Living rooms are typically the hub of holiday decor, as this is where the Christmas tree usually resides. It’s an easy space to decorate simply by hanging holiday garland, decking the Christmas tree, and layering in a few pieces of holiday decor.
Even though the Christmas tree usually takes center stage (see our tips on how to decorate the perfect holiday tree here), I still like to follow the less-is-more approach and embrace the holidays in our living room by incorporating a subtle nod to the season. While you’ll see garland, stockings, and Christmas decor in our living room, I also like to embrace the season with pieces that will carry us through the holidays and into January.
Holiday Greenery
This year we purchased the ever-popular Norfolk Pine garland and I totally get what all the hype is about. It’s a vibrant and rich colour and so realistic to the touch. We purchased it back in October and I am so glad we did as it sells out really quickly. We draped ours along the fireplace mantel and down the side to give it the asymmetrical look I love so much. Our fireplace is 78″ long and I used three 52″ garlands to complete the look I wanted.
Next, I layered our holiday stockings because what is a fireplace without Christmas stockings? This year I layered two neutral striped stockings with our traditional knit ones. I love the dimension it adds.
If you’re looking for more detailed information on how we hang our garland, you can find it here, and shop some of our favourite looks here.
Winter Art
I came across this painting in a local thrift shop and thought it would be such a great addition to our living room this Christmas. Thrift stores and vintage shops are one of my favourite places to find beautiful and one-of-a-kind art and picture frames.
This particular painting was just what I was looking for. It was the right size for our mantel and I love that it pulls the grey and blue colours from our rug.
If you’ve been scouring your local thrift shops for winter art, but come up empty-handed, Etsy is also an amazing resource. Sourcing, printing, and framing prints to look like authentic vintage art is simple and affordable (see how to here). These are some of my favourite winter art prints.
Holiday Decor
While our holiday mantel and beautiful Christmas tree really speak to the season, I layered in a few other subtle pieces to embrace the Christmas season. My favourite vase is filled with the same Norfolk Pine that adorns our mantel. I wanted to carry this particular type of greenery through our home to create a cohesive look and a vase filled with branches is such a simple and impactful way to add more holiday greenery to any space.
Unfortunately, like the garland, these stems sell out quickly and I was having a hard time finding enough. I happened to stumble across a local shop that had two of these garlands left in stock so I scooped them up right away. I ended up snipping the stems from one garland to use in the vase. At first, I struggled with the idea of cutting up one of these beautiful garlands, but then I realized it was a much less expensive alternative than buying each individual stem.
Two neutral bottle brush trees and a holiday candle on our coffee table create an easy and effortless holiday look.
I also like to incorporate pieces that aren’t specific to the Christmas season. Subtle details, like pillows and throws in a warm colour palette and cozy materials, are an easy way to add warmth to any space. Neutrals, like taupe, rust, and brown, and patterns like florals, block-print geometrics, and plaid are beautiful during the holiday season and well into the winter months. It’s these little details that will help your home feel less bare once all of the Christmas decor is packed away again.
Andrea Prokopovych says
Wow!! Beautiful home. Could you please tell me the paint/color you chose for the walls in the living room where the fireplace is?
Thank you!
Alicia says
Thank you, Andrea! The walls are painted Collingwood and the board and batten and all trim is painted Simply White, both by Benjamin Moore.