Winter,
the time for comfort,
for good food and warmth,
for talks beside the fire.
it is the time for Home…
– Edith Sitwell
This year everything looks and feels different, and that includes the holiday season that has naturally become the warm comforting celebration for another year. There aren’t large family gatherings or all those cherished Christmas activities, no gathering around the table for Hanukkah celebrations…there is our home, and the close community of people we have allowed to safely mix in our circle.
You may have noticed that holiday decorating and at home festivities and projects started much, much sooner this year — but can you really blame any of us? The holiday season and all the little joys it brings, are things we all look forward to and find comfort it. While many went above and beyond with their Christmas and winter wonder creations, while many also paired down, creating more natural decor pieces that in turn became memories they will cherish for years. I went with the latter, choosing to decorate with a piece here and there each day before Thanksgiving, and finding the joy in bringing out Christmas decor one day at a time. With a bit more time on our hands, me included, I finally had the time to simply be present in the holiday season without the hustle of an extremely busy work season for baking and events. And although the quiet time often unsettles me, it’s what I, and what many, needed. It also gave me the time to create holiday winter projects I’ve been wanting to make for a few years.
I’ve always been enamored and inspired by Scandinavian design, particularly their approach to winter and Christmas decorating. They have this natural and simple approach that makes everything so festive, so cozy, comforting, magical and above all, homemade and beyond special!! In recent years I’ve enjoyed keeping things simpler with a warm neutral color palette of greens, white, creams and hints of sparkling golds — and this year decided to both up-cycle decor and make many new pieces. Many of the very simple DIY’s I created below were a way to fuel my creativity and do something just for me, simply for the enjoyment of it, but in turn became almost like a therapeutic moment AND they are very easy projects you can create yourself and with the kids.
I really love the way my home feels this holiday season, it does bring comfort even in a space many of us admittedly feel tired of. However way you’ve chosen to decorate your home, or will spend the holidays this year, I know it will be different but I hope that the little things you have been able to do this Christmas has been able to bring you comfort and joy! Enjoy a few portraits of home for Christmas …..
These Scandinavian inspired paper stars and snowflakes are by far one of my favorite creations I’ve made {along with another fun project you’ll see below…} And guest what?! They are made with paper bags!! Yes, just a few paper bags and glue but I used paper clips to secure open so that I could reuse next year.
If you’ve been on Instagram you may have seen plenty of these DIY videos showing you how to create them yourself, The KWendy Home is who inspired me and she has great, fun and easy to follow videos to help you create these paper bag star/snowflakes. Get creative with shapes and cuts, and BONUS, it’s a great craft to make with kids!!
A sofa chair nestled next to the twinkling Christmas tree might be the best thing you can do! It’s an instant cozy corner to read, watch movies, work or simply rest. My dog Marley, is almost always curled up in this corner.
For a few years now, I’ve created this very simple and easy holiday card display using things I already have in my home. You can watch my quick DIY Reel here, but you simply wrap a large frame in wrapping paper of choice, I love using simple but versatile kraft paper. If you have a frame next to your tree, there is no better spot to display this!
Then hang a lightweight garland, shatterproof ornaments hung on twine, ribbons, or even light sprigs of greens — the important thing to keep in mind is to secure well with tape {something like a clear shipping tape} so it doesn’t fall down.
Then you hang a longer piece of twine below your garland and start adding your holiday cards as you get them using mini clothespins or just a piece of tape.
For this Jingle Bell Garland, simply tie jingle bells with a little string onto twine — use different sized bells and place them at different heights for a more visually attention grabbing garland!
Deck the Halls with SMART, STRONG WOMEN!….How wonderful are these cards?? I picked these cards up from the talented Stephanie Clarke and her small business Dahlia Press, there are soo many pretty things to choose from!
Yes, I still have the stocking I made in Pre-K and yes I still hang it up on my bedroom door. It’s the little bit of red that I do put up and is something I will always cherish.
I love the look of wreaths over windows, I would put wreaths on all the windows if I could. This extremely easy DIY was a spur of the moment thing…
Wrap a small faux greenery garland around a wire wreath or even any round hoop you may have. I used a Silver Dollar Eucalyptus piece I had left over from an event.
Secure with floral wire if you need to hold it in place. Add a Bell in the center.
Loop a wide ribbon and hang over your curtain rod {or secure with tape or wire if needed}… and that’s it!
Ahh yes, the paper snowflake stars are everywhere, and I love them soo much!! They truly make me smile everytime I walk past them…and they’re in quite a few rooms 😉 My favorite thing to do with them is create a chandelier, by using your already existing ceiling light fixtures to hang them on with fishing wire or small pieces of tape.
It creates such a WOW piece and when your lights are on {if you have dimmers they really bump up the magic} it shines through the cutouts making it soo dreamy and magically cozy!
This year’s table centerpiece is an even more paired down version of this styling I created and effortlessly transitioned from Autumn. I added in a Ceramic house with a twinkling battery votive and of course a festive Reindeer.
I love this year’s Holiday Tables, they really captured that refined minimalism in a truly comforting and natural way that Scandinavian design does so well! You can see all the details and how to can recreate this centerpiece and place settings HERE…
One of my tried and true tips is to use what you already have, and use what you already enjoy during the holiday season. Shelled walnuts are a staple come Christmas time in our Portuguese home, so I set out these everyday snacks onto our table and it added that beautiful natural winter element.
And in turn I developed a newfound love for all the vintage nutcrackers…
If there is one Christmas decorating trend that has resurfaced that is really quite beautiful and special — it’s the love of vintage ceramic and tin homes and snowy villages. I created this coffee table centerpiece atop an upside-down rattan tray which you can see all the DIY tips here.
Make it personal and unique to you and your family, add in fairy lights, making it special and truly cozy. I can’t wait until it’s safe again to travel about so I can visit all my favorite antique shops and discover some vintage treasures to add to my collection.
Yarn has quickly become the most versatile craft item! Years ago for an event I made cone shaped trees and wrapped them in glittery silver ribbon which I’ve then displayed in my home, but in truth I was over them for the last few years.
So…I easily wrapped them in White Yarn!! Follow the steps here to create the Cone Shaped Trees.
Then simply wrap them in yarn or twine, gently going around and securing with hot glue.
A simple DIY, also kid-friendly, that with a swap of material transforms into an extra dose of cozy cuteness!
Tired of you stockings?? Well then make slipcovers for them!! lol yes, I said slipcovers for your stockings.
I didn’t want to throw away the burgundy victorian inspired ones we’ve been using, but I really have been wanting to get cable knit sweater like ones for sometime, but I also wasn’t going to spend money, especially this year. This is where it pays off to always keep scraps of fabric and even unused cable knit sweaters around!!
Use your existing stocking to trace out the shape onto your fabric. I used White Faux Fur I had lying around. **Make sure to trace about 1/2″ wider than the existing stocking so you have space for the glue and then to fit the stocking back in.
Cut out the stocking shape from your fabric. **Keep in mind if you’re using one-sided fabric like I did with mine, you’ll have to trace out the reverse of one piece of fabric so that you make sure your print/texture is on the outside of both sides.**
I found hot glue works the best. Glue all three sides making sure to leave the top open. Allow to dry completely.
Simply add in your old stocking into the “slipcover” and use the existing stocking’s loop to hang onto your holders. A quick, affordable and waste-free way to change up your already existing holiday decor!
Stars and snowflakes on walls with fairy lights, now that is one magical display!! This would be so fun in a child’s room, a bedroom and here I put it in my office. I added it behind my TV to make movie nights more cozy of course and since I don’t have a mantle I recreated one below my TV. I gathered white ceramic candle holders, nestled in some bottle brush trees, ceramic Penguin and Polar Bear which I love — and of course twinkling fairy lights!
This scene makes me happy and feel comforted each night, but also while I’m working from my desk!
A larger than life eucalyptus wreath I made with leftover greens from a micro wedding back in September. I couldn’t throw it all away, so I made a wreath, hung it up on my office window to dry and there it has stayed since.
And it’s quite a beautiful sight…
Oh the magical wintery scene of Scandinavian homes lined up along the windowsill, “snow” falling and twinkling lights sparkling….
This is another easy DIY I made, that I really love! Not because they really do make it a pretty sight for anyone walking outside, it’s become a little surprise for them, but in truth it was the experience of creating them. Drawing just to draw, not worrying about making them perfect, in fact it was the joy of simply creating art for the fun of it, that makes them truly special.
One of my favorite accounts is Malin from Poppy Loves You, I’m constantly inspired by her beautiful and dreamy work, and these were inspired by her gorgeous creations. Grab a chalkboard marker or window marker and let your imagination run freely — this would be such a wonderful thing to do with kids and make them feel like they truly have a part in decorating the home for the holidays.
I hope you’ve enjoyed all my cozy little Christmas decor and ideas. I’ve been loving all the beautiful creations everyone has also been making and sharing.
This holiday season, although is quite different, there sure is a lot of love and hope going around and my wish is that you spend it well — that you are safe, healthy and make it the best however you can this year.
We all deserve a little extra bit of magic this year.
Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday season!!
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