The Christmas season is finally here and we have decked the halls at My Home of All Seasons! Today I’m sharing our cozy, classic, living room makeover for the Christmas holidays. We are ready for Santa’s arrival!
I have always loved a classic look for the Christmas holiday. While I normally don’t like a lot of bling in my decor, I can’t seem to get enough of it for the holidays. Gold is my chosen “bling” this year and it is front and center in several displays around the living room. It is especially prominent on my Christmas mantel.
A Golden Touch for the Mantel
Creating a pretty Christmas mantel is the epitome of holiday fun for me. This year, I decided to retire my old garland in favor of a newer version to use as my base. I wanted a soft, flexible, norfolk pine that wouldn’t scratch the mantel or my hands as I arranged it.
After purchasing and returning several thicker versions, I finally found what I considered to be the perfect piece. Pretty enough to be used alone perhaps on a future console table, it was light enough for me to get creative with this year’s mantel.
I added the faux eucalyptus that I bought last spring and some pretty Christmas picks for a touch of red. A strand of jingle bell fairy lights provides a start for the bling.
I chose a tall gold mercury glass Christmas tree that I’ve had for years as my focal point. (I’ve linked a few favorites in the Create the Look section that are available now.). Glittering red and gold deer and pretty red candles anchor the sides.
The mantle came together with the classic, elegant, look I was hoping for.
Gold clips hold the stockings in place and finish the overall look.
Golden Ambiance
Although the fireplace is definitely a major focal point, there is a larger inset wall in my living room as well. As the only place for a TV in this room, I chose a simple framed winter scene for the screen .
The table below needs to showcase the gold of the fireplace next to it but compliment the picture above as well. Several accents in shades of green accomplish that.
Simple Christmas balls mixed with pine cones and greenery make a gorgeous accent. I used candles paired with dark green velvet deer to bring a bit of elegance to distressed tray placed here also.
A print from the library adds a bit of whimsy here as well. (This print is free and available to all subscribers.)
A basket, lantern, and a fun little nutcracker complete the table for a wonderful Christmas ambiance.
Bring on the Cozy!
Although we have just gone into our nice weather here in Phoenix, it does get a tad chilly at night. There is nothing I love more than to cozy up under a nice warm throw and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie. Pillows and throws in traditional colors make it so warm and welcoming.
Bring on the Warmth
The cozy in the room comes from the fireplace, the throws, and the soft light of the trees and candles. The warmth, however, comes from the many old fashioned toys and teddy bears that grace the shelves and tables.
The movie quote for this post is one of my favorites. I thought about it a lot as I was packing up the house to move. We still had quite a few toys from when the kids were little. Katie had her favorite doll already since I snuck it into her suitcase when she went off to college. Susie now lives by the beach in San Diego.
Weston’s best friends, Teddy and Mike, ( a bear of course and a shaggy little dog) were packed away in the storage room. Although he said he didn’t want them, I could not get rid of them. I tucked the 3 of them in every night for years. I took them to his apartment right before we moved. The ball is in his court now.
As for me… I didn’t set out to become a teddy bear collector. It just happened and while I parted with a few, the rest made the move with us. They are very loved!
I look forward to this time of year when the Christmas bears join the others!
I sincerely hope you’ve found a little inspiration in this post today. Be sure to stop by the Create the Look section of the blog for links to several of my holiday favorites.
If you’re a current subscriber, don’t forget to grab a few Christmas printables to use with your holiday decor as well. Click here for the library, add your password, and print away. Haven’t joined us yet? Please do! Your email in the box below will put you on the list today.
Before you leave, check out my latest post, A Dash of Christmas: Simple Ways to Decorate Your Holiday Kitchen for more Christmas decor ideas.
Happy Thanksgiving all! See you soon!