Living Beauty Full in the Burbs
Living Beauty Full in the Burbs
I’m often asked; “How do I decorate farmhouse style for Christmas?”
For many of us, after going neutral in our homes, red and green at Christmas just doesn’t feel right. In fact, for me, red and green seems “loud” and too bright. I prefer a quieter approach in the main areas of my home. Before you pile on the complaints, let me be clear. If red and green are your favorite Christmas colors, then you should decorate with red and green. For the sake of this post, we’re talkin neutral.
Truth? I don’t think there is a particular farmhouse “style” for Christmas, my version is neutral and I use natural elements throughout the house. I do have my traditional ornaments and sentimental ones on my family room tree, but I add my natural elements as well. To get a neutral, updated look for your home, think white, silver, copper, gold. I’ve been using faux mercury glass ornaments for awhile now and I still love the look. It’s neutral but the darker shades of copper and gold keep it from looking cold. White lights. Lots of greenery, real or faux. Pinecones. Boxwood wreaths. Burlap, linen, and grainsack stockings. Cable knit or plush throws and pillows, holiday themed pillows in neutral colors. If you want to incorporate the fur trend, use a furry pillow or two on your sofa, or layer one with a plush throw. White candles. Clear ornaments mixed with mercury glass. Pots of ivy or ferns instead of Poinsettias (or use the white or pale colored Poinsettias). Succulents nestled in silver goblets with tiny pinecones and moss. Put your tree in a large galvanized tub, or a basket, or a wooden box instead of using the traditional tree skirt. I use a long length of burlap under mine, just wrapped loosely around the base. Or use an old army blanket, or again with faux fur, buy a length of plush or faux fur fabric and use that. It’s much less expensive than buying a pre-made skirt. A drop cloth is also an option. If you want to add an accent color, choose whatever you love. The beauty of going with a neutral foundation is you can change it up with the addition of a strong color as an accent without the danger of it looking over the top. Spread your accent color around the room. Use restraint, a little goes a long way. Use some of the same elements throughout your home for a cohesive look.
Be careful with themes. Themes can help kick start a new look but it’s easy to go overboard. Again, use restraint. Just because the style is called farmhouse doesn’t mean you have to load your tree with galvanized metal stars, roosters and cows. If that’s your thing, use a few. But add traditional ornaments in silver or copper to round it out. Add pinecones, make a garland by braiding together lengths of thick twine, or make your own paper chain garland using newspaper, music sheets or neutral felt instead of bright colored construction paper. Hang your baby shoes and other family mementos as one of a kind ornaments. Cut out star shapes (or hearts, or birds, whatever you like) from card stock (cereal boxes work well), glue music and book pages or newspaper, even vintage patterned wrapping paper cut to fit. Punch a hole, add some glitter and tie with twine to your tree branches. Revive the craft of making salt dough and create your own farmy ornaments. A day of making and baking ornaments with your kiddos makes memories as well. Or use clay. Make and bake. Let your version of farmhouse style guide you. Love modern farmhouse? Go with metallics and lots of white. Partial to rustic? Go homemade and old school. Paper chains, string popcorn or even cranberries. Natural elements and ornaments are easy to find. A lover of romantic or shabby farmhouse? Insert flowers within the boughs of your tree, and use vintage postcards and/or christmas cards hung with sheer ribbon. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
If you are starting over, transitioning from Prim or Country style, don’t despair. You don’t have to buy a tree’s worth of ornaments this season, sort through your current ornaments, chances are some will make the cut. Add clear glass craft ornaments. They’re inexpensive. One of the most beautiful trees I’ve ever seen was loaded with nothing but clear ornaments and white lights. It was stunning. And consider going naked…. Just add lights and a topper and call it a day. Simple and elegant. Your TREE! Your tree will be naked, simple and elegant. Geez, You? you’ll be dressed. In your holiday best, standing next to your naked tree. Holding a copper mug. Of Moscow Mule. On trend. That’s you…..Miss Trendy. And you’re beautiful.
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