I’ve had the inside decorated for a couple of week now, but we spent some time Friday morning decking the exterior in ribbons, bows, garlands and wreaths. I cannot wait to welcome y’all into our home over the week or two. For today, let’s start with the exterior and foyer.
Exterior Classic Christmas Decor
I love white lights, garlands and big red bows so much at Christmas. I can usually go 2-3 years with my ribbons before they fade and must be replaced. This is year three with these bows and I’m really happy with how they held up! I’ve used the same wreaths for the past twelve years. It all pops even more this year against the repainted house!
See my easy technique for bows in this video >> How to Make Christmas Bows and how to hang your wreaths in this post >> 2 Easy Ways to Hang Christmas Wreaths.
Honey had just trimmed the shrubs and not yet cleaned up the clippings when I took these photos. It’s real life.
I assembled monogrammed wreaths for four of our exterior entry doors quite a few years ago and I still love them. See how I made it and get links to the products used here >> Holiday Monogram Wreath
Two years ago I invested in beautiful urn fillers from Grandin Road. They are lit by batteries at night and are festive, lovely and easy.
This is year six of the same pre-lit garlands from Costco and after a good run, one strand didn’t light this year. I still think they are a great product at a reasonable price! Since I didn’t know one was out, the side entry didn’t get a garland this year.
I’ll share a holiday tour of the pool as soon as I can get out there and take pictures. The weather is awful today! For now, here is the friend’s entry and the baby in her gilded cage. (She hates not being able to roam the front yard now!)
Foyer Classic Christmas Decor
Without further ado, I’m humbled to welcome you inside! Like many of you, I have no guests planned this holiday season but I still pulled out all of the stops four our little family of four to enjoy.
You probably notice that I don’t change a lot of my decor year over year. I hope it doesn’t get boring. I tweak things here and there but rarely do an overhaul.
I’ve had the glittery Santa for years and usually put him here on some of my mom’s antique books, surrounded by little trees. I still remember buying him at the Shop of Vinings when Sister and I lived together. We loved that store! I always frame the boy’s current Santa picture here in the foyer. We took this year’s version Saturday night.
The garland here in the entry continues the traditional red and green Christmas colors from outside.
I replaced the garland I had used for the past ten years with a battery lit option last year. It’s not as full or fluffy, but it doesn’t require running an extension cord up the stairs and across the hall so it works much better for us! I picked it up at Target. The lights are on a 6 hour on / 18 hours off timer which is nice. They can also be turned on or off at any time.
In addition to reds, golds and greenery, I also use pheasant feathers in the foyer and den. I love holiday decor that has a touch of nature, whether in the form of feathers, leopard prints, antlers, etc.
I loved bringing out the Christmas shades hand painted by my mother again this year. You can read all about them here >> Christmas Lamp Shades
Thank you so much for coming back year after year to tour our holiday home! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!
11 Magnolia Lane Holiday Tour of Homes
I’m participating in the 11 Magnolia Lane & Evolution of Style Holiday Tour of Homes once again. These are truly my favorite bloggers with the most amazing spaces. I hope you’ll follow along all week!
Monday, November 30th (Front Porch/Outdoor Spaces) Southern Hospitality | Setting for Four | Southern State of Mind | Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss | Most Lovely Things | Cindy Hattersley Design | The Creativity Exchange Tuesday, December 1st (Entries/Dining Rooms) 11 Magnolia Lane | Home by Heidi | A Stroll Thru Life | This is Our Bliss | Summer Adams Wednesday, December 2nd (Living Rooms/Dens) 11 Magnolia Lane | Evolution of Style | Dixie Delights | Jessica Welling Interiors | Sincerely, Marie Designs | Classic Casual Home Thursday, December 3rd (Kitchens/Laundry Rooms/Misc.) Citrine Living | Quarters One | Style House Interiors | A Blissful Nest | Painted by Kayla Payne | A Stroll Thru Life Friday, December 4th (Master Bedroom/Kid’s Rooms) Sincerely, Marie Designs | Pink Peppermint Designs | The Heathered Nest | Bloom in the Black | Evolution of Style | Dixie DelightsDixie Delights Classic Christmas Home Tour 2020
video tour | exterior + entry | living room + office
den + powder room | kitchen, dining + mudroom
master + kids bedrooms | porch + pool
Christmas Decor Shopping List
Remote Tree Switch | Monogram Guest Towels | Magic Light Wand
Balsam & Cedar Candle | North Pole Pillow
1″ Red Velvet Ribbon | 3″ Double Face Satin Red Ribbon
Record Player | Elf soundtrack vinyl
affiliates
Holiday DIY Video Series
How to Make Christmas Bows | How to Spruce Up a Basic Wreath
How to Make a Greenery Bouquet | Easy Flower Arranging Tips + Tricks
2 Ways to Tie the Perfect Bow
Other Holiday DIY
2 Easy Ways to Hang Christmas Wreaths | Paper Bow DIY
Painted Lamp Shades | Reindeer Kid Art
All Holiday & Seasonal Decor | All things Christmas
I love that you don’t change your decor! I’m the same way, I use the same things in the same place every year. Tradition!
Thank you for saying that! I feel like the “blog world” always wants something brand new. I just love using the same stuff over and over and it seems wasteful not to. :-)
Beautiful, as always, Amanda. I’m glad to hear you haven’t given up the Santa tradition. My 6th grade boy tried to tell me this was his last year but I don’t plan on stopping….. and honestly it was nice with the COVID measures in place that they didn’t have to sit on Santa’s lap. :- )
Thank you so much! I really want to keep taking them until Whit’s senior year. This year just as soon as John said “we are the oldest kids here”, a mom with 4 high school and college kids got in line behind us. :-) Last year sitting on his lap did look awkward so I guess that is a positive about this year!