We are mixing old and new for a traditional Christmas this year. How are you decorating for the holidays this year? I’m joining a few friends to share snippets of our holiday decor.
Where do you start…decorating?
If you said the front door, I’m right there with you! This year, we started with our already painted green door and added dried hydrangeas with Silver Tip branches in the center. They were only $14 each, and they look like mini trees! We used our faux-flocked trees with lights and all the Stargazer orbs to give our front porch a magical glow the moment you see it! You can see the star we made for the second story of our home in this post.
I used a faux cedar wreath from Terrain with velvet ribbons in three colors. It’s the first time I’ve ever used a faux wreath, and I must say, I’m sold! I love to decorate early, and even in the Northeast, natural does not always look fresh until Christmas. You can see it on our side door in this post. We decorated it with all red bows and a giant twig star.
A mirror from Serena & Lily with some faux cedar garland in the entryway.
Traditional Christmas Red
What do I mean by “traditional” Christmas? I’m using traditional colors like red! I’ve been doing a more natural look using foraged twigs, leaves painted gold, and ornaments filled with baby’s breath. While I love an all-natural Christmas, this year, we are embracing red!
We decorated early! I let my kids know before they arrived for Thanksgiving that the house looked more like Christmas, and everyone wholeheartedly embraced it! We even had a Christmas dinner on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and the table read “Christmas!”
We served steak frites, a lovely green salad with a Dijon vinaigrette, and Crème Brulée for dessert. It felt Christmassy and a little French!
Adding Decorations to the Armoire and Apothecary Chest
The Armoire
The armoire stores dishes, glassware, linens, bottles, vases, and serving pieces. I try to keep it organized, and Terrain gave me one more reason to keep it looking pretty. The trim we added to the shelves is called Iron Bargeboard, and you can buy it in a roll. I quite like how it adds something to the edges of the shelves.
The Apothecary Chest
We decorated our dining room armoire with cedar garland, paper doily snowflakes, and brass bells. In the living room, we used our vintage apothecary chest to display a few new ornaments in the little drawers. On top, we used an Ornament Shadow Box from Terrain. We added several strands of Stargazer lights that I use for entertaining throughout the year, but at the holidays, they add a touch of magic to every shelf, ledge, or window.
Samsung TV Art Mode + Christmas Photo
We used a photograph on the mantel from our Christmas card, probably taken around 2001. When I started shooting that day, the first photo I took was of the kids catching snowflakes on a snowy day, and now we use it as art in our Samsung Frame TV during the holidays! It brings back sweet memories!
New Christmas Stockings
We found adorable new chunky knit stockings with a vintage look. The cream and red against the black-painted stone fireplace is perfect!
Adding Christmas Linens in the Dining Room and Kitchen
I used red velvet ribbon in three widths as a “runner” down the center of the table. I filled antiqued gold vases with holiday trimmings for a centerpiece mixed in with plenty of candles in Weck jars. I used the Weck jar glass lids for saucers to hold pillar candles. I used the tiny Weck jars to hold tea lights.
We used beautiful new linens in the dining room and kitchen, including a red stripe tablecloth and floral dish towels and napkins. I even hand-painted place cards inspired by the floral pattern on the napkins.
We used a combination of new red scalloped plates on top of teak wood plates, vintage floral bread and butter plates, and silver butter knives. We mixed candy cane-rimmed glasses with our purple bee glassware. You would not think it would be such a versatile color, but I use them all the time! You can see them in this fall post and summer garden party.
The little Como Petite Lamp in the corner is new! It’s from Serena & Lily and is currently 50% off! There’s nothing like a lamp in the kitchen for extra coziness!
Let’s see what these creators have in store to share for holiday decor!
CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN
CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
UNE FEMME D’ UN CERTAIN AGE
I LOVE THE HAPPY RED. Your home looks so cheerful and fresh, Annie.
Annie your home is so festive and the red looks fabulous in your home! With all the stone and browns red does not work in my home darn it! Your porch is unbelievable. I bet people drive by your porch just to see it! You have spurred me on to finish my decor!
I would agree Cindy, a more earthy red or rust would be perfect at your house. Our porch has been decorated for weeks, so it has gotten a lot of attention in the neighborhood!
Annie, I love your home so much. The glass orbs on the porch make it look so fun. Your red table is my favorite. I love how you used the ribbons in the center. The gold pedestal dishes just pop with it all. Your handmade placecards are darling. You could have your own stationery line!! I am pinning all of it. Thank you for organizing this. Loved doing this with you all. xo
P.s. The French dinner sounds amazing.
Me too, kim! I love seeing your door and how you decorate it! Love that patchwork pillow!
Oh Annie, it’s all so charming and festive! I love the idea of using a family photo as TV art.
Hi Susan, the photo is fun for the holidays, but usually I use something more earthy…it still looks like a TV though…haha
Hi Mary Ann, what a great idea to create a holiday gathering place on your porch! Great idea to add a firepit. I love your garland lights, too.
Hi Annie, oops! had too many tabs open and posted my comment on the wrong one. You can delete 🤪
I do that too Susan!
Annie I love all the red in your home. You always decorate in a true to you style that has your signature! The new stockings are adorable. ❤️🌲❤️
Thanks Kathy! I’m loving all your decorations too! xx
Hi Annie!
Love the “snow catching” picture on your big screen. How wonderful your children can remember their happy childhood.
After decorating in blue and gold our first 2 Christmases in our apartment, I felt blah about what I unpacked last evening. Scrolling through your cheerful “red” gave me the answer I needed. I’ve already ordered ribbon, quality pine with red berry picks, and red candles. No more blahs!
Now, if only there was room for the ornament shadow box. It is a treasure.
Holiday hugs from Mercer Island,
Diney
Hi Diney! I am sure your blue and gold was so lovely, but switching things up is nice too! I need some red candles!
xx
Annie! I love all the red … it’s so festive and there’s no mistaking that it’s Christmas at the Most Lovely home. But your front door color … oh my gosh. LOVE IT. And I’m ordering those stargazer lights. As usual you’ve created magic is your beautiful home. Cheers! xo
Juliet, the Stargazer light strands are nice to use for entertaining outdoors all year long! They really add a soft magical glow!
xx
This is my favorite of all the decorated homes I’ve seen. It’s so relaxing.
Thank you Janet! It’s simple, but festive!
Annie, your house looks beautiful as always. And your porch! So festive!
I hope that you have a happy and blessed Christmas.