Nothing makes a house (especially one that we’ve lived in for 6 months) feel like a home like a little holiday coziness. So along with decorating the front of the house, and setting up our tree, each year we love to document how we festive-ify the rest of the house (here’s that post from last year, two of them from 2011, one from 2010, one from 2009, and one from 2008). This year was an especially exciting year because it’s our first Christmas of living in this house… which means I have new spaces to play with – like a different fireplace mantel, and stairs for the first time in seven years of home-ownership!
For almost every other space I just used what we already had, but for the stairs I ran to JoAnn and bought some faux garland (and an evergreen sprig for my green HomeGoods jug). It was $14 for both of them thanks to 50% sales on the Christmas stuff. To hang the garland on the railing, I just used red ribbon from last year (I’m the girl who saves every ribbon when I open presents to reuse it) – one at the top, one at the bottom, and one in the middle. I also added a clear zip tie at the top (under that ribbon) to be sure things stay put.
The bench is a HomeGoods find that we’re planning to eventually use at the foot of our bed (once I recover it) so I tossed a furry blanket on it and plopped it in the foyer for now. I got the idea for the whole garland/bench thing when a few people showed me this photo from Country Living and said “I can’t believe that’s not your house – there’s even blue trim in the room next to the stairs!” – how funny is that? So it was definitely the inspiration for this little holiday moment. Although the first thing we did in the foyer has already turned into a new holiday favorite: The Christmas Moose!
We grabbed him at HomeGoods back in September for $9 (weirdly enough, it was John’s idea – I think I’m rubbing off on him) for the express purpose of hanging him up for the holidays. Basically John picked him up, declared that his name was Morris The Moose, and said “we should bring Morris home and hang him every Christmas, so he can live out his destiny as The Christmas Moose.”
Sold.
He’s pretty much Clara’s favorite holiday decor item ever (if live seals can’t be brought in for the roof, at least there’s a silver moose in the foyer). The best part is that I didn’t have to make any holes in the wall to hang him. I just used the screw that was holding up the Ikea frame that usually lives on that wall, so it should be easy to swap out that picture for a moose every December. And then I just stuck some remnants of ribbon and pom-pom fringe around his neck along with a few pink ornaments and called it a day.
Next we have the living room mantel, which has a bunch of stuff that we’ve enjoyed for a few years in a row. The green feather trees (they’re hand-me-downs from John’s sister, but she originally got them from Target) are nice up on the ledge, along with some wrapped presents. Those are my favorite no-fuss accessories to break out every year because they’re fake and I wrapped them back in 2010 but they’re such an easy way to look like I’m this master gift wrapper (meanwhile I’ve shopped for about 6% of this year’s gifts and wrapped 3% of them). Oh and our stockings are currently labeled as “Mommy & Daddy”, “Clara”, and “Burger” but we’re thinking when the bun comes along next year we’ll get five of them (one for each person) so there’s no more random stocking sharing going on.
My favorite detail of all in here is the cardboard Burger (a reader hand-made him at a book tour signing last year) who’s sherpa-ing a present. Cracks me up every time.
A few folks asked where our outdoor star pendants ended up in this house (you can see where we got those here), and the answer is that we finally got around to hanging them in the corner of the sunroom-turned-veranda, so we can gaze at them from the sofa in the living room every night.
The console in the foyer also got some casual cuteness, mostly in the form of leftover ribbons, and a homemade reindeer.
I have these little letterpress “love” blocks out year-round, but a pink ribbon and two tiny ornaments make it a little more cheerful…
… and this reindeer was handmade by John’s grandpa, so he’s hugely sentimental and we love seeing him standing on his ribbon pile when we come down the stairs.
Our leaning chalkboard in the office got a little holiday message on it as well. Clara asked me to add the birds and snow. Now I just need her help decorating a snowman down at the bottom (she loves to chalk things up down there). She’s also a fan of drawing bunnies these days, so we might get some of those in the mix…
Clara and I also got to do a fun little Christmas craft together, which was basically making a giant mess with fake snow (it was THE BEST and SO HILARIOUSLY MESSY). Otherwise known as making these two snow-filled boxes, complete with tiny trees and mini dogs.
Don’t mind Captain Barnacle’s legs in this shot (he still goes everywhere with Clara). This is what we used for the project:
I grabbed two of these glass boxes from TJ Maxx (I think they were $7.99 each) along with a bag of fake snow, a two-pack of little trees, and one package of tiny ceramic dogs from Michaels (they’re meant for those little holiday villages that people make under the tree with various buildings and skating rinks, etc).
Then Clara just had fun covering the kitchen with fake snow filling each of the two boxes with a mound of snow, and adding a few dogs and a tree. Now they sit on the media cabinet in the living room and Clara can usually be found standing about 2″ away just gazing at them. She even named a few of the dogs (Elmo is the one on the right, and the one in the top hat is Gru). The good news is that the hand-vac was able to suck up all the little glittering snow particles that exploded all over the table and floor during our little crafting session.
So that’s how we added a little more holiday fun to the house. It definitely feels homier with stockings and ribbons and a big ol’ silver moose. What have you guys done inside? Is anyone else having the best time ever decorating their stairs? I can’t be the only one walking in there every ten minutes just to smile at the railing.
Psst – Still in the holiday spirit? Here are nearly 40 other holiday posts from the past:
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15!
Gabi Barrick says
I’m in LOVE with the little snow boxes and am now on a mission to get supplies and do this with my three little people! Such a cute idea. :)
Karyl says
So Fun! Love all the festive decorations! For our school auction we had the 2nd graders read “Agate: What Good Is a Moose”, by Joy Morgan Dey, about a moose named Agate. The artwork is wonderful and it’s such a good story about over-coming poor self-esteem. Anyway…one of our amazing moms had the kids make Kandinsky-like paper agates out of tracing paper and then modge-podged them onto a large faux taxidermy moose head–super cool! check it out: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/cb/3d/05/cb3d050cd9580b98de7fb8ee462fdef8.jpg
Otherwise, if you need any stocking stuffer ideas for Clara–my kids LOVE the games RAT A TAT CAT and SPOT IT. Super fun even for the adults and make perfect games for traveling as well.
YoungHouseLove says
Holy cow, so cool! Thanks for the stocking stuffer ideas!
xo
s
Bethany says
Dang, I want that moose-head for myself. So awesome!
Dawn says
I read your blog every day and do not remember anything about the mantel or it being in your previous pictures. Is that new or was it discussed before and I missed it? I was in a awe of it and LOVE it against the white wash bricks (I remember that post). Feeling perplexed that the mantel seems so new to me…. hhhhmmmm I did turn 40 this year maybe my memory is going.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks Dawn! The mantel was always there and we just whitewashed the bricks around them, so you can see that here. Funny that it didn’t stick out for you until now. I did change the mirror a little while back, so maybe that’s it?
xo
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Laura says
I imagine Clara will, at some point in her early adulthood, have a funny moment when she turns to a friend and says, “What do you mean you never had a Christmas Moose growing up!? I thought everyone had one of those!”
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah!
xo
s
Charlotta says
I made a moss wreath for the front door and planted some hyacinths and a miniature holly bush in a bowl (http://instagram.com/p/hWVIqFrbHG/#). We also have a miniature juniper and our “Julbock” which is a traditional Swedish ornament made of straw (http://www.scandinavian-south.com/Images/julbock.jpg). We usually don’t decorate more than that.
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet.
xo
s
Stephanie says
I love your little snowscapes – they’re adorable! I learned a trick on Pinterest a few years back with using Epsom Salt as fake snow. It’s bright white, glisten-y, and candle friendly (aka – not flammable) – it’s also not nearly as messy as the fake fluffy snow :)
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds awesome!
xo
s
Alexandra Young says
Do you think you’ll make a 2014 downloadable/printable calendar? I loved your last one!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Alexandra! We’d love to keep up that tradition! Maybe we can share it during the week of Christmas if we get it done!
xo
s
Elle says
A crafty stocking idea, if you’re interested (for next year of course) – I made stockings using a little bit of different holiday fabrics and kept the extra fabrics for down the road if we need more. The main part of the stocking is a particular fabric, then the toe/heel/cuff are another fabric. If we make another one we can do a blend of the existing fabrics. With five stockings, you could do a lot of combinations.
Hold your hats, I’m about to get into way too much detail – our current fabrics are red/poinsettia, white/holly pattern, and green/evergreen. Right now the white/holly is the cuffs/toes/heels on the two stockings, and a third stocking would be green/evergreen with red/poinsettia on the cuff/toe/heel. It just depends on what strikes your fancy at the fabric store.
YoungHouseLove says
So charming Elle!
xo
s
Kristi says
I have that exact same stack of books that your reindeer is sitting on, only mine is holding a bowl full of ornaments. We’re twins! ;) Love the decor in your new house. So simple, lovely and festive.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, I love it!
xo
s
Jenny G. says
Not gonna lie… I’m pretty obsessed with your Christmas moose!
I giggled because my daughter’s toddler group teacher was just telling me that her elementary school aged kids still call reindeer “Christmas moose”. =)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it!
xo
s
Isabel says
It’s amazing how just a few touches go a long way. Everything looks beautiful, especially love the little “winter houses” :). I’m so late in decorating this year that I’m paring down big time (compared to last year) and just aiming for a little bit of Xmas in every room. My mom used to have something called Sugar Town (by Precious Moments), basically a winter village, which she collected over the years to the point where she used one entire wall of the dining room to set it up. This year she passed it on to me and even though it’s very 90s it brings back so many childhood memories I love it. I don’t really have a place for it so not sure if it’ll ever make it out of the boxes, but hopefully I’ll eventually come up with something!
Jes-ka says
High fives for ribbon saving!! My container gets bigger every couple of years, but ohhhh the pretty ribbons I have. :D
Love everything you got going on. We just got back from our holiday visit with fam on the East coast, so we are starting our decoration planning now. Yay!
LeAnna says
Everything looks fantastic!!!
Helene says
Every year our Church puts up its Nativity Scene in the side Sanctuary. They always hang a light above it that looks exactly like that pretty star light in your foyer. So you should add that to your Holiday decor…just pretend you’ve already got the Star of Bethlehem hanging in your entryway!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it!
xo
s
Diane says
Love the decorations. All the red just warms up the house. It almost feels like the lights go out when the decorations go bye for another year! I keep the snowmen up until February hate to part with them!
Beth says
You might already be aware of this, but, there is an children’s book about a moose named Morris. (He goes to school…). It was published quite a while ago, however, Clara might get a kick out of it:) I believe it’s called Morris goes to school or Morris the Moose.
YoungHouseLove says
It sounds so cute!
xo
s
Wrenaria says
Your house looks so festive! I’ve been dreaming of owning a house with stairs just so I can decorate them every year at Christmas. Silly reason, but it’s true, ha.
I’ve got my place all Christmassed up, but no pics to show for it. I decorate the day after Thanksgiving every year. Long time tradition. It’s one of my favorite days of the year. :)
Allison says
I love that shot of your fireplace! We haven’t seen it head on like that before, it makes me appreciate it a lot more!
Beautiful decorations! I’m jealous of your decorated staircase!!
Alanna says
I’ve been pretty slow going with the decorations… still have so much to do. My main focus the past couple of days has been building a crèche out of pallets… check it out (http://alanna-wendt-to-tennessee.blogspot.com/2013/12/diy-pallet-creche.html)
YoungHouseLove says
It’s gorgeous and so creative! What an awesome project!
xo
s
Laura says
Hi guys just want to let you know that a video ad is appearing on your side bar that is a bit NSFW…even though it is an animation lol. I believe it is for League of Angels.
YoungHouseLove says
Argh! So sorry about that! Can you tell us what box it’s in (the one under our bio, one under that one, tall skinny one at bottom, etc). Thanks!
xo
s
Laura says
It’s disappeared now, but I think it was in the box under paint color picks. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, so sorry about that Laura! Thanks for the tip! We have been having issues with pop ups and bad ads, and they’re getting us down. We never want you guys to see that stuff, and we have code in place to block that but something’s amiss! We’re definitely on the case, and thanks so much for the warning!
xo
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Scrubber says
I skimmed, but has no one mentioned the song “Morris the Moose”? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42_wsfIF8gA
I loved this album when I was a kid…
YoungHouseLove says
So funny!
xo
s
Callye Lawrence says
As mentioned by other commentors, that photo from Country Living is craizly similar. And I’m all about that moose! I’ve realized that anytime I’m creating art (ie: seeing something online and trying to copy it), I realize that all I ever want to do is animal stuff. I’ve got some bison, a 3-d cardboard deer heard, a large canvas painted with a dear head silhouette, lions, feathers, etc. I’m wondering at what point it becomes creepy if the only decor people see when they walk in is some variation of animal (not to mention the 2 living, breathing dogs + dog hair).
Laurie says
Wow, that Country Living picture really was a dead ringer for your place, wasn’t it?
My favorite is the Christmas moose. He’s lovely and he’s going to be fun decorating every year.
Ashton says
That picture is sooo creepy!!
Jennifer says
It’s so fun to decorate a new space, isn’t it! Your house looks beautiful and cozy. Those green feather trees are very familiar to me – I have a white one just like it from Target a few years ago! It’s so versatile. Looks great w/ mercury glass, silver, gold, or colors.
BeccaK says
The small craft mentioned at the end of your post may actually be my all-time-favorite DIY craft that you’ve featured (even though it wasn’t really featured!). I’m running out to the store because I want to do that with my son this weekend!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Becca! We had so much fun!
xo
s
Melissa @ReThreads Charlottesville says
The decorations look so sweet – like the little pile of ribbons at Rudolph’s feet. I would never think to do that, but it looks great!
Alexa says
Looks great! I wish we had more fun spaces to decorate, but I seem to lack the vision. We do have our first Christmas tree in 7 years which our toddler is loving. Such fun to finally break out our forgotten collection of ornaments.
Sherry – are we going to see a mod board for Baby Barnacle/The Bun? Can’t wait to see how you transform the pink trim room!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Alexa! We started planning Clara’s nursery in February when she was due in May, so we think January might be when we get things started for the bun, since he’s due in April. We’re definitely thinking about a million ideas, but haven’t pinned anything down yet. Can’t wait to dive in, though!
xo
s
Lindsay says
I had been using my grandma’s tree every year since I was in college. I finally broke down and bought a new tree this year. My tree is always decorated in red and silver.
Unfortunately last weekend, the sprinkler system in my apartment froze over. We’ve been very cold in South Dakota (wind chills around -20 to -30). My apartment was flooded.
So my tree was moved to the kitchen, as my apartment is all torn up right now. I’m back at mom and dad’s for now.
I was very lucky and most of my personal belongings are fine. Except my YHL book. It was completely soaked. So I guess Santa needs to bring me a new one for Christmas!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! So sorry Lindsay! That stinks! If Santa brings you a new one we’d love to send you a signed bookplate to stick inside, so just email me that and we’ll get on it!
xo
s
Ali Miller says
I am in love with the snow boxes!!! Going straight to TJ Maxx on my lunch break and will cry if they don’t have any here!
YoungHouseLove says
There were like 8 of them when I went, so I hope they’re still there waiting for you!
xo
s
Ali Miller says
Sad face!!! I went two two TJ Maxxs, two Marshalls, two Homegoods, and Michaels. Couldn’t find similar boxes. I don’t know why but those are tge sweetest thing to me!
YoungHouseLove says
OH NO! I’m so sorry Ali! I would keep checking that HomeGoods by Chesterfield towncenter (they seem to have a lot of stuff). Anyone else have tips for Ali who has seen them or something similar locally?
xo
s
Ali Miller says
:) You’re so sweet! Thanks for the help but I am in Mississippi!
I will pull through without them somehow. Haha!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, I hope they find their way out there sometime!
xo
s
Cf Betcher says
Love all the decorations! I have a silver antelope over the mantle which is about to get a few sparkly necklaces, I think!! We also have faux evergreens on our stairs, but I use clothes pins to attach all of the Xmas cards we receive. Since we’re in our child raising years, I love seeing all the faces of the kids we love as I go up and down the stairs. It’s not very pretty (like yours) but it is sentimental and fun. Merry Christmas!
Andrea Worley says
Beautiful holiday home!! Merry Christmas YHL!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Andrea! Right back atcha!
xo
s
Angie H says
I’m SO jealous! We just bought a house and are trying to fix it up to make it move in ready, but we are packing and moving at the end of the month. So, we have a tiny tree up with just a few ornaments, and stockings of course, but I’m dying to decorate our new house! But, alas, patching walls and refinishing floors are a higher priority. I’ll just sigh longingly at others decor and think about next year! :)
Alex says
Hehehe, I love that you guys have to share a stocking but Burger gets his own ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, he’s quite the fan of stocking stuffers.
xo
s
Kayla says
We just moved into our new house over the weekend (after 2.5 months of remodeling) and I am dying to make it cheery and Christmas-y over the weekend. Also dying for all the boxes to leave though, so I have to prioritize. =)
Mamaw says
Love, love, LOVE Morris the Moose!!!
Emily says
I think the first picture is a really good capture of the ceiling and wall colors together! They look so good!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Emily!
xo
s
Heather says
Love the little glass boxes you got at TJMaxx! I’m gonna see if mine nearby has the same ones. You could use them all year round with different festive or random decorations.
Bethany says
This may be a weird question, but what kind of chalk do you use on your chalkboard? The colors always look so bright and saturated! I just have a small chalkboard in my kitchen, but the colors never seem to pop as much as they do on yours.
YoungHouseLove says
Just sticks of colored crayola chalk from Target. It comes in a yellow box if that helps.
xo
s
Bethany says
I think I have crayola chalk too. Must just be user error on my part then, haha. Or maybe your chalkboard is nicer than mine. Thanks for the info! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh another tip is that sometimes I dip the end in water. Keeps it from screeching and the color seems a little brighter.
xo
s
Barb @ 1SentenceDiary says
Ha! That Moose reminds me of “Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey.” The first Christmas after we moved into our (fairly Italian) current neighborhood, we went to the local tree-lighting ceremony where there was sing-a-long of Christmas carols. I had never heard that song before, but it quickly became my very favorite Christmas carol, for the sheer delight of a song with “Hee-Haw, Hee-Haw” as part of the lyrics!
YoungHouseLove says
You should hear my mom sing that song. It’s hilarious.
xo
s
Lisa E says
Very pretty. I love how it looks so festive, but you don’t go crazy overboard and use a lot of what you have. Keep doing what you do! BTW – that cardboard Burger is amazing!
Sammy says
I love those glass snowy boxes! Great idea!
Jen D says
The glass box craft is super cute!
Amanda S. says
Love all your décor and tree this year!!! How fun to decorate a new house for the holidays :) Hope you share your Christmas card again this year — the last couple of years have been so CUTE!! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Amanda! We usually share that right before (or on) Christmas since we want to make sure the ones we mail to family and friends get them before we show it here.
xo
s
Momcat says
Sherpa-Burger — could that be any funnier?!
I can’t wait to get out “John” and “Sherry” — the ceramic reindeer that you autographed for me last year in Carytown. Indoor decorating happening this weekend, first we have to get through the (“2 more days until I’m…”) 18 year old’s birthday on Saturday.
It’s a happy time of year.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Say hi to ceramic John and Sherry for us!
xo
s
Julia says
I am in love with the cardboard Burger you guys have chilling on your fireplace, and I love that a fan made it for you. Your fans of the blog are the best!! <3
YoungHouseLove says
Amen! So talented, and always making me cry. Best readers ever.
xo
s
JenWoodhouse.com says
So fun! I have those moravian stars too but have never hung them up because the cord is so short and awkwardly placed… care to share how you hung yours?
JenWoodhouse.com says
PS. If you haven’t taken Clara to see Disney’s “Frozen” yet, she will love it! Your moose is reminiscent of Sven the Reindeer!
YoungHouseLove says
I can’t wait to take her! We hear it’s so good!
xo
s
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, the cord is super short for each of them! We have three white extension cords that we plug into one main power cord at the base and that gets plugged into the wall outlet. That elongates them like a normal plug-in swag pendant, so we can just use three white plant hooks along the inside lip of the wall to loop the cord over (so they each hang down).
xo
s
Allyson Hamilton says
Hey Sherry! What do you use to write on your chalkboard? When I use regular colored chalk to color is so faint that it looks white from a distance. Love your festive chalkboard!
YoungHouseLove says
I just use the regular crayola chalk from Target (it comes in a yellow box) but I do dip the ends in water (keeps it from screeching, and seems to make it a smidge brighter) and I go over things a few times (a few layers makes it brighter I think).
xo
s
katalina says
I love the mood board/ gift ideas of what you did last year….to get clara, you, and John and Burger too!
PLEASE…………………..!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Katalina! We’re working on those right now. WAHOOO! Tomorrow’s the big gift guide day – full of not one, not two, but three mood boards (for lads, ladies, and kiddos). Woot!
xo
s
katalina says
No Burger Gift guide? I have some dogs on my list and he has great taste!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! He just wants snacks and a new squeak toy (usually from the Three Dog Bakery in our town). Although we did get him a new thin green leash from Petco recently that he seems to love!
xo
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Lucinda says
I’m REALLY digging the natural wood trim in the living room with the white washed fireplace! I don’t know why but it gives it this cool modern/cozy/euro vibe.
P.S.
I filled a hobby bowl fish bowl with christmas ornaments and felt pretty dang awesome about myself this year. *brushes off shoulder*
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo
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