So… I spent a good portion of my weekend buried in baubles, garland and glitter. Which, in my eyes, is not a bad way to spend a weekend. However, going into Christmas decorating with no real clear idea of what I was planning on doing was a little bit of a recipe for – not disaster, per se – but more like panic, second-guessing and manically hovering over the ‘buy’ button on shopping carts full of impulsive purchases because OH MY GOD THE HOUSE HAS NOTHING TO WEAR.
Yeah, okay, I can be dramatic at times.
Anyway, I had swore to myself that I wouldn’t spend loads of money this Christmas because I do it every year and I’m trying to save money. So the impulse buys didn’t get purchased. (sigh) Like many of you out there I’m sure, I feel this pressure/need/want to have a different look every Christmas. Which I realise is probably crazy to the non-interiors obsessed out there. I mean, WHY? My mother used to drag up the same old tired boxes of cheap n’ cheerful decorations year in and year out until I remember begging her one year PLEASE can we get some new stuff? To be honest, I don’t think we ever did. Maybe it’s part of my childhood that I’m rebelling against – I’m sure a psychologist would have a field day with that one.
Annnnyway – so I guess suffice it to say, I’m not actually finished my decorating yet. I mean, I’m close… the tree is up and looking rather pretty if I do say so myself and my mantle is all done. But there isn’t much going on in the rest of the house and there are still a bunch of boxes full of bits and pieces that maybe I’ll end up using somewhere so I’m just going to work on it here and there until I’m happy.
But I didn’t want to leave you guys with NOTHING so I took some shots of the mantle for you here today. I decided in the end to go for a really simple gold & white scheme with lots of greenery. The lighting, however, has been DISMAL because it was pouring rain and dark outside when I took these so apologies that the lighting isn’t a bit better. I might actually reshoot these on a brighter day because it annoys me when I can’t get a decent shot.
Anyway, here she is…
It feels Christmassy and I did end up buying that little tree scene tea light holder from Next. It matched my scheme so well and it was only £12 so ya know, treat yo self. (I can’t believe I just said that, shoot me now.)
The mercury string lights are new as well – I think they were £7. Pretty much everything else I had already.
I think it’s a bit too subdued for me if I’m honest. I usually go with a colour scheme so perhaps I’ve played it a bit too safe – initially I wanted some navy blue in the scheme but I couldn’t really find anything in the shops in that colour (which is weird because it was such a huge trend this year).
But I suppose there’s always next year to go bright and bold again right?
How have you decorated for Christmas this year? Are you done yet? Do you change out your decor each year or do you keep things simple and reuse what you already have every year?
Your mantle looks gorgeous, and I LOVE that tree tea-light holder! This year I have kept things simple and used last years decorations (I am so broke right now) but it still got me in the festive spirit putting up all the pretty fairy lights and decorations! Can't wait to get a tree!!<br />Emily xx<br />www.emilymaydesigns.com
Not got a tree, or a mantel! Moving out of our rental into our first home on 19th December, so no point in decorating a living room filled with boxes now, though I am insisting our first move is to buy a Christmas tree for the living room in the new place! For this year, we're filling it with super cheap and cheerful basic baubles from pound shops, but you can bet I am hitting up the January
That mantle is so pretty! <br /><br />I absolutely cannot countenance changing my scheme, it's traditional and old decorations all the way. Some of my baubles are older than I am! I have photos of me as a baby next to a tree with them on. <br /><br />I usually buy one or two baubles in the January sales to add to my collection, but the scheme is always the same.
Last year I did white and silver because I had just painted my fireplace and French doors white so I really wanted to play that up. The year before it was natural wood and brick so I decorated in green and gold. This year I decided to try something different because I am loving grey so I went with grey and red. The tree is always multicolored though with lots of old family ornaments. As usual
I wish I had a mantle to decorate!!! Ok, I do at the place where I'll spend Christmas, but it's not the same as having one at home… Anyway, this is gorgeous in a classic Kimberly way! :-) I love it, it's festive, just a little OTT and very glam. It also contrasts rather nicely with the dark blue wall. <br /><br />I don't tend to buy many decorations now, I have some very simple
Haha, you are not alone. I have that impulse every year too. Love your decorating and the mantel is so lovely :) xoxo
This is our first Christmas with two Burmese kitties, so our theme is 'things we don't mind getting broken'. Luckily House of Fraser had some shatterproof baubles going cheap!
You done good girlfriend!
This is beautiful and though you say it looks subdued, I think it beautifully compliments the gold in your dining room and plays it up! And there's nothing quite like navy + gold. Plus fairy lights? I think it's spot on, but I know how you feel as I'm never happy with my own stuff. <br /><br />It's as fabalas as you are my love xx