This year, I considered keeping my holiday decorations to a minimum. In the beginning, I didn’t seem appropriate to go all out decorating when so many people were struggling, but then, I got a DM from D’Arcy Vandenberg of Dear Darcy asking if I wanted to be part of a group Christmas Decor Home Tour with 5 other influencers! I started thinking about sharing our home on Instagram, making new Instagram friends, being inspired by their homes and hopefully inspiring others with mine. I’m so happy that I joined this group and decided to “deck our halls”!

My heart goes out to everyone who is struggling right now from COVID or the effects on the economy because of COVID. I am so blessed and extremely grateful for our beautiful home, which is also our sanctuary and safe place. Home is more important, now, more than ever in this time of pandemic and unrest. It is my hope that this post will offer some glittering ideas and brighten this holiday season for others!

We love our front porch in every season and it’s so much fun to decorate for Christmas. For the planters, I used two large black pots topped with 2 different wreaths and a grapevine ball that I ordered from Amazon. I inserted long sprigs of holly into the wreaths for more color. These took minutes to put together and I’m really pleased with the look! As always, Lyn Moser of Special Arrangements placed the greenery around the door and hung the beautiful wreath. Baldy added the lights…maybe that’s why one side is out…?

Every year, for some reason, I’m amazed by the amount of ornaments we have collected over the years. I did my best to get most of them on, but there are still 2 bins in the basement. I thought about having two trees, but decided that was a project for next year. I would love to find a pretty pre-lit white one for the sunroom or our breakfast room. If anyone has a suggestion for a good tree, I would love to know!

Obviously, I had to move a few chairs around in the living room so we could get the tree in. The little lucite chair on the left in the above picture is just perfect with a small tree and a gift placed on it! It’s one of my favorite things and a touch of contemporary in our traditional home!

I have so many sets of dinnerware and just keep buying more. I love to find vintage sets at antique stores to mix and match with what I already have. Honestly, most of what I have is vintage and I love to think of the history and the people who have set the table with them in the past. Hopefully, our daughters will appreciate them as much as I do!

I set the table for a fabulous Christmas dinner with my best china and crystal. This year, I placed wreaths around the hurricane candle holders and added mercury glass trees, ornaments and votive holders. The whole table sparkles when the candles are lit.

I’ll admit that this year, the bar(s) have been used a bit more than usual. For the holidays, I added some festive touches and fun napkins so everyone will feel right at home mixing a drink. Above, (and below), we took an interesting little alcove that once held an enormous TV and turned it into a home bar. I added a mirror to make the space look larger and we slid in a bar that was found at a consignment store. We have absolutely loved this little bar and it adds so much interest to the room. As you can see, I need to replenish the wine, but I’ll be taking care of that this week! The beautiful tray was purchased several years ago and serves as a holder for the beautiful bottles.

The bar cart below is in our breakfast room and holds glasses, decanters and dishes. This last month of 2020 is not the month to let dust collect on your beautiful glasses…use them and enjoy. If you’re looking for gifts for the bar cart, wine connoisseur or mixologist, be sure to see this post!

When it comes to decking the halls, sometimes less is more. Our parlor is a busy room with lots of books and objects on the large coffee table. I kept it simple in this room with a beautiful garland on the mantle.

I hope no one is too tired of me talking about our newly covered sofa. I copied Tory Burch… this one is forever sofa and I never want to change it! The mirrored coffee table holds an alabaster bowl full of ornament, some vintage and some new.

A home scented with candles smells so good and one of my favorites for the holiday season is Jo Malone Orange Bitters. They smell delicious and the look so pretty!

Amos has the run of the house and we love to cozy up in front of the fire!

In the entry, more is definitely more! This fabulous peacock was purchased at Alamance Arts which is our local arts council. He was just begging to come home with me and found the perfect perch to greet everyone who walks in the door! He makes me smile every time I walk by!

Several years ago, I started collecting Vietri Christmas Dishes and really love to pull them out every year!

Apothecary jars are filled with colorful candy in the kitchen.

I’ve polished the silver and put touches of greenery everywhere!

The smoker and nutcracker were purchased on a trip to Germany years ago. So many of our decorations hold wonderful memories!

Amos on HIS sofa. He loves to sit here and bark at the squirrels and other dogs walking by, and we have quite a few of both!

Finally, putting my feet up for a rest!