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Christmas Home Tour + Simple Decorating Tips

December 15, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Christmas Home Tour and Simple Decorating Tips

Welcome and come on in! Since this is our first Christmas in Fayetteville, I thought I’d take you on a Christmas home tour and show you a few of my basicย decorating tips. I’m keeping thingsย simple this year (and not stressing over my lack of outside lighting). The only decorations I’ve pulled from storage tubs are those I absolutely adore which brings me to my first tipโ€“decorate with items that fill your heart with Christmas spirit.ย Handmade items. Old things with history. Don’t let yourself be the oldest decorationย in your house. Know what I mean?

When decorations feel right and easy, you’ll know.

Incorporateย everyday itemsย not specifically Christmas-related, like pottery and books. Work with what you have.

It doesn’t take much effort to place vintage ornaments in a bowl. I’m loving the look of turquoise McCoy pottery combined with red ornaments.

vintage ornaments/ art deco turquoise bowl

Here’s a mix of vintage and new-ish ornaments in a glass compote that normally holdsย a few marbles. (The marbles are underneath the ornaments. Easy decorating, I promise.)

vintage mixed with new

You probably already know about my collection of bottle brush trees. This year, I arranged my favorite trees on vintage serving platters and placed them throughout the house for simpleย Christmas touches in each room.

vintage bottle brush trees

bottle brush trees, ornaments, candle atop a flea market serving platter

Hang starsย or other ornaments from branches and driedย flower arrangements.

christmas home tour

Display old Christmas photos.

old christmas photos

My imperfect (yet perfect) Frasier fir is loaded with kid-made ornaments and family memories.

christmas home tour

Don’t forget your porches and outdoor space. My front door winterย wreathย isn’tย holiday specific, so it will carry me into spring.

winter wreath

Frosty’s been with us for years.

Frosty on the front porch

Place inexpensive “permanent” trees in vintage flower pots to give them stability and a little extra oomph.

Simple Christmas Decorating

I would be remiss if I didn’t show off my favorite tree, the tree my parents bought the year I was born. We lived in Wilson, Arkansas on Washington Street. And guess what street I live on now? Yes,ย Washington Street.ย A fun factoid. At least I think so.

vintage silver tree

My final tip: buy oneย new (or old) decoration at your favoriteย after Christmas sale and pack it away forย next year. I’ve amassed quite a collection of decorations this way.

That’s it for my Christmas home tour and simple decorating tips. Happy decorating! Happy Christmas!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis url=”http://wp.me/p58902-19q”]Don’t let yourself be the oldest decoration in your house. Holiday decorating tips! [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

It’s Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas, Johnny Mathis

Filed Under: Holiday, Home Tagged With: Christmas decorating, Christmas tree, decorating with vintage items, holiday decor

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Comments

  1. Kathy says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:02 am

    Great blog Talya! I love the idea of using old Christmas photographs….will be using that one.

    Thanks and have a Merry Christmas!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 15, 2014 at 3:51 pm

      Thanks Kathy! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

  2. Linda Gardner says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Talya, I love your simple decorations,,we tend to over decorate at Christmas, we over do everything at Christmas, and that’s not what it’s all about, the older I get, the less I decorate, simple for me,,, JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON..

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 15, 2014 at 3:51 pm

      Thanks Linda!! Yes, lots of things are overdone these days.

  3. Anita says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:09 am

    That was a fun tour, Talya! You have some great ideas, and the vintage items make Christmas so special and personal. I love the silver tree from your childhood, what a keepsake! Thank you for sharing.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 15, 2014 at 3:52 pm

      Thanks Anita. The silver tree is priceless:)

  4. June says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:51 am

    Enjoy reading your blogs,,,keep up the good work

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 15, 2014 at 3:52 pm

      Thanks June. Keep reading:))

  5. Colene and Tom says

    December 15, 2014 at 10:07 am

    What a fun blog. Love your door wreath. You were meant to live on Washington Street and what a lovely home you have.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 15, 2014 at 3:52 pm

      Thanks Colene and Tom. I am loving this neighborhood and street!

  6. Mark Price says

    December 15, 2014 at 11:47 am

    I couldn’t have done it better. It’s Christmas home perfection. Merry Christmas

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 15, 2014 at 3:53 pm

      Well, I wouldn’t go that far Mark. YOU are the decorating expert!

  7. Patti says

    December 16, 2014 at 8:00 am

    So creative and lovely. Especially the tree you’ve kept from your family…love!

  8. Amber says

    December 16, 2014 at 8:51 am

    I love your Christmas decorations, especially the vintage pieces! I will be using your idea of displaying old Christmas photos!

  9. Jessica A says

    December 16, 2014 at 10:37 am

    Your decorations are beautiful, I love this time of the year!

  10. Dorothy Johnson says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:58 am

    That doorknob is a decoration in itself. Love seeing your Christmas decor. As always, very simple but classy.


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

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