It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Every year I get tons of questions about my farmhouse Christmas decor. People want to know how I plan my decorating, why I gravitate toward a more neutral palette, and where I find the pieces I use to celebrate Christmas in the farmhouse.
I know it’s hard to imagine thinking about Christmas in October. That is why I typically don’t. Up until now, I have never published a post about my farmhouse Christmas decor this early. However, I feel like this year is different (in more ways than one). I think you would agree. Therefore, I have thrown all rules about not talking about Christmas in October, out the window. Heaven knows, if there is a year to do it, this is the one!
Follow your heart.
In regard to the question about how I plan my Christmas decorating every year, that is an easy one to answer. I don’t. Some people love to switch things up from year to year. Not me. Switching up my farmhouse Christmas decor often is not in the budget and honestly, I love what I have collected over the years. I find great joy in bringing down the bins from the attic every Christmas season. Going through my carefully curated collections brings back so many wonderful memories. My Christmas decor collection gives me all the Christmas feels in the farmhouse year after year.
I will admit, there was a Christmas season when I lost myself and strayed from what I love when it came to decorating for the holiday. I found myself following trends instead of my heart when it came to Christmas decor. What resulted was a home decorated beautifully for Christmas that didn’t feel like ours. My best advice for decorating at Christmas (or any time of the year) is: follow your heart. Decorate with what YOU love and what makes you feel good from the inside-out.
Bring on all things Christmas.
Lately, I am hearing a lot of talk about people wanting to decorate early for Christmas. I believe that this year many of us are longing to experience the nostalgia that comes with the holiday earlier than usual. Let’s face it 2020 has been a tough one! More than any year in the past, it seems as though this year people are ready to celebrate the beauty, the magic, and the warmth that the Christmas season brings. I say, “Do what brings you happiness and joy.”
I am a person who never likes to rush things and loves to live in the moment. However, I admit that this is the first year that I too am feeling like I want to decorate for Christmas earlier than I have in years past. Maybe I am also longing for Christmas nostalgia. Or, it could be that I’m bored out of my gourd from staying home most of this year and I’m ready to busy myself by decking the halls early.
Whatever the reason, I decided that this year I am going to publish a farmhouse Christmas decor post earlier than usual. With more people than ever shopping online, I fear that if I wait to share, you won’t be able to find many of the pieces I love and use in the farmhouse because things are going to sell out earlier than ever.
Neutral farmhouse Christmas decor.
I shared with you how I plan my Christmas decorating… I don’t. The next most common question I get asked this time of year is, why I decorate with a neutral palette for Christmas?
The easy answer is, “Because it’s easy!” Each year I start out the Christmas season with a neutral palette of white, cream, wood, and greens. The beauty of starting out with a neutral palette is that some years (when the spirit moves me) I enjoy adding pops of red, gold, or plum. With a neutral base, adding pops of color is easy and you’re not making a huge color commitment. I have a fear of making a major color commitment because I never know how I will be feeling about it from one year to the next.
I find that every year my Christmas decor is a little different than the year before. The reason behind the subtle changes each year is unclear to me. I do, however, love seeing where my decorating heart leads me each new season. A neutral palette makes little changes in my farmhouse Christmas decor easier and also makes it more cost-effective year after year.
My favorite farmhouse Christmas decor.
“Where do you find your farmhouse Christmas decor?” As I mentioned before, I don’t buy new pieces every year. Thankfully, some of the pieces are timeless. Finding timeless decor is always a goal of mine when I shop at Christmastime and all year round. Sometimes though, I hold on to things for so long that when I need to source them, they are no longer available.
Therefore, today I will be sharing some of the same farmhouse Christmas decor pieces I have in our home and if the exact piece is no longer available, I’ve sourced something very similar to it.
O Christmas tree.
Let’s start with everyone’s favorite, the Christmas tree. It’s one of the first things you think of when it comes to Christmas decor and it certainly holds much of the Christmas magic in your home.
I absolutely adore the full look of a Noble Fir Christmas tree. Our main tree in the family room is a nine-foot Noble Fir tree. It’s so tall and majestic and quite literally paints the perfect picture of Christmas in our home. I used to use a tree skirt under our tree, until last year when I fell in love with a farmhouse tree collar. The rustic wood collar was the perfect farmhouse touch for our tree.
What’s a Christmas tree without ornaments!? Just a tree. I typically decorate our main tree with white, cream, silver, wood, and gold ornaments. I stick with a neutral palette for our main tree because I love the dreamy and whimsical look of it. The neutral tree ties in perfectly with the windows, the wreaths, and all the farmhouse Christmas decor throughout our home.
Within the last couple of years, I started using wood bead garland on my trees. The raw wood beads add the perfect rustic touch and also make great filler if you’re running short on ornaments. Last year was the first year (and it won’t be the last) that I used ribbon on our tree and I loved it so much. The ribbon looks beautiful and also acts as a great filler for bare spots on a Christmas tree.
As much as I love our main tree, last year I started a love affair with the simple look of the Scandinavian (Balsam Fir) Christmas tree. Full disclosure, I now have two Balsam Fir trees I put up in the farmhouse because I love the look so much. I decorate them minimally and use a lot of lights on them. They are magical!
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
If you’ve been here and follow me on Instagram for any length of time, you know that my love language is “cozy.” I’m all about making the farmhouse feel cozy and inviting all year round, but especially at Christmastime. I love using cozy Christmas stockings! These are the same stockings we have in the farmhouse. They are big, soft, and SUPER cozy. I also found a cozy sherpa alternative and another knit option that is slightly smaller. I love them both!
Cozy little Christmas.
While we’re talking cozy, let’s talk about pillows, blankets, and candles. There’s nothing like texture and candlelight to add a cozy and warm feeling to your home. Sure I have a baby goat in the photo below and that certainly adds to the cozy factor in the farmhouse, but you can still achieve a similar look and feel with some of the pieces I am sharing in this post. I did not however, source a baby goat for you today. It’s hard to imagine Holly will be one year old this Christmas!
Farmhouse Christmas decor: Wreaths and Garland
It’s no secret, I have a serious crush on wreaths and it’s not just during the holidays. At any given time throughout the year, you can visit the farmhouse and find at least three wreaths in our home. I love the texture, touch of color, and inviting feel they add to a home. Whether wreaths are on a door with a hanger, in a window on a ribbon, or on the back of chairs at the dining table, wreaths are a beautiful way to celebrate the season… You can imagine how many I have in the farmhouse at Christmastime! (Side note: That may be a good guessing game for the family this year!)
During the Christmas season, I also love decorating with garland. Fresh greenery, faux greenery, wood garland, or bells, garland always has a place in our farmhouse Christmas decor. I use it on our front porch railing, our kitchen hood, and around doorways, just to name a few places. It adds a touch of Christmas cheer to every space and makes the holiday season extra special.
Tis the season, y’all.
Whenever you decide to decorate, however you decide to decorate, always let it come from your heart. Make the holiday special for you and your family by making it your own. Celebrate it in a way that is meaningful, whether it’s through the way you decorate your home, the cookies you decide to bake, or the gifts you choose give.
Enjoy every special moment with the ones you love and always remember the true meaning of Christmas. It’s not about how we decorate and it’s not about the gifts, it’s about creating memories that will last a lifetime. The rest of it is just icing on the proverbial Christmas cake.
I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season. Happy decorating!
