Wishing You a Beary Merry Christmas

Teddy bears have always been a big part of my decor.  I absolutely love them, so it is no surprise that I have accumulated quite the collection over the years! More than any other time of the year, my bears play a central role in my Christmas season decor.  So we would like to wish you a beary merry Christmas and show you how we celebrate!

When my husband and I married, we merged two very different households.  He has always had a love of the sea and his home was filled with all things nautical.  Mine was not.  To put it bluntly… I had a home filled with stuffed animals!  Bears to be exact.    Neither of us were willing to give up the things we loved when we moved in together but somehow we made it work.   He indulged my love of bears with a few nautical additions and I stenciled his life’s philosophy on the wall!  It works for us!

Since Christmas is the favorite holiday for us both, decorating for the season is a big deal. Lucky for me, I get to take the lead indoors and having a beary merry Christmas is my choice. Over the years though, I think he has grown to love the bears. Well, love, …that might be too strong of a word! But he accepts them as a central part of the season.

Bears on the mantel

My fireplace does not have the traditional mantel that I have always craved — a big, beautiful wood piece for me to decorate.  Not in this house!

But… what I do have above my fireplace is space. Lots and lots of space to get as creative as my heart desires.

With my lighted Santa charger as the focal point, I can build the look from there. A thick, lighted garland spanning the entire length immediately brings a wintery feel to the space.   I added a glitter mesh ribbon as well.  When the lights hit the ribbon, everything seems to sparkle.  

I love candles every day but at Christmas time they are a must. Using red candles of varying heights mixed in with greenery gives the traditional feel that an old fashioned mantel would normally provide.

With such a big area, it’s sometimes hard to bring warmth into the mix. Santa, the candles, and the lighted garland help with that but I believe the real warmth comes from the bears.

In addition to the normal bears that threaten to completely take over several rooms in the house… this is the time of year when they are joined by several Christmas bears.  Kept in a bin downstairs most of the time, it is so much fun to see them all again!  

Everyone is in place! Teddy bears are just the very definition of warm and cozy, I think!

With a few old wooden rocking horses added to each side, my Christmas mantel is complete!

Bears on the table

I started using bears to decorate when my kids were little. While it is always important to teach children what they can and cannot touch, I did not want to spoil the holidays with constant corrections. I did enough of that when we would visit friends or relatives.

So many Christmas decorations are fragile and breakable, and anything that glitters demands a little one’s attention. I’ve always had those pieces but they were placed up high in the old days. It was the teddy bears I placed at eye level. Although I don’t have little ones around anymore, the bears still grace my tables!

Christmas dinner just would not be the same without the wooden bears standing guard on the dining room table!

Bears, bears, everywhere!

The bears who spend their days in my old steamer trunk have put on their winter sweaters and holiday scarves. They are very much a part of a beary merry Christmas in this house!

Knowing my love of bears, I have received many beautiful bear-related gifts at one time or another. These bears put on a Nativity play each year in my home.

What could be cuter than a teddy bear cookie jar? So special… a gift from my son when he was just 9 years old.

A bowl of bears! How perfect!

In honor of the Christmas bears, I have added this new printable to the Library!

As a member, simply click here, enter your password, download, and print. If you haven’t joined us yet, I hope you do! Subscribe below, confirm your subscription, and a welcome letter with your password will be in your inbox within seconds! You will have immediate access to everything in the library and I will keep you up to date with all the latest in home decor!

My 2020 Christmas Home Tour is coming right up so be sure to check back right after the Thanksgiving holiday! I have been busy taking pictures to share with you when you come for a visit. I’ll be so excited to welcome you to my holiday home! In the meantime, stop by my Simple Hot Chocolate Bar post for some ideas to warm up this winter season.

I wish you all a beary merry Christmas season!