The winter season brings a unique charm but also ushers in the need for extra coziness and warmth in your home. You’ll likely spend more time indoors this time of year, which means it’s the perfect opportunity to experiment with some winter decorating ideas for your living room, bedroom, dining room, or any other area. Here are some cozy, warm living room ideas, as well as essential tips and inspiration to help you transform your living space into a welcoming retreat and beat the winter blues.
Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.
One of my favorite parts of the holidays is opening up my home to guests of all kinds. Whether I’m hosting family or friends, visitors from across the nation or from just across the street, I cherish the time we spend together.
If you’re like me, you want your home to look its best before the guests arrive. To make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time, try these quick refreshers in common areas and the guest room to make your visitors feel welcome, comfortable and at home during their stay.
Leather furniture
If your family room needs a little TLC before the holidays, you can make a big impact with a new set of leather furniture. For a high-traffic room, such as the den, leather is an ideal choice because it’s comfortable, durable and scratch-resistant. One of my favorite top grain leather sets is the Denver Sofa and Loveseat. It offers a lot of seating space to hold the entire family and has an inviting, rustic look.
Dining room table
In our house, the dining table is the star of the show when the holidays roll around. For an investment like this, you’ll want to choose something that will wow your guests for years to come. My top pick this season is the Magnolia Table because of its sturdy structure and interesting shape. While the table itself certainly makes a statement, you shouldn’t forget to dress it up for the holidays with an interesting tablescape!
Guest bedroom mattress
Give your guests the gift of comfort this holiday season with a new mattress for the guest bedroom. The Bree-O-Pedic Signature Plush Queen Mattress Set will ensure that your visitors can rest easy. This mattress is my top pick because of its advanced coil system, memory foam layer, organic fabric cover and plush feel. Once you’ve got the new mattress, deck it out with cozy linens and a variety of pillows.
Bedside tables
One often-overlooked detail in the guest bedroom is a pair of bedside tables. They make a big difference in both the function and the look of the room. I like to maintain a palette of neutrals and whites in my guest bedroom so it looks as clean and hotel-like as possible. My pick for the guest bedroom would be the Gardenia Nightstand because it’s simple in style, has plentiful storage and even offers a built-in charging dock.
All in the details
The quickest, most cost-effective way to transform your home for the holidays is through décor details. Choose a palette that’s festive, yet complements the style of your home. Stay true to your color palette as you add textile accessories like rugs, throw pillows and curtains. Go a step further and try a new lamp or a piece of art. Small additions like this will brighten your home for the holidays, but are easily swapped out, too!
Bree
Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.
The most wonderful time of the year is finally here! Invite the excitement and joy of the holidays into your home with a few simple Christmas crafts. Not only will these crafts help keep the kids busy while they’re on winter break, but you’ll be able to decorate the house with their finished products. From ornaments to popcorn garlands, these are our favorite crafts to get you—and the kiddos—into the holiday spirit!
Chalkboard Ornaments
Materials:
Wooden shapes, chalkboard paint, chalk, string, jingle bells, hot glue
Directions:
First, paint the small wooden shapes with chalkboard paint. Once the paint has dried, use chalk to write a line from your favorite Christmas carol or draw a few Christmas motifs. Next, cut 6 inches of string, tie it in a knot so it makes a loop, and hot glue it to the back of the ornament. Dress the ornament up by hot gluing a few jingle bells onto it!
Oversized Window Ornaments
Materials:
Poster board, scissors, scrapbooking paper, glue, string or ribbon, hole punch
Directions:
Oversized window ornaments are the answer for decorating both inside and out. First, cut several different ornament shapes out of the poster board. They can be as long and wide as you like. I tend to cut shapes that are between 8 and 12 inches tall so they make a visual impact. Next, cover the ornament cutouts front and back with scrapbooking paper. Metallic paper or foil works nicely, too! Lastly, hole punch the top of the ornaments and hang them using different lengths of string or ribbon. You can hang them in the window or even in a doorframe.
Christmas Corsage
Materials:
Ribbon, felt, pin, jingle bells, scissors, hot glue gun or needle and thread
Directions:
Everybody likes to get dressed up during the holidays, and a Christmas corsage is the ideal complement. First, cut out a shape (circle, star, Christmas tree, etc.) from felt that’s about 3 inches in diameter. Decorate the felt shape using ribbon, jingle bells and smaller felt shapes. When the decorations are either hot glued or sewn onto the base felt shape, use a pin and tack the corsage onto a jacket lapel, dress or sweater.
Popcorn Garland
Materials:
Bowl of plain popcorn and/or cranberries, waxed floss, needle
Directions:
Garlands of all types read Christmas time! My favorite trick for making a holiday garland is to use waxed floss as opposed to string. Not only will the floss easily glide through the popcorn, but it will hold well, too! To make a garland, you’ll begin by threading a needle with the floss and tying a thick knot at the other end. With a bowl of popcorn and/or cranberries at your side, you will thread pieces one by one until the entire length of floss is full. Fresh garlands can decorate the indoor tree, a mantle or the dining room for Christmas dinner. Keep in mind that a fresh garland serves as a temporary indoor decor. Popcorn, etc., can attract pests, so after a day of use, transfer the garland to an outdoor tree. The local birds and squirrels will be pleased!
Paper Snowflakes
Materials:
Cardstock or poster board, scissors, string, hole punch, markers or paints, loose glitter, template for star or snowflake shapes
Directions:
Paper stars or snowflakes are the quintessential Christmas craft! Not only are they fun for kids of all ages to make, but you’ll also find that you can decorate any room with them. The classic approach to making paper snowflakes is to fold a square piece of paper into four and cut out tiny shapes leaving the central binding corner intact. When you open it up, you have a unique snowflake.
Take this idea to the next level using a slightly stronger material. Since cardstock and poster board are too thick to fold into four, use a template and cut out a Christmas shape of your choice. You can stick with snowflakes or try stars or Christmas trees. When the shapes are cut out, you can either leave them blank or decorate them using markers, paints or glue and loose glitter. Once it’s dry, hole punch it at the top and loop it with a piece of string.
There are many uses for paper snowflakes. You can use them to decorate your mantle, personalize your gift wrapping or suspend them from the ceiling to create a winter wonderland.
What are your favorite Christmas crafts? Tell me about them in the comments below!
Bree
Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.
The gourds are gone, the tree has been dressed, but has the mantel been styled? At our house, the mantel is the crown jewel of our holiday décor. While the pressure to bring holiday cheer to this architectural centerpiece is hard to deny, don’t get overwhelmed! Use creative styling, prioritize what you like, and you’ll find that the finished product is a reflection of you and your family. Use these simple, budget-friendly ideas to get inspired.
Blank Slate
The first thing you’ll need to do is clear your mantel completely. Take down any picture frames, and remove flower vases and candles. If you plan on using greenery and have a wooden mantel, I’d suggest taping down some plastic to protect the surface. You might also consider temporarily removing anything hanging above the mantel, such as a painting or mirror, in case it interfere with your holiday décor.
Accents
There are all sorts of ways you can fill your mantel with holiday spirit. One of the most popular accents is garland. You can find fresh garland in several varieties, but I always lean toward an evergreen. As for garland length, you’ll want to get one that is the length of your mantle plus a few inches on either side (at least!). For a more dramatic and aromatic effect, measure so that your garland pools on the floor on either side of the hearth. To keep your garland in place, tack it down in the center and let it hang freely on the sides.
Don’t care for the upkeep of fresh garland? You can also purchase an artificial version, which you’ll be able to use again next year. For those who prefer a more organized-looking mantel, get creative with ornaments. A few clear bowls filled with colorful bulbs will pack a visual punch and stay neat and tidy. There’s no need to buy brand-new ornaments either. When you’re done decorating your tree, you can use the ornaments you didn’t hang or even repurpose those that are partially broken.
Stockings
Stockings are a must on a holiday mantel. If you’re unsure of where to go with your mantel styling, the stockings can be a great place to start. For instance, burlap stockings read rustic, while velvet stockings project elegance. Once you have your stockings picked out, hang them evenly across the length of the mantel. Stockings can be hung on decorative hooks that are in keeping with the style of the rest of your room or on hooks covered by your garland, out of sight.
Florals
Bring some additional color to your mantel with a few floral additions. Start by sticking some stems into the underlying garland—a few sprigs of holly are sure to make your mantel a real eye-catcher! Another way to incorporate florals is to fill small, short vases with flowers that pack a major punch. Tightly arranged roses in round glass vases spread across the mantel make for a lovely visual!
Candles
Candles are a necessity on a holiday mantel. Not only do they create the perfect mood lighting, but they can add a pleasing scent as well. Begin by adding a candle with a large base to either end of the mantle. I’d suggest using unscented versions for these base candles so you don’t get tired of the smell as the holiday season wears on. The anchor candles can be placed on an unobtrusive porcelain or silver plate to catch the wax or can be placed inside hurricane lamps to create more of a glow. Add smaller candles to your mantel for additional light, scent and holiday cheer.
Personal touches
No matter how much you customize your mantel, it won’t feel like your own without a few personal touches. You can display a few of your favorite holiday cards, either tucked into the garland or glued onto a stretch of ribbon. The mantel is also a great way to show off kids’ crafts. For instance, you can cut out snowflake shapes from poster board, cover them in rubber cement and sprinkle them with glitter. Again, you can tuck snowflakes into the garland or hang them off of the mantel using twine.
However you decide to proceed, here’s to your most beautiful holiday mantel yet!
Bree