I have been really looking forward to putting up my Christmas decor this year! Last year I added a bunch of really cool stuff, then we spent most of the winter in Florida (when we owned a home there). Since I wasn’t able to really enjoy it, I’ve been looking forward to this year! Want to come on a colorful Christmas home tour with me?!
colorful Christmas home tour
Let’s start with the video- I wanted to do a walk through where I talk about my favorite things and show them to you too! Then, I’ll dive in with more details below with links:
If the video doesn’t work here, you can watch it on YouTube here. I’d be so grateful if you subscribed to my YouTube channel! Videos are actually released on YouTube first (usually the night before they’re published on the blog). Thank you!
last Christmas
Last year before Thanksgiving, my dad died. It was, as you can imagine, very hard on me. The holidays were definitely tinged with sadness in 2021. His loss really silenced me in a way- I didn’t want to talk about (I still usually don’t). My dad and I had a complicated relationship. But I never gave up the hope that things would work out. So I’ve been grieving what could have been.
Last winter we also sold our Florida house. That was my happy place. It all was just a big blow that left me feeling really low.
In hind sight, it was absolutely the right time and decision to sell that house. We really needed to simplify things and it was the height of the market so we got a great price. But even when things are right, it doesn’t mean they’re not hard. I still miss that house. Especially in the winter when it’s cold in Utah.
I know this all seems like a huge pity party- maybe it is! Lol. But I never talk about this stuff publicly so I thought I’d type it out. I’m doing better, but I’m still giving myself space to be a little sad. Last year was hard and I’m still dealing with it. Which I think is fair. I know lots of people struggle around the holidays so I’m offering solidarity if you are too.
This year is better for me. Mostly, I’m doing much better. I’m feeling creative and even though I don’t love being cold, I’m so happy to be closer to friends and family this Christmas. Things are looking up and I’m here for it!
When I decorate my house, I intentionally try to make the happiest environment possible. It’s like a type of therapy! Cheerful colors, lots of sunlight, whimsical figurines- it’s all designed to brighten up the day. Lots of people see my house and say you could never be sad there. You definitely can, but it helps.
Anyway, with my Christmas decor, I stick to the same ideas. Make it a happy and fun place and definitely don’t take myself too seriously. I’ll take you room by room where I decorated for Christmas.
living room
In the corner of our living room, I have the Christmas tree. Its a white flocked tree that I got a few years old from Grandin Road, but I don’t think it’s available anymore (this one is similar). It comes pre-lit and I just love the simplicity!
I made the rainbow tree skirt a few weeks ago from ribbon. I love how it perfectly corresponds to the tree and is so frilly! Every year I like to add a few new ornaments for myself and Don that he picks out. I’ve been doing a rainbow ombre Christmas tree for a few years now and really think it’s so pleasing to look at!
Since most of the ornaments are old, I don’t have a bunch of links. But here are links to what I do have and what’s on my wishlist-
Don loves to help me with the Christmas decor. Each year I tell him to do everything in color order and he does such a great job! This summer we added the wallpaper to the living room and I think it adds such a nice layer to the Christmas decor.
I recently added this amazing paper mâché peacock to my living room. It’s whimsical and so fun! I have an even better spot for it when the Christmas decor is down, so I’m looking forward to that too. I love birds so adding this peacock friend feels perfect. It’s from Stray Dog Designs and they have a nice variety of fun objects if you like the idea of adding something like this.
I thought I’d show you the family picture we choose for our Christmas cards this year. Every year I like to get a different family picture in our house for the cards. It’s so fun to look back on them! I keep a copy of each of our Christmas cards and it’s one of my favorite traditions to flip through them.
Next to the tree we have the entertainment center with the rainbow bottle brush tree forest! I bought most of these, but some I painted or dyed. Did you know you can change the color on bottle brush trees? Here’s how. And here’s a tutorial on how to make your own bottle brush trees!
I’ve loved growing this collection! It makes me so happy to put them put in rainbow order. Plus the texture adds a nice dimension. Here’s a link to a bunch if you want to start this collection too-
The mantel in the living room is probably my favorite Christmas decorated area in the whole house! I especially like how the rainbow stocking look with those rainbow ornament trees. We have a stocking for each person in our family- including our two dogs. Then I have a corresponding ornament that’s specific to that person with the stocking.
I also really love the rainbow garlands on the mirror and hanging with the stockings. The only addition this year is that little mint car. I’ve been wanting to paint my car, so I bought this one to show the painters to get the color right. But until then, it’s super cute for Christmas decor I think!
Links to mantel decor-
I recently upgraded my living room mirror and have to show you! Look how fun the green is on the wallpaper! This is the Pea Pod mirror. I like how the leaves are scalloped. It’s so fun and unique- it feels so much more interesting than most mirrors.
The last whimsical addition I have is this pink strawberry lamp! It’s handmade by artisans in Mexico. I have one on either side of my sofa and I love them so much! They’re so different than any other lamp I’ve ever seen! I just think they’re so fun in front of the pink drapes. They come in a bunch of colors and are definitely a focal point.
dining room
For the dining room I kept it super simple this year. Last year I went all out! But it was too much on the table to really be functional, so I used a bunch of those decoration in the bedroom this year now that’s its been renovated. I kept the mantle pretty much the same as last year.
This decor is mostly from Home Depot. I did a collaboration with them and was SO nervous as I was filmed teaching how to decorate a mantel. This garland has some glass ornaments. I left it up while the house was rented out as an Air BNB while we were in Florida last winter. SO many of the ornaments were broken. Which is annoying, but what can you expect?
This mantle is the most classic and traditional out of all of my different ones. I’ve always loved magnolias for Christmas even though that’s more of a southern thing. I originally took down my Staffordshire dogs, but I think they look so sweet, I put them back.
Over the stove I like to hang a wreath. I was working for years at a home decor shop as a visual merchandiser. This was one of the items that store sold and I really love it- its very intricate with gems on it.
Preston built me this plate stand last year after we renovated our kitchen. It holds all of our wedding china. During the holidays I switch out the salad plates for these vintage Johnson Brothers Christmas tree plates. I was so thrilled to find pink holiday plates! Its hard to find anything but red.
Last winter I wanted a garland over my sink. So I took everything left over in my decor bin and put them on a garland. Lol- it kind of shows and is a little scraggly. But whatever, it’s festive. Maybe next year I’ll switch it up.
Dining room holiday decor links-
bedroom
This is the first year I’ve ever decorated my bedroom! In full transparency, a brand asked me to decorate it so they could pay me to own an image of the space. So it was a win win! I got a festive bedroom and I had brought in some income. Turns out, I really enjoy having my bedroom decorated!
Over the nightstand sconces I hung a gold wreath. Each nightstand has some little Christmas decor. On the bed I incorporated velvet in the pillows and a faux fur blanket for cozy winter vibes. I have a vintage needlepoint pillow of Santa on the bed that I just think is so cute.
Then I decorated this little Christmas tree with antique shop ornaments and a bow on top. I throughly enjoyed the process of finding vintage items and adding them on this tree. I tried to go for a more refined look since this is a more pulled back and calm room in here.
The mantle in here also has a bunch of mini village houses. Most of these are by Cody Foster. They’re a little expensive, but the colors and details make them SO good! Add some bottle brush trees and it’s just really cute and festive.
Bedroom Christmas decor links-
stairs
I like to decorate my stairs for the holidays. This year I bought 24 wood nutcrackers and painted them to match the stairs. It’s so freaking fun! I now have a nutcracker army!
On the side of the stair railing, I added some garland and then hung my colorful advent calendar. The colors correspond with the stairs is a very pleasing way. Even Lucy likes it! 😉
Now you’ve seen everywhere I’ve decorated for Christmas this year! Do you have a favorite spot?
I also wanted to include a list of some of the Christmas DIYs I included in this post. I love making things this time of year and then I write detailed tutorials so you can make them too-
Christmas DIYs
Here are some DIYs featured in this house tour. These are fun projects you can make at home!
christmas decor links
Thank you for joining me on this colorful Christmas home tour! I hope you enjoyed coming along. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments. Below are a round up of the links of Christmas decor I used in my home.
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Wow, everything looks so incredible! You are so talented. I hope you are taking care of yourself. Holidays can be hard, but I hope you are comforted by the beauty you created. <3
Thanks Betsi. That’s really kind of you!