I’ve had a little bit of melancholy, not having my own house to decorate for Christmas, for the first time since the mid-80’s, when I moved into my first house. But, I’m not going to let that stop me from feeling festive. My parent’s house is not really a great house to decorate for Christmas, there’s not a lot of room to add things, but we just might put up a small tree. My mom has a small fake one that she usually puts in their den, but I’m thinking about getting a little tabletop real tree this year and putting it on the porch. I’ll keep you posted on that!
But, I will have plenty to share from my sister’s house and also plenty of friends who deck their halls, so the blog will have plenty going on for the month of December. I’ve already done some photo shoots and can’t wait to share with you.
In preparation for all the Christmas decorating that I know will be going on this week, I’m looking back to last year at my old house. I think it was my most favorite Christmas decorating I’ve done to date, so it’s worth looking at again. And there are bound to be some new readers who didn’t see any of my Christmas decor from last year, so I hope you enjoy.
Dining Room with Brown/White Transferware
The dining table was set with brown and white transferware.
Aqua Christmas Mantel
The mantel got a dose of aqua last year and I did love it.
Vintage Shiny Brite Ornaments
Oh, how I love my mom’s vintage Shiny Brites that she passed down to me. These might make an appearance this year too. They bring me joy, since these are what dangled from our tree growing up.
Glass Cloche with Natural Elements
The dining room buffet got a winterscape too with this cloche and natural elements.
Christmas real green wreath
I took a Christmas tour through Mountain Brook in Birmingham and saw some of the most gorgeous real greens. Great ideas for using real greens on that link, with mailbox swags and wreaths.
Colorful Christmas tabletop tree
My colorful Ballard’s tabletop tree was fun and you’ll see this again at my sis’s house this year.
Table Top Christmas Tree
I added another tabletop tree last year on top of my aqua plant stand.
Silver and Mercury Glass Christmas
I so love mercury glass and silver all grouped together and loved this table.
Lime and Red Kitchen Tree
And my lime and red tree in the kitchen was an all-time fave.
I’ve still got all of this packed away and one of these days, it will all come back out again and I’ll have a big Christmas celebration with it all.
Don’t forget the Holiday Home parties start next week! Layla’s up next Monday with table decor and I’ll cover mantels on Wednesday. Get your posts ready to link up if you have some inspiration to share!
Feel free to use this badge on the mantel post to link back, if you would like to.
Are you decorating for Christmas this week?
Are you doing more or less this year?
Some years, I feel like doing a lot and sometimes a little.
How about you?
If you’re stopping by from Nester’s Christmas home tour, so glad to meet you. This is a recap of my Christmas from last year and some of my fave things for the Holidays.
Beautiful ideas, Rhoda! Decorating a bit less this year!
I have actually decorated more this year. We had family for Thanksgiving with some small children so I had the house decked out inside and out when they got here. Since we are going to put our house up for sale the beginning of the year, I went through ALL of my Christmas decorations and got them out. Some I haven’t seen for 20 years!! The ones we didn’t use are either being thrown away or donated. Kind of a cleaning out, getting the house ready to sell thing…
Happy Holidays to you Sweet Girl!
Great idea Liz! I need to pry some Christmas decor out of my storage room.
Your blog is giving me the nudge I need to get going with a little Christmas decorating. I usually decorate big time but this year we are buying a new (retirement) home out of state which we will close on December 30th. That purchase is on my mind more than a big decorating spree! So, in the spirit of the season and the purchase and subsequent move, I’ll still decorate but just a lot “less”!
Just lovely Rhoda!!
I look forward to seeing your sisters home all decorated and that little porch tree.
Often the little trees are the most beautiful.
Janet xox
Ooo, I remember your aqua mantle– love, love, love! I love Christmas decorating with non-traditional color combos. Getting mine started this week and am soooo excited. Thanks for sharing, Rhoda!
Rhoda,
Thanks for showing your decorations from last year. I had not seen them and they were definitely beautiful. I love how you added the aqua things to you mantel. We have finished our outdoor decorating. I just put up a blog post about it. Now if I could just get that indoor decorating finished!
Very beautiful. I think I’ve done a little more decorating this year even though I’m not really in the Christmas spirit. I’m looking forward to seeing all the links next week though. Thanks for the inspiration.
Sending big {{HUGS}} your way!!
xOxO Nerina
Thank you for sharing. I didn’t see this last year and I just love it. I am decorating about the same as I always do… just mixing it up a bit. I’m paring down in some places and adding to others. Also trying to get a little trendier in my decorating… burlap is so hot right now and it’s really easy to incorporate into my existing decorations.
I had a Christmas not in my own home a couple of years ago. Long story but I had lost mine precious home and was living with someone also – very depressing! BUT, I did buy this trio of festive glittered trees at TJ Maxx in lime green, put out my favorite nativity and felt much better. Now, 2 years later I’m in a massive house in a small Alabama town(thought I was downsizing so I gave away most of my big decorations-miss them) and slowly recovering. You will too! Merry Christmas.
We’re actually not decorating for Christmas this year at all. We had to leave last year’s decorations up til the end of February for BH&G, and there’s just too much going on around here right now construction-wise. We’re in a BIG decluttering mode right now too. Maybe next year we’ll start from scratch! 🙂
Throw a bit of chartreuse in there and you’ve got my whole scheme 🙂
Rhoda, I can only image how hard it is to not be able to “create” in your own home. But God is truly blessing others through you with your amazing talent and you WILL be rewarded 100 fold my friend! *hugs*
I love your Christmas decor and I will be happy for you when the day comes that you have your own place to decorate! I’m really getting into decorating my home this year, and hope all my thrifty finds look right in here. I’ll be working on decorating this week, and have pics on my blog when I’m done.
Rhoda — Thank you for sharing so much of your life with all its ups and downs. You are a true GRITS. You decorations are inspiring and beautiful. Decorating a smaller home is a challenge, but I am sure you’ll rise to it in style!
love the lime and red in the kitchen…you really went all out last year but I hope this year is just as fun in its own way and you begin to develop some new traditions
How stunning! Your decorations are beyond magazine-worthy! I love all the different themes you’ve incorporated.
I’m also melancholic right now with all of my decorations in storage. I can decorate my mother’s house, though. I do every year anyway. But it just isn’t the same, is it? I’m struck at how not having a home affects me (when I least expect it.) It’s nice to pop over hear, not only to read your great blog, but to know I’m not alone. Thank you! ♥
Beautiful… I remember this reveal well.
A front porch real tree?!? What an amazing idea! Sounds like you may convert your parents yet! 🙂
Thinking of you… 🙂
Donna
I remember your pretty decorations from last year. I like the lime green and red in the kitchen…so cute. I have my tree up and I have done about what I always do. Mainly decorate the living room and dining room. I just refurbished a wreath that I made for my friend…it still looked good just needed tweaking after four years! Praying for you this holiday season and looking forward to seeing how you help your sister deck her halls!
It’s so much fun to see your Christmas decorations again. I loved the lime and red kitchen decor… so fun and light-hearted. Also loved the sophisticated look of the Christmas tree on the aqua plant stand.
I have a one bedroom condo so don’t have much room for decorating at Christmas. Yet I always decorate the bedroom by changing out my accessories with some favorite Christmas items. I’d love some new ideas. Why don’t you decorate your bedroom suite for us to see?!