how I decorate

Welcome to my home. Please come in! I always start with a fresh wreath on the front door. You simply can't have Christmas without it. Around here Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving (and ends the day after Christmas).

I wrap the handrails with red berry garland. I love this stuff. In the past I have used evergreen garland, and while it smelled delicious, it was too messy. I always have to have a red poinsettia too. This is the one I bought on my kmart shop a few weeks ago. I haven't killed it yet! (Oh, about that, make sure you remove the foil wrapper from your poinsettia, or any extra water won't be able to drain out, and you will literally drown your poinsettia). We keep our Christmas cards received here on the entry table, and we have a mini Nativity set here as well.

My tree. It's fake. We bought it last year and haven't regretted it yet. It's beautiful, seriously, and it really really does look real. You're right, it doesn't smell, but it also doesn't need water, or drop needles, or make a mess, so...you know. I'm like things tidy but I hate to clean, so having fewer things to clean up after helps.

These are some of the red balls I purchased at kmart. I tied them with fishing line and hung them at different lengths, with a feather wreath I already had in the center. I love it, and it didn't cost much. I can see adding more balls over the years. Maybe even adding in some silver with the red.

More balls, different sizes. I love the different textures of the green ones, some matte and some shiny. I wish I had bought more of these. I love how the little ones are just tossed in as well. You can never have too many balls. Especially if you stick with just a few colors.

See how I put the candle in my new square vase with the small silver balls? I really like how this turned out, and wished they had more at the store when I was there. Remember I bought two, but I think three or four or even five would have looked even better.

My snowglobe collection which I acquired from my aunt Bev, a tabletop tree I made as a MOPS craft years ago, and our Santa book, where we keep all the previous years' Santa photos in one album. The kids (and grandmas) love to look through it.

Another view of our tree, from the dining room this time.

There is nothing easier than a bowl filled with pinecones. You can bribe your kids to pick them up off the ground outside, or buy a bag at any craft store, or at kmart, of course! You can even buy them cinnamon scented, like these ones once were. ; )

And finally, the mantel, where I display our Santa collection, and where the stockings are hung, with care of course. I also have my icicle wreath which I bought years ago at kmart. I have this wreath on the mantel all winter, not just Christmas. (See how I painted my fireplace surround here).

So that's how we do Christmas at our house. What about you? Do you have any decorating tips you can share? Or any secrets to keeping the house clean with all the extra "stuff" out?



This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias But all opinions herein are my own. Obviously.

I am sharing my holiday home decor and cleaning tips for the chance to win prizes from The SITS Girls and Great Cleaners

Linking up for the Christmas House Tour with the Inspired Room.