Monday, July 25, 2022

Christmas in July Ideas and Inspiration

Hello Friends, today I'm doing something a bit different, this hot and humid day in late July.  Actually I'm going for a mental "reset" with an opportunity to start thinking about and grabbing some inspiration for the Christmas Holiday that will be coming before we know it. I'm joining in with a fabulous group of talented gals that have amazing ideas throughout the year! Our friend Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse has put together this fun Hop and if you're coming from visiting CoCo at The Crowned Goat, thanks so much for coming by and continuing the Hop. Lets get going with some Christmas ideas and inspiration slightly ahead of the curve.





Years ago when I first heard the concept of "Christmas in July" I thought "Why would I want to drag all my Christmas decor out "twice" in one year?" The Christmas season to me is more than just decorating but a state of mind that builds and accumulates each year.  But, the last few years I've noticed instead of actually "celebrating" Christmas in July, many of us realize it's a middle point in the year when we can start gathering ideas and inspiration for the upcoming season. So today I'm sharing some inspiration from Christmas Past so I can kickstart my creativity for the Holidays ahead.







Here are some of the ways I rely on to start getting ideas for decorating for Christmas...

1. I love Pinterest and make it a habit to Pin ideas and inspiration throughout the year. Make your Pinterest Christmas Boards work for you as a great resource for new ideas and ways to use your existing Christmas items. (yikes, I have about 11 Christmas Boards that break down Christmas ideas by design subject). Start browsing your boards and Pinterest, and look back through your favorite Christmas seasonal magazines starting late summer. Sometimes you'll see a pic that starts the inspiration process.

2. Do a quick revisit of your Christmas stash to refresh your memory on things you already have on hand. Sometimes I buy things on clearance and forget that I have them. Make a list of things you're interested in trying this upcoming year. Buy early, things will be gone before you know it. 

3. Consider a theme or vibe for your decor this season coming up. What are your interests this year?  Vintage, Coastal, Garden-y, Rustic, Elegant, French Country, All White... OK, you get the idea. What are your favorite Christmas design themes?

4. Want to try something new? Don't be afraid to mix it up a bit. But keep in mind you don't have to reinvent the Christmas Wheel. Love your traditions with decorating?... Go with what feels like you and works for your family.

5. You don't have to decorate every surface or even every room. Choose several focal points, then build from there.

6. Start your DIY projects early!

Christmas Past

Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite pics from Christmases past, that in a nutshell represent my Christmas decor style. It may be a bit different each year, but it always has the same "flavor", that being Vintage, Cottage and with a bit of Nature thrown in.

I have a few "collections" that are Christmas related and I try to use them in different spots each year. I try not to get in a rut with using the same pieces in the same places. So I challenge myself with fresh vignettes and centerpieces each year.




I have a few pieces of furniture that are naturally suited to display. The old family sideboard is one that's a favorite with it's large back mirror and small upper shelf. White pieces look perfect there so it's been a fun place to display my vintage look small house and church collections. 








I love the little shelf above the mirror, because it's a nice size to display smaller items, so some of my white Putz cardboard houses and churches are here.









I started collecting old Shiny Brite ornaments years ago when I had booth spaces at antique shops and vintage markets, so here are a few old ornaments that are neutrals like white, silver, and gold displayed in a dough bowl with a large candle.




These larger churches had a mini makeover back several years ago. I had collected them because they were white churches, but as my love for a white palette continued I decided to make them a little more "white". I was ready to give these away, but I'm so glad I took a minute and freshened them up for a more current look.




Here they are at dusk lit up and reflected in the wonderful original beveled mirror. We've moved so many times, it's truly a miracle this mirror has survived.









Here are some pics of the "before" churches, before their mini paint makeovers. I felt like these might be out of date because I hadn't used them in way too many years, but a bit of strategic white paint saved the collection.







You can check out that post by clicking below.






We've lived in our current home for 3 years and even though it's an older home built in the 60's, we've managed to bring it up-to-date for our needs. One of my favorite rooms to decorate is the sunporch, aka the Garden Room. It's across the back of our home and holds much of my vintage white chippy furniture, a wicker seating area and also our casual dining area. Here are some pics where I'm using Tartan Plaid (my favorite Christmas theme).







I collect old wool Tartan throws for Fall and Christmas, so they are used each year to bring in my love of plaid. I also keep vintage quilts, and pillows rotating through the year with seasonal color and texture. One of my design tips is that I use seasonal "color" in my decorating. You don't have to have a ton of seasonal or "holiday" decor pieces to convey the mood and holiday feel. The red transferware, Tartan plaid tins and blankets, and greenery all add up to "Christmas".












Another wonderful old vintage piece is my piesafe which has been dubbed "The Holiday Cupboard". It's a fun dish and collectible display spot throughout the year, seasons and holidays.




Here's the  Christmas Holiday Cupboard  filled with red transferware, ironstone and Scottish tins. 





Even the vintage Shiny Brite boxes are fun to display on my old "toddler chair".




You can find another Christmas Display in the Holiday Cupboard HERE






The Garden Room is such a fun place to decorate...
 for any and all seasons and holidays.



This is our casual dining area, just off the kitchen. We use the breakfast bar on the island in the kitchen instead of sitting at the table when it's just the two of us. When we have family we take the few steps out here for meals.



The Baker's Rack is an old purchase from the 90's that's another fun spot for seasonal display in the Garden Room.








Now let's head to the Dining Room



I like to keep the Dining Room a little more formal and tend to lean toward a bit of a mashup of vintage cottage and a French Country aesthetic. I have dark heavy furniture in this relatively small space, and I need something substantial as a table centerpiece so that it will actually show up over the chairs. Sometimes I get an idea that flops, but I'll tweak it and change things up till I finally get there.











I have an old window box that I salvaged from two houses ago; it's the perfect size for the dining room table. So last year I used my 3 preserved boxwood topiary trees with some faux greenery, faux hydrangeas, and then for some color I added green and gold pears. I love the look of the pears, but they needed a little dressing up for Christmas. I searched through my paint stash and found this DecoArt metallic paint and decided to give that a try. I didn't want a solid look, but something more like a gold "wash". 












Here's another post from 2 years ago in the dining room, using an antique basket and some velvet poinsettias that I'd had for years. I had been in a rut here on the table. The basket had me using a different more neutral color scheme other that the usual Tartan plaid.







Well friends, thanks so much for coming by to visit. I hope you found some fun ideas and inspiration for decorating for Christmas. I hope you'll head on over to visit Mary at Life at Bella Terra and continue the Hop. And thanks so much to Rachel for putting together this fun gathering. This was a new thing for me.


Christmas In July Blog Hop

Welcome to our Christmas In July Blog Hop. Be sure to click each link below to follow along on the hop.

The Ponds Farmhouse / Cottage on Bunker Hill / Midwest Life & Style / Cottage in the Mitten / Down Shiloh Road / Bricks N Blooms

Simply 2 Moms / Shiplap & Shells / Peacock Ridge Farm / WM Design House / Thistle Key Lane / White Arrows Home

Pasha is Home / Tater Tots and Jello / Robyn's French Nest / Chas Crazy Creations / DIY Beautify / Cloches & Lavender

The Crowned Goat / Common Ground / Life At Bella Terra / The Tattered Pew / Design Morsels / Follow the Yellow Brick Home

28 comments:

  1. Your plaid tins are so cute and I love all the churches one the sideboard. Beautiful!

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  2. Love all your snowy white accents, beautiful houses, and pops of plaid Debra! Thanks so much for the helpful planning tips too. I always forget what we have in the attic and in our Christmas bins but I'm inspired to comb back through them for a second look. Big hugs and hope you're having a great summer, CoCo

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  3. Debra,
    O MY!! Love all your ideas especially the white churches!! So pretty and I always enjoy seeing your garden room especially at Christmas!! Thoroughly enjoyed this post and thanks so much for sharing!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  4. I love those white churches so much! Beautiful! xo, Robyn

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  5. Debra you know how much I adore your Christmas decorating! The garden room is always a favorite, with all the traditional plaids, but I LOVE The elegant dining room style you have used recently too with more neutrals. It's just all gorgeous!

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  6. The CHristmas blog hop is such fun! I think having a largely white home makes decorating for Christmas extra special -- very wintry and fun. It looks gorgeous with every color -- the bright reds of the holiday and the tartans, the snowy look of the churches (I love those!), the golden balls. It's all just exquisite, Debra.

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  7. Debra,
    You are the queen of vignettes and I loved all of these holiday decor ideas. Thanks for sharing your talents with us today.

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  8. Wow, these are fantastic ideas! Thanks for sharing and lovely hopping with you!

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  9. Deborah I love all of your Christmas vignettes! Your home is beautiful and I can't wait to see it all decked out in 2022! Merry Christmas in July! Pinned!

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  10. I love all of the variety that you've shown here in your Christmas decorating, Debra! The plaid is my very favorite...it's so cozy!

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  11. I'm loving all your ideas and inspiration for Christmas, Debra! And your tip to get started with those Christmas crafting projects sooner rather than later is spot on! Pinned. :)

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  12. Hi Debra! Such good tips! Sometimes it can get overwhelming thinking of decorating every room. I love the idea of concentrating on certain areas. Your home is lovely. I love the white churches and the way you displayed them. And the vintage ornaments on that sweet char is darling!

    xoxo

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  13. So many cute ideas here Debra! I am a Pinterest fanatic too, and also use it to keep myself organized. I love your gold pears and ADORE the white church display! I want to decorate my kitchen this year with a gingerbread theme, I need to get busy!
    Jenna

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  14. I love your collections! Thanks for the great ideas!

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  15. I love the churches, I have a few and you inspired me to put them together this year instead of spreading them out. It is a more impactful display :)

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  16. Debra I love all your Christmas decor. You know I adore the pears. Love the gilding

    You have beautiful plaids and vignettes always

    Great hopping with you
    .Pinned

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  17. Debra your Christmas decor is so pretty and so charming. I love all of the plaid and vintage touches.

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  18. Ooh! I love these ideas. The vintage tartain plaid items are amazing. It was so much fun hopping with you.

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  19. I love all of your ideas, Debra. The village reminds me of the one my mom always used to put out on display when we were little. I need to start a colletion of my own. Thank for sharing all of your ideas. Happy to be hopping with you this week. Pinned!

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  20. Debra, I love the subtle way you update some of your village pieces. They are so pretty, and of course your tartan throws and tins are a delight to see! Thanks for all the inspiration!

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  21. I always love seeing your home! I loved the plaids; always have, always will. Just finished a wreathe for our church bazaar in Nov. with red and black buffalo plaid ribbon. One year friends laughed at me for Christmas crafting in October (I C. craft year round). I haughtily replied, "I have other things to make myself crazy about in December." They shut right up--they had been there, done that! I knit simple scarves, crochet dishcloths, and shop year round; when Christmas is closer, I organize stuff---and it is all already paid for--no New Year's Blues either!!!

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  22. I love your beautiful garden room all decked out for Christmas Debra. And I'm a huge fan of the holiday cupboard. Your vignettes are always so pretty. I'm loving all the inspiration you have provided here.

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  23. Oh, I love the window box centerpiece! That looks so good!

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  24. Thank you for sharing these beautiful inspirations!

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  25. Omgosh! SO much Christmas eye candy. I loved all of it. Of course the neutral, organic centerpieces in your dining room really caught my eye. Plaids are always fun and fabulous too. Thanks for the inspo. XO- MaryJo. PS. Pinned.

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  26. I just love Christmas. Every year I pick a different colour theme to decorate my home with.

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  27. Your Shiny Brights and Putz Houses are so amazing! I love the plaids too! So much to love in your style and post!

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  28. Debra, your Christmas in July ideas are beautiful! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm--pinned!

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