Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Simple Christmas Decorating

Let’s talk about the festive-ification of various surfaces. Booyah. $herdog had some fun with the mantel… as she is apt to do. And since $herdog is also apt to share the play by play of her various surface-switcharoos with you guys, especially around the holidays, you better ho-ho-hold onto your hats. Because it’s about to get festive up in here. Spoiler alert: the console table and the built-ins weren’t safe either…

Mantel2

The mantel makeover was pretty simple, I hung our stockings by the chimney with care, and stacked some faux presents that I made a while back on the mantel (more on how I made those here). Oh and see that glittered stag at the top of Gift Mountain? That’s just a cheap-o Target ornament that we grabbed the last time we were there.

I got two so they wouldn’t be lonely.

Mantel3

And since I know someone out there thinks Burger got the short end of the stick since there are only three stockings… not true! Mommy and daddy did (because we share). Each of our precious kiddos get their own proprietary stocking.

Stockings Names

Then I shifted my focus to the console table by the door. This was another pretty fast and fun switch-out. First I brought out a few feather trees from our big tupperware container in the attic along with a little faux evergreen that I’ve had for half a decade…

Console1

… and then I shoved some silver ornaments into the glass-based lamp.

Console2

Then I dropped more ornaments into a bowl on top of some silvery-blue books…

Console3

… and stuck a ceramic partridge-ish bird into my glass dome along with a big green ornament to pick up the color in the trees, the art, and the console table itself.

Console4

Then I was feeling downright jolly, so off to the kitchen I went with my bag o’ toys holiday accessories to make a few Christmas-y kitchen tweaks. First I tossed up some hot pink ornaments that I had glued magnets to a few years back (more on that here) for holding holiday cards up on the fridge.

Kitchen1

And then I ho-ho-hoed my way over to the open shelves (wait, did that come out wrong?) and tossed a bunch of silver ornaments into the formerly empty cake plate that sits on the top shelf next to another somewhat partridge-ish bird.

Kitchen2

Then it was built-in time, baby. I just wanted to add a few little holiday-ish nods without redoing everything completely, so up went a few pops of red (which actually looks awesome with the deep teal color on the back wall of the built-ins) thanks to a few faux poppies, a red book, and a big round ornament. Tossing up an even bigger green ornament along with some silver balls in a hurricane at the bottom seemed to round things out nicely.

Shelves1

Then it was time for the other side, which got some red coral, a small knitted red cactus, more silver balls in another hurricane on the bottom shelf as well as a faux clam shell full of smaller ornaments up top, and a tiny little ornament in honor of Burger.

Shelves2

Let’s get a little closer, shall we? See that little crazy chihuahua ornament in the green bowl? Is he amazingly hilarious, or what? Cracks us up every time.

Shelves3

We actually similarly styled this side of the built-ins for a shoot back in October for R Home magazine. Since it was their holiday issue, they asked us to toss some festive holiday stuff in the background of the shot (which turned out looking like this, which is close but not identical to what we have going on now):

R Home Cover1

And as you can see from that photo, the little Burger ornament isn’t only entertaining to us. He actually helped us keep Clara’s attention just long enough to get this shot.

So now that I moved around the house decorating various surfaces, my list is looking a little shorter. Woop woop!

  • set up the big tree (gradient, baby!)
  • get a live tabletop tree again (like we did last year, but with a new ornament idea this year)
  • decorate the mantel, the built-ins, and the entryway console
  • hang our outside lights & decorate the front porch
  • shoot a Christmas picture of Clara & Burger for our annual holiday card 
  • make an advent calendar for Clara? Ahh I’m behind already!
  • shop for slash make all the gifts on our Christmas list (about 80% done already, can’t wait to cross this sucker off!)

Oh yeah you might notice that we also crossed off our annual Clara & Burger pic, which we officially have in the can. Can’t wait to share that with you guys after we mail it out and are sure our friends/relatives get it (don’t want to spoil the surprise, haha). And no, it’s not a pregnancy announcement Mom!

Who else is decking the halls? Any boughs of holly going on? Spill it.

Psst- You can check out a ton o’ holiday crafts/decorating ideas from the last five years here.

Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15! 

Comments

  1. Christina @ Homemade Ocean says

    Is that a cable-knit candle on the mantle?

    I almost picked up some cable-knit trees from Target the other day because I thought they were on sale. Silly me…they were not so they sit happily on the shelves of Target still…sigh.

    Reply

  2. Alaina says

    I made those ornament magnets for the fridge last year but the magnet scratched my ss fridge. Did I use the wrong magnet? I think it was a ceramic one.

    Reply

  5. Kearney says

    i so need a chihuahua ornament as i am now the proud parent of one…i’m a failure at fostering dogs and “meeting” burger on your blog definitely influenced my decision to keep the one that wasn’t supposed to stay.

    Reply

  6. vicki says

    ok when you said “so off to the kitchen I went with my bag o’ toys holiday” i imagined you literally skipping of to the kitchen lol!

    on a different note… last night my hubby came home and handed me a manilla envelope and says happy hanukah so i tear that baby open and find tickets to florida. now dont get me wrong i love it there, but both of our families are down there and we just visited so i was just a little bewildered as to why that would be a big deal, but instead i do my best OH YAY and then turn the page… BAM! YHL TOUR DATES circled for the dates he booked, i almost cried! he said hes taking me to see my people (yeah thats right he thinks your my people… is that weird?!) anyway cant wait to meet you guys!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Eh, I’m not sure. They’re still stored in there (behind current pics) but we have been rotating in new items in the hallway all year (paintings by Clara, new photos, etc) so some things feel so fresh we hate to switch them out for something else so quickly!

      xo
      s

  10. Melissa van Herksen says

    I was getting a little gloomy and not feeling the holiday spirit…thanks for putting me in the mood. This is our first year in Chile and we aren’t going “home” for christmas…but now I am going to Christmasize our new house and I am sure it will help. Great ideas! You guys are the best. Can’t wait to meet you in Miami.

    Reply

  14. Kathleen Ward says

    Love your hilarious post titles and sayings. They crack me up. I was reading one of your posts last night and died laughing. The one where you were trying to learn to sew. You said making Clara’s banner was harder and more annoying than The Situation’s abs. Seriously. Died.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, I wish! It’s not fancy at all (it’s the cheap set from Lowe’s by Frigidaire). I’ve heard the fancy ones aren’t magnetic but I’m not sure why!

      xo
      s

  18. Julia @ This Idiot's Guide says

    I’ve definitely learned the “use what ya got” strategy from you guys, and love finding things around the house that are festive/can be festive with a couple small tweaks. I’ve found that using scented pine-cones (you can get a bag of ’em at the store for around $3), much like you use your ornaments, is a great way to holiday-ify vases and what not! A typically not Christmas-y item filled with cinammon-scented pine cones is instantly transformed! And they smell yummy, too! :)

    Reply

  21. Megan says

    Aaah. I love the glittery Target stags! (And of course you need two. Loneliness is the scourge of small inanimate critters!) Target got me, too. I ended up with this adorable geometric porcelin fox.

    We’re in that 1st-1BR-apartment-house-hunting phase, so the fox (and a small potted sprucy bush) is pretty much the extent of our decoration.

    My favorite part of this year is a sort of inverted advent we created (from lack of time). Each night we hang out with each other by our tree. We write something we’re thankful for and seal it up in these little paper robot ornaments (found on another blog). On Christmas morning, we’ll have 24 days worth of thankfulness to unwrap. Clara might not be old enough to understand it, but it’s definitely a nice way to close each day on a together-y note. :)

    http://greaterthan4.blogspot.com/2012/12/joyous-almost-christmas.html

    Reply

  22. Michelle says

    I enjoy that we have similar “language” for decorating the house for Christmas…This year I’ve been saying that we’re gettin all Christma-fied! :)

    Reply

  23. Beth Anderson says

    You are so, so cute and …young!! I love this statement, “…little faux evergreen that I’ve had for half a decade…” Gee, wow, like 5 whole years? LOL. This old lady has Christmas ornaments probably older than you! Unfortunately, they’re not on the tree yet. Everything else is up, but I am waiting for the teenagers in my house to both be home at the same time to hang the ornaments. We may be hanging ornaments Christmas eve in that case!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha it’s true! That’s “really old” in our world since we have only been homeowners for around 6 years! I can’t wait until we have things for a few decades that are still around!

      xo
      s

  24. Louise Harms says

    My daughter wants me to make an advent wreath for our table. The ones I have found online are ugly. Have you ever made one or want to tackle the challenge? Blue candles and evergreen aren’t calling out to me.

    Reply

  25. lynn says

    Probably the only one who would bother saying, but not loving the holiday look. It is about YOUR house though, and what YOU like. So, contrary to the masses, my vote is: As an inspiration for holiday decor- NO, as an inspiration to be creative in your OWN home- YES.

    Reply

  27. Alli says

    I absolutely love the ornaments on the fridge. I was wondering how to bring some Christmas into the kitchen, never thought of decking the fridge! The rest of your decorations are just lovely as well!

    Reply

  28. carrie says

    Dudes, how do you keep dust off of everything? Is that a daily chore? I like the open shelves and bookcases with lots of stuffs on them, but I could not keep the dust at bay in this house, and therefore chotchkes are kept to a min.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Honestly taking shoes off at the door really helps! I read it in Real Simple I think and started a no shoes policy and it’s amazing how there’s just less dust and dirt. I still vacuum once a week and dust once every 2-3 (with a big fluffy feather duster so I don’t have to move anything on open shelves or anything – I just run it over them.

      xo
      s

  29. Karen F says

    very pretty! I like that you just chose a few areas to focus on – I tend to get really overwhelmed when I think about decorating for Christmas. I actually did less this year than usual, but I’m ok with it! I have a lot of decorations that I got a long time ago and am no longer in love with, which is part of the problem. Time to let those babies go.

    I love that you use what you have, but in a different way/configuation each year. If it was me, I’d plop things down in the same spot each year, just to get it done. (I’m boring LOL) For example, after styling the built-ins for the magazine cover, I probably would have just left them that way!!

    Love those feather trees, too! So pretty!

    Reply

  30. Maia says

    Great ideas! I myself haven’t gotten the chance to decorate our home this year because we won’t be home during the holidays and it doesn’t make much sense to do it. I can’t wait for the next holiday season to finally get my chance! This online magazine has some great Christmas decorating ideas, from innovative ways to wrap presents to how to inexpensively style your home for the holidays:
    http://issuu.com/poppinette/docs/poppinette_jolly_winter_issue_2012

    Oh, and my sister in law made it! Talk about DIY!

    Reply

  31. Nyxies says

    Hi *big fan here*! I absolutely ADORE your blog! I’ve been following it for about two years now, I hope you guys plan on keeping it up for a long, long time :)
    Question: Where did you purchase the “ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE’ frame featured here? I’m absolutely in love with it! Or is it a DIY?

    Happy Holidays!

    Reply

  32. mp says

    I was in Martin’s last week and saw the R Home story — enjoyed it so much! And I love the Burger ornament! I have several scattered around the house to commemorate the members of the posse.

    Reply

  34. Momcat says

    LOVE the ornament magnets! What a great idea to bring it into the kitchen without all the “kitsch”.

    We’ve named our tree Mr. Grinch this year — he’s green, he has a pot-belly sticking out and he’s got a crooked spine. A VERRRY crooked spine. So I’m thinking of mixing it up “YHL-Style” and decorating him in just greens, blues, & cream/whites. He’s in the house but still naked.

    I feel so behind the 8-ball with Christmas just two weeks from today. This week is a mad rush with our (soon to be) 17-yo’s birthday on Friday as well (and family coming in–so gotta clean the guest room as well as decorate). Tomorrow & Thursday will be wicked busy!!

    Reply

  35. Momcat says

    OH!! But I DO have my newly-signed “Sherry” and “John” deer out already!! Highest place of honor, baby, on the mantle!

    So great to meet you at Mongrel’s! :)

    Reply

  36. Jess @ Operation Skinny Jeans says

    I love all the new holiday stuff that you have out! The sparkle raindeer on the fireplace are amazing.

    Question- I noticed you got a new rhino! Top left shelf of the built ins, he is silver and looks origami-ish. Where did you get him? I may be in love!

    :)

    Reply

  39. Michelle says

    Have you ever tried a rosemary bush instead of a small xmas tree? I love, love the smell of the rosemary even though it isn’t quite the same as the smell of pine.

    Reply

  43. Meredith says

    I’m loving the ornament magnets, such a great idea, and they look so cute and festive. They certainly would give a sense of unity to a fridge full of various colored and styled Christmas cards. Typically I want our fridge clear of clutter, so we don’t have a lot of magnets for attaching cards from friends and family during the holidays. There’s no time this year, but maybe I’ll tackle that project for next Christmas. No more random magnetic bag clips to hold up our card swag!

    Reply

  44. Krista says

    I love your blog. I’ve been reading for about 5 or 6 months, and I get so excited when I see an email from “Young House Love” in my inbox :) It makes my morning happy!!

    I love all your simple, not over-the-top-but-still-festive additions to your house, such as the partridge and green ornament and the little deer ornaments on top of the packages. They’re so fabulously subtle. My decorating is the opposite haha. I absolutely love Christmas decorating and bringing lots of color to a room. We have lights along the rooftop, a homemade wreath for the front door using my grandparents’ old Christmas ornaments (hello, vintage!) on a store-bought wreath, and lights across any window with an outlet nearby :) Among these other festive touches, I filled two glass apothecary containers that we had with those big stick on bows you put on gift boxes (thanks, Pinterest!). It was a great inexpensive idea (free, really, because I had the containers AND the bows already), and now my bows are readily available when I need to steal one for giftwrapping :)

    Reply

  45. Ethne @ Wom-Mom says

    As usual, y’all have a knack for shine and color that makes the season bright!! Pink bulbs on the fridge – awesome. Our kitty gets his own stocking too. (The Elf on the Shelf, Lyle, is currently stationed in the cat stocking.) And I told the girls that the cat told me he asked for a treat circle for Christmas – where they hide treats all around the house (along the walls, so generally in a circular fashion) so he has to hunt for them. Cat present plus kid activity in one – score 1 for me.

    Reply

  46. CathyD says

    I love the ornament magnets on the fridge! You made them yourself? What a clever way to mix up ornament placement to serve a useful purpose :)

    Reply

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