked ones are my favorite if you haven’t noticed ;). A few years ago we had a real tree in the living room and I put our 7 foot flocked tree in the kitchen. I loved the glow from the lights but it was really too wide for the smaller space. Last December I found this slimmer one at Michaels and it works perfect. It will probably the first place I decorate this Christmas.

The shiplap tv/fireplace wall is a favorite to decorate. I keep the decorations to the edges of the mantle because the tv sits lower, close to the mantle. These battery operated candle sticks are a few years old and run on a timer. I found similar ones on amazon. The garland is from Canadian tire. It is a pre-lit eucalyptus garland but I layered it with an evergreen type garland in the center swooped part to make it look thicker.

Seasonal Decor Hanging Tip

I use the 3M hooks to keep the garland in place. If you use them correctly they come off and leave to residue or damage to the wood or walls. I use them for wreaths, and garlands.

Glass jars with ribbon candy and pretty dishes with treats do double duty for both decorations and snacking while watching tv.

An old book layered with a cedar sprig and glass tree sits on the coffee table. The wooden tray is from amazon.

Bring The Outside In

Take small tree clippings or branches from your yard inside and drape over books, shelves, window sills, etc. I love doing this especially because we don’t usually have a real tree.

This was a new addition in 2020. I love this hand made sign from Birch Studios. If you are local you probably already know all about her beautiful pieces.

Perfect place to curl up with a book and a drink.

I didn’t have a tree skirt for this tree in the bedroom so I put the base of the tree in the basket and then stuffed towels inside of the basket to keep the tree upright (larger rocks would work well too).

The sign on the wall was a custom piece I had made a few years ago from M & J Fine De-Signs (she has a Facebook page).

The decorations are rather simple but there are little touches of holiday in almost every corner. 😉 There is also a cute pom pom type garland hanging on the mirror in the bedroom that I didn’t take a picture of either. I will see if I can find that on line as well. It was from Canadian Tire.

Bottle brush trees are inexpensive but add an instant Christmas feel with very little effort. 🙂

Simple ways that I decorate for the Holidays

• I use mostly neutral colored decor aside from little bits of red and green. But if you love color, use the colors that make you happy. 🙂
• Swap out some of your everyday items for seasonal ones (pillow covers, wall art, table decor, even shower curtains, hand soap in the bathroom, dish soap, candles, dishes).
• Add small trees like bottle brush trees, small and medium sized flocked or snowy looking potted trees to open shelving or the bathroom counter, bedside table, coffee or sofa table etc.
• Use natural items for decorations (wooden beads, dried oranges, (you could dry any citrus fruit really), white or wooden looking tree ornaments. I add a few that have some gold or glitter for that holiday sparkle.
• Mixing in old and sentimental ornaments are a must. If they are so special that you don’t want to hang them on the tree, place them in dishes or glass jars or on shelves.
• I love the look of flocked trees. It’s like looking at that fine layer of freshly fallen snow glittering on the trees on a sunny winter morning so those are what I use. But if you are a real tree or more traditional tree person then use what makes you happy.
• Lights on timers are also great. My wreaths all have timers as well as the candles on the mantle.
• My house isn’t big so I mostly hang garlands in doorways, on windows, wreaths on doors or walls. Just to save floor space and to keep things from looking too cluttered.
• Bring in real evergreen branches to layer under glass candle jars, over books, tucked under ornaments on shelves etc. (Would look beautiful draped over the edge of open cabinet shelving)
• Use seasonal candy like the ribbon candy for example as part of the decorations. (Buy extra, and tell your family the display is off limits if you need to). Haha.
• Check local small stores and dollar stores. You never know what you might find. 😉

Let me know if you have any questions on where I bought anything or how I did something! You can leave them on here under the comments or if you have me on Facebook you can ask there. I really don’t mind. I love sharing things.