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Holiday Decorating, Old-School Style
I'm the creator of a lifestyle website called Simple Classic Living. It's an observational guide to style and happiness. http://simpleclassicliving.wordpress.com/
I'm the creator of a lifestyle website called Simple Classic Living. It's... More »
This might make me sound like a grumpy old man, but when the hell did it become common practice to have your house resemble the Vegas strip every December? Now I love nearly everything about the holidays, but our society’s gaudy obsession of turning our abodes into Wonka-inspired gingerbread houses is getting out of hand.
I might be in the minority, but I think decorating your house at Christmas time is more about the small, natural touches … and less about overwhelming your neighbors with pure voltage and volume. From little Charlie Brown trees to pine cones and poinsettias, these 10 photos provide inspiration for a classic Christmas look.
I might be in the minority, but I think decorating your house at Christmas time is more about the small, natural touches … and less about overwhelming your neighbors with pure voltage and volume. From little Charlie Brown trees to pine cones and poinsettias, these 10 photos provide inspiration for a classic Christmas look.
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No mantle? No problem. These silver stockings look quite fitting when paired against the red fireplace. Hanging the silver ornamental balls to accompany the stockings is a nice subtle touch, but probably wouldn’t work if your stockings have busy patterns. (And yes, the dog sleeping by the fire certainly helps this scene.)
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| These wreaths make an immediate strong statement for one surprising reason: their lack of decorations. Yes, they have a single bow and a gold ornamental ball, but keeping the wreath free of ribbons, tinsel or ornaments allows the green to really pop against the outside door. |
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| Lights hung on the outside of the house (or here, on the porch) don't have to look like a landing strip. Let a simple row of lights accentuate the design of your home rather than trying to make it look like it's snowing or that a lit-up Santa has landed on the roof. Many times, small touches make the biggest difference. |
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| I originally used this photo with the idea to wax poetically about using poinsettias around the holidays, but I just fell in love with their display of the candy canes in the vintage silver tea set. The combination of brushed silver with the bright stripes of the canes is a combo that was meant for one another. |
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Three wonderfully subtle touches warm up this room with holiday cheer: the basic wreath on the door, the vintage Santa (in what appears to be old school pajamas and nightcap) and the Charlie Brown tree with one solitary ornament. These tell you that it's Christmas without screaming at you.
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Not everyone has mantles, but plenty of folks enjoy receiving holiday cards and family letters around this time of year. Clipping the memorabilia to hanging wire allows you to display a variety of mail and also allows for versatility for what room to put it in.
by Restyled Home
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So many times we think of holiday decorations as being rich with reds, greens, gold and silver. But this is a nice example a white theme that's also warm. The string of lights, the muted color of the banner and the taxidermy wall hooks invite you to sit down in the room and enjoy it.
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by Sandra Howie
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| Red berries typically provide a nice pop of color to garland and other mantle garnishes. But by wrapping berries with a simple string of white lights, and pairing them with pinecones and white candles, allows the berries to stand on their own as the mantle focal point. It’s attractive without being flashy. |
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Who said wreaths were only meant for the outside of windows? This room is far too elegant to clutter with over-the-top decorations, but hanging these tasteful wreaths inside gives an appropriate holiday addition.
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by Hydrangea Home
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| I love the tasteful, traditional setup of this den. Three stockings on the right side of the mantle, the Christmas tree with ornamental balls and white lights, the red throw over the corner of the couch, the white tree on the mantle, the little lit-up village along the back edge of the room... There’s a lot going on, but it works on a cozy level. And being cozy is a big part of this season’s magic. |
Ideabook published on Dec. 3, 2010.
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Being a fan of English country decor, it is hard to prevent myself from sometimes going overboard...then I just remind myself of the beauty of simplicity in all things.
The Christmas season should be no exception.
So sorry people lost the habit of sending postcards, they add a I'm-loved touch to the decor :)