Christmas Home Tour 2015

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is spending time alone at home making wreaths, hanging ornaments and decorating every corner of our home while I watch corny Hallmark movies and listen to Christmas music. I love the stillness of the empty house and the time alone with my thoughts as I reflect on the year and put my hands to work crafting and being creative.
I was reflecting today on all of the Christmas-y things that I so love to do and enjoy. The lights, the shopping, the events, the parties. Yesterday, after a day of celebratory events, I ended the evening thinking about how I didn’t feel as much of the “Christmas magic” as I should have.

The reason is that no matter how many beautiful decorations I hang, cups of hot chocolate I drink, or movies I watch, I will still be left with an emptiness if not for one thing.

Jesus.

I have kept such a busy schedule that I have cut down time with the One person we are celebrating. Today I sat down and just spent some time with my Savior, and that “magic” I was looking for came not from lights and scheduled activities but from the richness of His word and time with Him.

He truly is the reason for the season, and he shines much brighter than the lights on my tree.

But I love that I get to decorate in celebration of that 🙂 That said, welcome to my Christmas home. (You can also check out my 2013 Tour and 2014 Tour).

We got a new Christmas tree this year from Home Depot. The little pencil tree is exactly what we need in our living room.

I used a lot of accents of black and white this year.
Come on into the eat-in kitchen. Our newly renovated white kitchen is such a great backdrop for the traditional red and green.

Now come on into the reading room where I’ve decorated my antique mantel with metallics and greenery.

Now I wanna take you to the basement (which underwent some major renovation in the last year), but I want you to come in through the carport door, so let’s walk around back of the house.

I filled this vintage box (an early Christmas box from my mom) with some twinkle lights, free greenery, and sticks from the yard.
Come on in. This mudroom is new this year too!

I made the little wreaths from boxwood clippings and free greenery from the tree lot on a simple wire hanger base.
I found those cute vintage cards at a local boutique. They were selling the whole set for a dollar!
We have been spending a lot of time in this basement space lately. It’s fun to have such a cozy spot!
This is the blog debut for our new organ that Jeremy got for FREE.
No house tour is complete without my shadow, Jack the Cat.

Thank you so much for stopping by!