Get your pearls out because you’re probably going to want to clutch ‘em.
I didn’t decorate for Christmas the past two years.
Christmas has always kind of been my thing. I legit had my bedroom decorated like Christmas all year long when I was a kid – Santas everywhere, twinkle lights, red and green quilt on the bed in the middle of June – you name it. I’ve always loved decorating for Christmas (hello – the most magical time of the year!) but the past two years I really Mom-Grinched it up.
I can explain.
Two winters ago we had just moved into our new house after six months of living in my in-laws’ basement. We had a U-Haul full of “do we really need this?” things to unpack, I was using a wine glass as a toothbrush holder, and the last thing I wanted to do was unpack ten totes of Christmas decorations when our house was covered in liquor boxes and I couldn’t even find the damn iron! So we put up a pre-lit tree among the sea cardboard boxes (none of which contained the iron…or liquor) and called it a day.
(I found the iron 18 months later. We now have two irons.)
Last year I had a much better excuse to be all Scrooge-y with the Christmas decorations – we spent Christmas in Mexico! We enjoyed an amazing week in Mexico from Christmas to New Year’s with G’s family to celebrate his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. It was such an incredible time! Kate saw the ocean for the first time on Christmas Day and lost the second of her two front teeth, which was her six-year-old life goal after singing “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” for a solid month leading up to December 25th.
So our first two Decembers in our new house had me conveniently ignoring the Christmas decorations, but my Mom Guilt was setting in* and I knew I couldn’t go 0 for 3. Instead, I over-corrected and we put our Christmas tree up the weekend after Halloween.
Since then, Kate and I have been having fun getting reacquainted with our Christmas decorations, figuring out what we still like, and what should go where. Here’s what we came up with for our first time decorating our still new to us dream home:
Welcome to Our Christmas Home
After a few years of some fun and colorful Christmas decorations, I decided to take it back to something a little more traditional and classic this year. We love the pops of red!
I found this super cute “Be Merry, Be Bright” sign at Avid Gardener – a great little gardening and home accents store in downtown, Cambridge, Wisconsin.
Our living room:
We didn’t have a fireplace in our last house, so this is our first Christmas mantel! (Remember that reclaimed beam I snagged from an old warehouse in Oshkosh, WI? We love, love, love it over our fireplace.)
The “Santa This Way” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” signs were both found in downtown Cambridge over the past few years.
The bar area in our dining room. See that towel that says “I Put Out for Santa” with a cookie jar on it? It was a gift from my sister, Brittny, and I laughed so hard when I saw it.
Christmas cocktails, anyone?
Making Spirits Bright – get it?
I did a little bit of garland around the banisters in the entryway:
And the upstairs balcony railing:
Last, but not least – our tree!
I hope you enjoyed this look inside our holiday home!
Quick Link to previous Christmas decorations in our old home: Colorful Holiday Home Tour.
*I woke up in a panic during the middle of the night last summer – my upper body shooting up in bed like a “hey look, she’s not dead!” plot twist in a bad 80s movie – frantic with thoughts of how I need to make sure I decorate for Christmas this year, so I don’t ruin the holiday for Kate, my whole family, Santa-lovers everywhere, the whole entire world, etc. You know the Mom Guilt drill.
Dusty, you completely made my day and my Christmas!!! Pictures of your beautiful home & Christmas decor!!! (Smiling ear to ear!!) I’ve been struggling to decorate as we moved to a new, bigger home almost 3 months ago. Still have unpacked boxes, a new style of home, and a struggle of going through decorations. We too have switched to a more traditional theme. I recently purchased monogrammed Pottery Barn stockings and tree skirt (red and ivory). It’s slowly coming together. Can’t wait to see more pictures of the home!!!
You are too sweet, Ashley – thank you! ❤️ And congratulations to you on your new home – that is so exciting! (And overwhelming too I’m sure, haha.) I hope you enjoy your family’s first Christmas in your new home, and your new Christmas decorations!
So excited to see your holiday Home – and really just see your beautiful dream home. It’s just totally gorgeous – truly dreamy. I love the pops of red and I think the mantel is probably my favorite. The signs are so perfect against that white walls. And that tree – so packed with beautiful ornaments. I love it! It’s just stunning.
Thank you so much, Kim! I know you share my love of a tree full of personal memories. Unwrapping those ornaments is the best part of holiday decorating. ❤️ Thank you so much for your kind words – your holiday decor (and YOUR new dream home!) are so beautiful, too!
Beautiful
Thank you! ❤️
I was hoping you would decorate this year. I so miss your posts since you completed your beautiful forever home but I know life happens and you have priorities. Thanks for sharing! Your home and holiday decorations are gorgeous!!!!
Thank you so much, Sonia! I appreciate your kind words and your grace. Hope you have a lovely holiday season!
Finally someone who loves ornaments as much as I do! Everything is beautiful!
Lol! Thank you, sweetie! We love ornaments up in here.
I love the scarves on your mantle. Where are they from?
Thank you so much! They were purchased at Old Navy.
I love this and have missed your posts. We’re moving into our dream home in a few weeks and I’ve always loved your style. It’s fun to get ideas! Thank you for sharing. By the way, where did you get your sofa and chairs from? I’m on the market and these look like the perfect size for our new space. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Mollie! Our couch and chairs are from Steinhafels. I’m not sure the brand or manufacturer though – I’m so sorry!
Best wishes to you in your new dream home!!
Hi Dusty,
Love you site and your home is so beautiful! I too am using Sherwin William’s Ivory Lace paint on our walls. I’m partial to the name as well! Would you mind letting me know what brand and the color of paint you used on your trim work?
Thank you! We just went with white on the trim work. I will try to find the exact name and post it!