Christmas Decorations for Your Home
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyWell, friends. This just might be one of my favorite days here on IBC. Not only am I sharing my Holiday Home Tour 2016 and my Christmas Decorations with you, but today marks the official beginning of 12 Days of Christmas!
Now, if that’s not exciting enough, I’m also honored to be participating in Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk. I’ve watched with wonder as she has hosted this tour for several years now. When I received an email from her asking me to join the seasonal fun, I was filled with holiday cheer. This year, more than 30 bloggers are sharing their Christmas decorations! . Each blogger has a unique style so it’s inspiring to check out all of the homes and their festive decor.
If you’re currently on the tour and coming over from Ella Claire, welcome to Inspired by Charm (or IBC as we call it around here). Kristen of Ella Claire is amazingly talented, so it’s an honor to follow her on this tour. Wasn’t her home stunning? Check it out here if you missed it.
How Do You Decorate Your House for Christmas:
Okay, now that we’ve taken care of the preliminaries, let’s get on with the tour! (I recommend listening to one of my holiday playlists to set the mood while browsing. You can find them here.) We’ll start in the living room.
As you might have noticed, thanks to a new rug, this space has a different look. Last year I celebrated the holidays with cool blues, teals, and greens. This year, things are feeling warm and cozy.
Before we go any further – I know how much many of you liked my previous rug. I loved it, too. However, I was ready for a change, and this rug from RugsUSA offered me just what I needed.
With the new rug in place, I opted for traditional reds and greens to create a warm and cozy space that’s ideal for enjoying a Christmas movie on the couch with a big cup of hot cocoa in hand.
I also managed to squeeze a tree into this space. I found this slim flocked pencil tree that fit perfectly next to my couch. Decorated in hues to match the room, it’s the perfect festive accessory.
The star of my mantel this year is this pair of elk antlers that I scored at a local thrift shop. I actually live in Elk County, PA so the antlers are quite fitting. In fact, one of largest roaming elk herds is about 30 minutes from my house.
Adorned with fresh greens, copper ornaments, and acorns, my mantel is dressed for the season.
My DIY wood stockings also made a return this year. You can learn how to make those here.
Side note: Be sure to check out Shop IBC if you’re looking for product links. I’ll try and link up most things there to make it easy to find and shop for products.
Since I eliminated the aqua from this area, I also picked up a new lamp to better suit the space. I also couldn’t resist this #naughty pillow from Grandin Road.
Now, let’s turn on those twinkle lights. I tucked a dimmable strand of LED wire lights into the greenery around my mantel. They are awesome. You can find them here.
My tree adds such a magical glow to this space. I’m so happy I was able to finally have one in this room. Those adorable wood ornaments are from Tree Hopper Toys.
Colorful Christmas Decorations for your Home:
Okay, let’s head over to the office.
If you’re new to IBC, my house layout is a bit weird because it used to be a bed and breakfast. At one point this living room / office space combo was sectioned off by a bathroom. Then it became a gift shop. At this point it’s just a big fun space for me.
This is where the blog magic happens.
Over by my desk, things are looking the same. However, I found a new home for my printer (It’s in my closet thanks to wifi printing.), so I had a bit of extra space for decorating.
These trees LED candles from Grandin Road look great on a wood tray embellished with fresh pine. The geometric himmeli wreath over my Stendig Calendar was a HomeGoods find! I love it.
In this room I added yet another tree next to my office table.
I create a entire post on this Fun, Festive, and Flocked Christmas Tree. It actually has a little surprise to it. If you want to check out it’s secret, you can do that here.
This tree is mostly decked out in ornaments from the allen + roth collection at Lowe’s. They are carrying these beautiful geometric ornaments this year, and I just couldn’t get enough of them. That beautiful plaid ribbon was a HomeGoods find! It’s perfection!
I also baked up this beautiful gingerbread village with a cake mold I found at HomeGoods. That’s another little sneak peek at things to come during this years 12 Days of Christmas! (So many things to look forward to, right? I’m such a tease!)
My favorite nutcrackers returned to my perfectly pink dresser. Paired with the newest Elf print from Lindsay Letters, it couldn’t get more perfect. “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”
As we move into the dinning room, you’ll notice I filled a white vase in my entryway with fresh winterberry. This stuff is just gorgeous. I want to put it everywhere. This is the first year I’ve used fresh pine and berries in my home. I’m not sure I can go back to faux!
I also picked up two of these gold peace signs from CB2. Given the state of the world these days, I couldn’t imagine a better way to greet my guests than with a sign of peace.
I tied them up with black satin ribbon and more fresh pine.
Christmas Decorations for your Dining Room:
Over in the dining room I opted for metallics, black, and just a touch of green.
Going with mostly blacks and golds made me a little nervous since black isn’t a traditional Christmas color. However, with lots of sparkle, it came together better than I could have hoped.
A few years ago, I never would have mixed gold, silver, and copper. This year, I broke the rules and just went for it.
The inspiration came from various sources, but it all started with this Designer Lit tree from Grandin Road. It’s unique in that it’s lit with over 6,000 tiny LED lights. That’s not a typo. It really has 6,720 lights to be exact. (Unfortunately, it’s currently sold out for the year.)
I’m not an expert at beautifully capturing Christmas tree lights (The the dreary gray weather wasn’t helping either.), but this is a stunner.
Pure magic!
It’s definitely not traditional, but when you’re decorating with gold and black, tradition kind of goes out the window.
Along with lots of glimmering metallics, this tree has gold sequined unicorns, faux fur ribbon, and an owl tree topper. I’m so lucky I get to experiment with new trees every year. I honestly never expected a tree like this, but I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate around it.
Over in the opposite corner of the room, I upgraded my $5 thrift store bar cart to something a bit more refined and larger for serving up holiday cocktails. (More about that soon! I’m trying to get one to giveaway!)
I’ve set the table with a variety of things I found at HomeGoods. From the big mercury glass trees to the faux fur table runner to the dinnerware, black, white, and metallic never looked so chic. I’ll be posting more about this tablescape in the coming weeks over on the HomeGoods Design Happy blog.
I’ll also probably pop back in to talk more about this tree. There’s just so much holiday cheer. I can’t fit it all in one post. I did tuck a few presents under the tree topped with my free printable gift tags and DIY concrete ornaments.
Last, but certainly not least, I wanted to try something totally new this year.
Rainbow-Inspired Christmas Decorations:
I decided to style my staircase banister with garland. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m crazy in love with it. I chose the soft pine garland from Grandin Road which has battery operated LED lights, complete with timer. Set it and forget it. (I’m sad to report that this garland is currently sold out for the year. However, you can check out some of their other garlands HERE.)
With the green garland in place, I simply wrapped it with another garland of Christmas balls. (You might remember that I used it on my flocked tree a few years ago.)
Two simple steps yielded this dramatic, colorful, and festive garland. If you come and visit me, you might find me sitting on the stairs gazing at it. (Please bring me a cocktail because I’m not moving.)
I’d say my first staircase garland was a success.
And that’s a wrap for my Holiday Home Tour 2016! I have a couple dedicated posts coming up where I’ll show you around my kitchen and take you upstairs, so please stop by in the coming weeks. The festive fun continues!
Now, don’t forget to continue on the Holiday Housewalk. Next up is The Yellow Cap Cod. Sarah is such a talented decorator. You’re going to love how she’s decked her halls for the season. Head on over and check it out.
Thank you so much for joining me for all the festive fun today. If you want to see more of my home or how I decorate for other seasons, you can find all of my home tours here. If you’re on the hunt for more holiday inspiration and christmas decorations, click here for those posts.
Happy Holidays to my friends both old and new!
Always a treat to tour your home Michael. LOOOOOVEEEE that stair garland! I’d bring you wine while you ogle over it but I’d have to hop a plane to do that…lol! Merry Christmas!
truly wonderful!
I’ve looked through this post numerous times today. Your home is beautiful and the Christmas decor is to die for! Thank you for the inspirations.
DROOLING!!! Like seriously, I couldn’t get enough. I know you loved my blue, but that rich green – amazing!! And love your mixed metals!!
Michael, YOUR HOUSE IS A DELIGHT! Every detail is so festive and well thought out. Even your SITE is decked out. And YOU are decked out popping into the sidebar with your Santa hat. I love it all. Great job! Thank you for the tour and all the fun you put into your tour. Thank you!
You seriously rule the Christmas decorating world! I look forward to your Christmas posts every year – super-long time reader, infrequent commenter! 🙂 I’m dying over every last detail in this post!
Every room is so pretty! I love it all!
Omg, this is incredible! Ever inch is perfection, in love with so many things, ok everything! Happy Holidays!!! Jen
Unbelievably fantastic!!! Seriously every inch is Christmas perfection but that flocked tree??? Truly my favorite!! You are so incredibly talented Michael!
❤️ There are no words! ❤️ Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous ❤️
BEAUTIFUL and so creative, as usual. You inspire me, Michael.
Absolute love!!! Gorgeous home Michael!
I feel very fortunate because I’ve experienced IBC’s Holiday Home Tour in real life. From the minute you walk in the door, the smell of fresh pine puts you in the spirit of what’s to come! And believe me, it’s some of Michael’s best work. Idea after idea comes front and center, and yet it takes time to appreciate every little detail.
You’ve done a truly amazing and inspiring tour! Michael. you should be very proud. I know I am.
Mom
I have so been looking forward to seeing your Christmas tour this year. Love the gray rug and the new look and feel it gives the living room! I also love how you have used green as a primary accent color with the metallics! Beautiful.
I’m not sure how you do it, but your Christmas tours amaze me every time. Your decor is always so thoughtful, creative and beautiful. I especially love how you repurposed decor from previous years! truly inspiring.
Everything is so beautiful! Thank you!
You have a very beautiful home.
Michael, you are amazing!! I wish you could come decorate my home ?
You out-do yourself very year!! It looks stunning. I adore the wooden ornaments & plan to order some from their website!
Aren’t they great!? It was love at first sight.
xo Michael
Michael where can I purchase an owl tree topper? He is just too adorable.
So enjoyed your ever so special Holiday Home Tour 2016!
Ellie, there’s a link in the post above where you can find him. 🙂
xo Michael