Hi Friends! Welcome to my Christmas Season Home Tour. Organized Nashville is hosting this awesome tour of 25+ bloggers homes where we share our seasonal decor and tips to get your home ready for the busy season. I can’t wait to take a peek in everyone’s homes decorated for the holidays and to get their great ideas on making this holiday season a little easier.
If you are here for the first time or visiting from Pender & Peony, Welcome! I’m so happy you’re here and I can’t wait to share my home and organizing tips with you. You need to know a few things about me if this is your first time here: I’m thrifty, I like things pretty simple, I love decorating, and I like being organized.
I’m going to take you on a little tour of my house and share with you 5 ways I get ready for the Holiday Season.
Decide on a color scheme or theme the year before – I like to change the way I decorate for Christmas a little every year, for instance my colors for last year were red, black, and white. By deciding on how I want to decorate early, I can take advantage of after Christmas sales and not worry about purchasing new items right before Christmas and at full price. This has been especially important the last few years due to job losses around the holiday season. Click on the link to view the details of the mantel.
Use a calendar – Write down special events you need to attend, family visits, schedule shopping and baking days, and don’t forget to leave some time for family fun. We like to watch Christmas movies, drive around to see Christmas lights, drink hot cocoa, listen to Christmas music, attend concerts, and play games. Everyday Hot Cocoa Bar
Store holiday items by color and theme – I’m a blogger so it’s pretty understandable that I have several totes of Christmas decorations. By storing the decorations by color and theme I only open the totes I need for that year. It saves me a lot of time and headache of hunting for things.
Decorate early in the month or at the end of the previous month – The holidays zoom by so fast and I want to be able to enjoy every minute of it, even if that only means sitting in front of the Christmas tree and enjoying the lights for as long as possible. It also leaves time for me to enjoy more things the season has to offer and spend time with my family. The wreaths are attached to the cabinet doors by hanging the ribbon from a command hook on the back of the door. Joy Sign and Christmas Card Clothespin Wreath
Use what you have – As you can tell my house is small and we’re renting so I can’t make many changes to it. The holiday season isn’t about having the newest and the best, it’s about remembering the true meaning of the season and making your home special for your family and friends. From a decorating stand point I paint a lot of old items to match my decor, make new crafts and decor items, and use regular items for the season by just adding a simple ornament (such as in the wreaths on these windows). Pull things from around your house in the color you’re using, such as all the red or green items you can find.
Here are a few more of my favorite things around the house this holiday season. Click on any of the highlighted links to be taken to a full tutorial for each project.
One of the benefits of a small house is seeing the glittering lights from the tree everywhere I look. It’s magical!
You can never have too many bottle brush trees, right?
Some spaces just need a few scattered ornaments to make it festive. I just completed the gallery wall behind this cabinet if you want to take a look at how I did it for free.
We have an RV that will hopefully be restored some year. I created this little scene to represent our travels some day.
Maybe I’m in love with these little trucks too. The cigar box holds the TV remotes.
I didn’t draw on the chalkboard this season but it still makes a good backdrop.
These little trees are 2 of the few things I bought this year.
This Scrabble Tile Christmas Tree is super easy to make.
Waterless Snow Globes are still one of my favorite projects.
Sometimes simple decor is my favorite.
Easy to make Wrapping Paper Cone Trees.
Use leftover pine boughs from a fresh Christmas tree for natural decorating.
This Santa is so special to me. It was the first Christmas decoration hubby and I bought 36 years ago. It’s actually a tree top but we haven’t used it as that for years. It’s one of the few decorations that comes out every year.
These wood wrapped candles are one of my favorite projects this year.
I finally bought a real nativity last year. It’s one of my favorite decorations and of course, one that will come out every year.
I like adding greenery and candles around the house for Christmas and during the Winter months.
I made these snowy pine cones this year then added them to a wood tray with greenery and red berries. So simple, but one of my favorite centerpieces.
Again with the truck and tree, it’s so cute.
These stockings are old but the kids have had them since they were born so I can’t bear to part with them.
Even the lockers get a little decorating.
The kids Christmas tree has all their handmade and yearly ornaments. We buy an ornament each year for the kids that represent something they accomplished or enjoyed that year. They get to decorate it themselves.
I hope you enjoyed the tour and the links to some of my favorite projects. Thank you again for stopping by. Enjoy the season with your family and friends.
Be sure to hop on over to Flourish & Knot tomorrow morning to hear how she readies her home for the holidays. I’ve added a link to everyone else participating {and the day they post} so you can be sure to check out all the amazing blogs in this series.
Monday, December 5
Tuesday, December 6
Wednesday, December 7
Organize & Decorate Everything
Thursday, December 8
Friday, December 9
I just love those wood wrapped candles! They are adorable!
I really enjoyed reading about your home! You shared great tips, and I agree with so many of them. I never though to choose my colors the year before though — that is smart! I loved several of your crafts and I’m clicking over to check them out. 🙂
Love your hot chocolate drink station. So cozy!
Love all your bottle brush trees! Great Christmas storage tip with the color organization!
I love your vintage style!!! Your tree is absolutely stunning. It’s been wonderful hopping with you. Merry Christmas
I love your home the Christmas tree is so pretty, like something out of a Hall Mark Card! You have done such a fabulous Job.
Thanks
Maria
I love all your little Christmas items you have in your home. The picture of your tree reflecting in the mirror is stunning! It’s been fun hopping with you! Merry Christmas!
Your home is so festive and pretty! Love the hot cocoa station. Cheers to a Merry Christmas!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your home. The trucks and all the tress are just perfect. I love how you have it all decorated. The lockers and the Christmas sign about them is totally my favorite. I need to do something like that.
I love love love it all! Beautiful home, pinning!
Your house looks so pretty and festive!! I love the little red trucks with the Christmas trees and your green throw by your mantel! Happy holidays!
Oh my goodness I love your tree and your hot cocoa station! Your home is so cheerful, Merry Christmas!
Julie @ Love My Simple Home
What a beautiful home tour! I love the classic red elements and the gorgeous tree! I am totally obsessed with those lockers! Merry Christmas!
WOW. Your space is incredible! I looove all the bottle brush trees!! And the details in your decor… stunning. Thanks for joining us on the hop! Shared and pinned!
There are so many details and festive touches here that I love! Your cocoa bar (and adorable owl mugs!), your mantel, the Scrabble tile tree, wood-wrapped candles & your sentimental accents… everything works beautifully together!
Your home is so festive!! I love the mantle – that little house is so sweet!
You actually have some very good tips. I love your ideas and how you make Christmas simple. Choosing color scheme the year before is a great idea – I usually find random things I love on sale and not really by any color scheme. Your home is so beautiful and your tips are really great!!
SO MANY beautiful touches! I love all the bottle brush trees! And your Christmas tree is beautiful!
Leanne I looove your colour scheme this year! The touches of greens and reds with the neutrals is just so pretty. (not to mention all of the adorable bottle brush trees!) So cute! Hope you are having a lovely holiday season!
I love love love your style! Your home looks so fun and beautiful all decorated for Christmas!
Hello Leanne, first of all I want to say that you have a beautiful house. I loved to read your blog. All your tips are so much informative and helpful for me. Thank you so much for your blog.
Wow….all the ideas are just awesome. Looking forward to trying these in this Christmas. The wooden wrapped candles are so beautiful. Thanks a lot for sharing such great ideas with us.