Easy Holiday Decorating With A Garland

One of the easiest ways to decorate for the holidays is to incorporate holiday garlands (real or faux, beads, berries, crystals, whatever one may wish). It is instant decorating. It can be placed on or hung below a mantle, it could be hung from or wrapped around a banister, or a candle or a light fixture, it could be added to window treatments and so on. Beaded and crystal ones can also be placed in a glass jar to add some color and sparkle to a vignette.

This is how my chandelier looked before last week. The faux pearl strands was left on several Christmases ago (and yes, I do clean the fixture) and in addition, I had occasionally put some greenery over it for the holidays. I like to change things up because I love when an unexpected/unplanned look is achieved and it works.

A couple of weeks ago I tried it on my mantle, posted about here, but it was too full a garland for the look I was going for.

This is where it is now, wrapped around the chandelier. I just started working from the top and brought it down and around the fixture at the base, weaving in and out and I tweaked it a little here and there. Easy.

It does not take away from the faux pearls but enhances the look. This is really an easy way to bring a festive look to an entire room (which includes the ceiling). It certainly draws the eye upward.

It brings in the green and a touch of the holiday red, and the pearls keeps it elegant as well as festive. What do you think? Do you like this look?

This is what I did with a different garland on the mantle. This is the one I have used on the chandelier in the past. (Nighttime picture).

The addition of something more organic. (Daytime picture).

My next post will be about how I decorated the dining table. Here is a glimpse.

Stay tuned!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Living Room Wall Display

Over the summer I came across CHAI Honolulu on Facebook. This is a store based in Honolulu, Hawaii, selling handmade bedding and decorative accessories, rustic and reclaimed wood furniture, to name a few things. I contacted the owner and asked if I could somehow purchase these amazing reclaimed wood mirrors I saw on the store's FB page. I ordered three (sold separately). I loved the color variations and the rustic element and thought they would look good behind the couch in the living room over the decals. I like mixing styles and in this case pairing the elegant with the rustic. I thought the mirror shapes were interesting and fun and I planned to place them together as a set.

Each piece is different and I had the owner pick out the three for me after I gave her an idea what I wanted.

I had to find the right hooks and I came across a pack of these at Michaels. Perfect.

I had written a post on my decal layout here. I was ready to hang the mirrors and tried to figure out a layout for these while not entirely messing with the decal pattern. I decided to place two of them at the same height and one centered slightly above in almost a triangular pattern.

First attempt with the smallest mirror in the center.

 Then I moved them around.

Lastly, I decided to add a picture - this stunning teal/turquoise/green silk artwork which was a gift from Brazil and which I have had for many years - to the display.

An easy way to add this color combination that I love and have been trying to incorporate into the living room. Wrote about it here and here.

I do love the look and the colors tie in to the sofa and throw pillows and makes for an interesting wall feature. I like the addition of the framed silk artwork.

Do you like the mirrors? And do you like the wall display overall? Do you prefer the wall with or without the artwork?

I have not posted in a week as I have been busy with various things - Holiday festivities, school events, work and more. Will share some of my other seasonal projects with you soon.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

How I Decorated My Mantle for Christmas

My holiday mantle has changed over the years. I use different pieces and keep things flexible. I like to incorporate something fun for the kids as well as something a little more sophisticated for the adults although I know a lot of adults who would be happy with just the fun aspects of Christmas, reliving their childhood. 

The items I have collected over the years have red and green and gold as well as silver in them. You will see the occasional blue or other color. I am not a stickler for symmetry so that made decorating the mantle easier. Here is what I had started with last week.

The Angel is from Treasure Island (now closed). I kept the votive as well as the little chair (a glimpse to the right of the picture) from my previous vignette.

These two stocking holders - the Nutcracker and Santa and a snowmen item (gifted to us many years ago).

Some of my favorite items are these three train pieces made of ceramic (from Treasure Island). Each was sold separately and I bought them knowing they would look best together. It makes me think of a favorite Christmas movie - which the kids love, too - The Polar Express.

I like to wrap a garland or two around the pieces. I had purchased two beaded garlands from Crate & Barrel many years ago. So I tried them out here.

It looked pretty but I was not entirely convinced.

I tried to work with this other garland I normally use on the banister. It was a little too full for what I was looking to achieve. I also removed the little chair. It had worked for the silver color I wanted to add but I did not want to crowd the ledge too much.

Lastly, I worked in this garland which I would otherwise have wound around the dining room chandelier.

This acorn is from a collection I have. I love the size and color.

I moved the two wire trees (another online purchase from Crate & Barrel from years ago) together. I decided they would look more substantial side-by-side. I realize they are tinted slightly different and are not perfectly vertical but that is ok.

Finally, the only two stockings we own..one for each child, I guess. Like I had mentioned in my last post, I had never put any gifts in them until last year and now I think the kids might be expecting that again this year. We shall see.

Santa has a strong presence on the mantle because his visits are looked forward to each year. We have left many a glass of milk and cookies which, in the past few years have become milk and carrots (or other healthy option) and have also left him lengthy notes to which he has responded. Every year he has even managed to find the time to pay us another visit while we are in the midst of opening gifts after lunch on Christmas day when we are with the extended family. At this time he walks in through the front door!

I am not able to connect a string of lights to the mantle but I have one little votive and could possibly add another one of the same kind. I think I am really happy with this right now. The most thought I put into decorating this space was in deciding which garland to use. The molding and sconces lend enough symmetry to the vignette and give me the opportunity to have some fun with what I put on the mantle. I have some cute pieces for the kid-at-heart, the trees, acorn and votive add some height and sparkle. There is certainly color throughout. The stockings add some dimension to the vignette and the garland ties it all together while adding some essential holiday (faux) foliage.

Do you like my mantle? Are you more a fan of symmetry?
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From My Front Porch To Yours

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Holiday Decorating Inspiration

Just before bringing down my decorations from the attic I spent a short time browsing the internet looking at holiday decorating ideas. I came across these beautiful pictures which could be incorporated into any decor for the season.

Adding some colorful florals in a simple arrangement is very effective.  

A great idea.  A festive outline and little meaningful treasures are added to it for something fun and colorful.

A mini tree or other similar plant can be used to hang ornaments from.

Colored glassware with facets and mirrored pieces can add sparkle and reflection and shine to a setting.

I love candles and votives and this is a pretty way to bring in a tree into a space.

A way to take the decorating into other spaces within a home. Isn' t that sack adorable and the cute idea to hang a stocking from the nightstand is another way decorate a kid's bedroom, perhaps even have the stocking stuffed (although that might be breaking with tradition).

All images via

I like the ornament centerpiece, the treasure tree and of course, the votive tree. I certainly could not narrow it down to one. Do any of these inspire you? Which one is your favorite?

Tomorrow I will be sharing my Christmas mantle with you. Please do stop by again.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa