Simple, Understated Holiday Decor

The months leading up to this holiday season have been extremely rocky eventful in this house! Add to that the fact that we will not be hosting Christmas this year for the first time in ages, and the result is that my motivation to pull out all the stops in decorating is definitely lacking. For someone who absolutely loves turning my home into a holiday wonderland, I am experiencing a few conflicting emotions, but go ahead...call me Scrooge.

Just because I've chosen not to drag all 147 boxes of Christmas decor up from the basement, though, doesn't mean that I'm not doing any "house fluffing" for the season. (OK, 147 might be a slight exaggeration, but that's the number of boxes my mind conjures up when I imagine the whole production.) Rather than decking the halls with boughs of holly, glittering ornaments, and sparkling trees, I'm going simple and understated, focusing on decor that can predominantly remain throughout the winter months.

Greenery, a few ornaments, apples, and snowflakes create festive, yet easy, vignettes, and scented candles bring in those amazing holiday aromas.

A tabletop tree, while unable to replace the glory of our traditional full-sized, magical tree, stands in as a suitable symbol for these empty nesters and their greyhound ;)

One of my favorite accessories, this hand, holds a jewelled snowflake in a bed of snow for the winter months.

This book of Christmas photos in Chicago was a gift from my very favorite Chicagoan (my daughter!) a few years back. A small glass decanter filled with glittered greenery and beads in a mercury glass dish add a little sparkle.

In the entry, I kept the bones of the previous display but replaced acorns and a green wreath with a Restoration Hardware snowflake, gold balls, and more branches of greens and berries in thrifted vessels. The greyhound looks like he needs a holiday bow or hat...but in keeping with my minimal decor, he'll remain unclad this year ;)

I'm loving our architectural, masculine mantel in its minimal furnishings right now. Instead of the usual stockings, wreaths, lights, and glitz, it's sporting a very simple collection of open frames, branches, a large black pedestal, and a nutcracker. I should be able to tweak this look all the way into Spring.

Here, a thrifted bowl holds apples in front of a greenhouse containing more greenery and a large ornament that adds just enough shine.

This casual and spare Christmas decorating has been really economical and stress-free...I guess being a Scrooge has its rewards............ :)

Sharing with Cozy Little House, A Stroll Thru Life, Sand & Sisal, Rustic & Refined, StoneGable, Coastal Charm
, Ivy and Elephants, The Style Sisters, Elizabeth & Co, DIY by Design, Share Your Cup, Nancherrow, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Pieced Pastimes, Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home, Between Naps on the Porch, Little Black Door