Introduction to Christmas Decorations in the Home

In this post, I will show you my Christmas decorations in the home. This post will be for my Chicago home and I hope you think these are amazing Christmas decorations! I have linked many ideas and products as I want to make decorating fun for you. I have included loads of affordable Christmas decorations. Of course, I love Amazon Christmas decorations! BUT, there are so many items to choose from! Read along with me and I will show you lots of tips and tricks. I have already curated for you all my favorite decorating items. See what you think! Maybe a little this or that would really freshen up this year’s Christmas decorations in YOUR home.

As I have said on previous occasions, I LOVE to decorate for any and all holidays! I especially love the Christmas season. This year I decorated both my Chicago home as well as my California one. I thought it would be fun to tell you first about the Chicago one. (I actually decorated the California house one for the second time when I was out there for a few days in November).

This year my younger son Jake and his lovely girlfriend are coming to California for a December 27th visit so I thought it would be festive to do it up there too! Stay tuned for those photos…). The photo above shows our Chicago Christmas tree with all sorts of gold bows, fabric and lights.

As you enter my front foyer, I have placed a wooden bench on which I have placed numerous Christmas pillows, presents, and a plaid throw. I also placed my wellies from the garden next to the bench but now they’re filled with artificial Christmas greenery, a candy cane, some pine cones, and red berries.

Decorating tip #1: Since the holidays are so busy, I think the easiest way to do it, is to put little vignettes of these red berries, pine cones and Christmas branches in various spots. So, I buy a batch on line (maybe from your favorite blogger, ahem) and reuse them every year. Watch for these in my photos below. These little touches make even the most basic year-round items look like very homey Christmas decorations.

My pillows have been collected from Pottery Barn, Homegoods, and Amazon over the years. Here are some darling ones here and here. Decor tip #2: I love shopping at all of these stores, but sometimes, I run out of time and thus am glad when I find easy links on line to add to my decor coffers! I especially love Homegoods Christmas decorations, but get frustrated when I want a last-minute touch as the store is already on to the Valentine’s Day!

In my front hall I have a small table on which I have placed three gold bottlebrush trees. I love how they look when just the small lamp is lit right adjacent to the trees. Here’s a similar set.

In my kitchen, I placed a Christmas garland over the kitchen window sink and a sweet Santa and Mrs. Claus on the window sill.

On the island, I popped a wooden bowl filled with red berries, greenery, and ornaments on it. I then flanked this bowl with red pillar candles in old Crate and Barrel hurricanes. Decor tip #3: I have many beautiful fragile glass ornaments. But, I really love these shatterproof ones! I don’t have to worry about pets or grandbabies knocking them off the tree, or playing with them. I use them on my tablescapes, buffets, on the tree, etc.

Decor tip #4: In this arrangement, I add fresh branches as well. I get them at the grocery store (Trader Joe’s is my favorite spot!). I especially like the cedar branches as they smell so great. I buy a bunch and put them in the powder room and kitchen. I even buy an extra bunch in mid-December, that I put in a glass of water, and leave on the kitchen counter. I use these to freshen things up when the others dry out.

Have you seen these darling pads of disposable paper placemats? A really fun thing I did was to take one of these placemats and cut it out and place in on my grandkids’ high chairs. The tray on the chairs is made of two parts; one clear piece lifts up and that’s where I put the placemat. It looks really cute! The placemats came in a tear-off pad of 35 mats. Here is a similar pad as I bought mine two years ago.

My great room is especially cozy. I have Santa pillows on the couch and loveseat and on the ottoman, I have a wicker basket filled with Christmas greenery and red glass ornaments that I purchased at Homegoods and Pottery Barn several years ago. Here are very similar ones. What I love about this arrangement, is when the four grandbaby boys come over, I just whisk away the basket to a safe spot until they head home. Easy, peasy.

Behind the sofa is a sofa table on which I placed two tall snowmen as well as a Christmas tray to hold the car keys and cell phones. There are also red lanterns that I have out all year. Decor tip #5: Look below the sofa table. I put out old Hartman suitcases that I got at a yard sale. I keep a bunch of easy-access toys there for when the kids stop by for a visit.

On the end table, there is a darling Santa snow globe! Santa is in an old-fashioned phone booth. Try explaining THAT to your little grandson. And there is a Christmas bird house as well.

On the mantel I hung thirteen stockings with care. The burgundy velvet ones are from Pottery Barn and the others are from Lands’ End. I hang them with these 3M hooks and tape every year. Next year, I think I’ll have to use the higher (longer) edge if we have any more family additions by then!

Decor tip #5: I also have two artificial Balsam Hill garlands across the mantel with white lights. I know these garlands are a bit pricey, but they are sooo worth it! They really look authentic and thay last from year to year! There is no mess or fire hazard from garland drying out and dropping needles everywhere! Check it out.

What do you think? Do you like my Christmas decorations in the home? What’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks so much!

Check out these posts:

• Homey Christmas Decorations in My California Home

• Snowmen Christmas Decor for High Tea
• How to Decorate a Christmas Tree – Very Sparkly!

XO

Dr. Julie