Looking for ideas on how to decorate and make spaces look and feel cozy and inviting? Here is a Christmas living room & holiday front porch.
Merry Christmas friend!
This will be my last post before Christmas and probably until the New Year, as I will be taking some time to unplug and recharge my batteries!
If you know me even a little bit by now, then you already know that the above sentence is code for: snuggling in cozy blankets on the sofa with our girls, watching Hallmark Christmas movies and staying in my Christmas jammies all day. 🙂
Anyone else?
Yes friend, as we both know, we are coming down the Santa stretch…making a list and checking it twice.
But before we hurry up only to look up and realize that…it’s all over.
Just like that.
I want to offer this gentle reminder, while we are deep in prep mode for Christmas.
That we also exhale.
Yes, exhale and then?
Inhale the freshly created mind space and margin needed, to prepare our hearts to celebrate the tender truth that Christmas Day is really not the end or a finish line to cross.
No, it’s actually – the beginning.
The beginning of fresh hope offered...if we are willing to take on an open posture to receive it.
May I share with you my favorite scripture verse?
It’s this.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 niv
Friend, if you are feeling a little extra needy right now.
It’s ok.
It’s normal.
I invite you to read this post, I wrote two years ago about the Advent season, while we were right in the midst of experiencing our first Christmas during Covid.
As I re-read my own Christmas words from 2 years ago, my heart brushes up against the beat of a much needed fresh realization once again…
That our neediness…is meant to lead us to Him.
So that?
“We may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Amen?
Amen.
May it be so.
And now?
Now friend, I would love to invite you on a mini photo tour (along with a few decorating tips) of our home decorated for Christmas, especially our front porch and a room I haven’t shared with you yet…
Our cozy family room where we spend Christmas morning.
You might remember from last week’s posts, that we were asked to participate in a Holiday Home Tour that took place this past Saturday evening, just before we hosted our annual Christmas caroling party.
You can see a clip of our caroling party HERE on Instagram.
Needless to say, Saturday was a busy and truly wonderful day, full of holiday cheer!
And so?
I thought it would be fun to invite you into our living room, where we celebrate Christmas morning.
Just as if you were here in person, and had walked through our front door this past Saturday night as one of our guests and dear friends!
Come and see the outside of our home decorated for Christmas and our recently redecorated cozy family room!
Wait Until You See The Christmas Living Room & Porch
If you walked up to our front door this past Saturday night, this is what you would have seen.
Here is what our Christmas front porch looks like during the day…
We are loving these new matte black outdoor light fixtures (pictured above) from Lowes, that we recently upgraded. We have them in the 18″ size and they are perfect.
We also recently bought these black Adirondack chairs from Amazon and relocated the outdoor rocking chairs, that you might remember from the Fall front porch to the back patio.
You can see our front porch and back patio lit up and decorated for Christmas last year HERE in this post.
Long story short?
We are loving the new outdoor light fixtures and Adirondack chairs!
The chairs were easy to put together and very sturdy! The outdoor lights are so pretty in person and also easy to install.
Hot Tip: If you want to decorate your porch urns or a window flower box with fresh greens, you only need 3 ingredients:
White pine branches, magnolia and winter berry.
That’s it!
You can skip the holly! Your hands will thank you! 🙂
Now, let’s go inside…
I shared our Christmas entry way decorated HERE in this post.
Our family room is where the Christmas magic unfolds on December 25th and I can’t wait to share it with you as we have recently redecorated it a teensy bit.
I love to snuggle up in that cozy corner of our sectional and often find myself staring at my favorite Christmas ornament of all time…
These tiny sleeping mice used to hang on the branches of my parent’s Christmas tree, when I was a little girl.
And now?
They bring me joy as I look at our family tree and soak in the magic of right now minutes baked into the rich recipe of memories from Christmas pasts.
The two photos below are from the professional photographer, Rick Fensch Photography, that came through our home, during the Holiday Home Tour on Saturday night.
You might notice that I have re-decorated our gallery wall, since the last time I shared our family room HERE in this post, right after we installed these Amazon faux linen pinch pleat curtains on the front window.
When it comes to decorating, I have discovered that I run away from cookie cutter looks that everyone else has.
I love to create spaces that are unique and one of a kind.
The easiest way to do that is by carefully selecting what you hang up on the walls of your home.
Also?
One of the easiest ways to decorate for the seasons or re-decorate and refresh a space is by hanging new art.
You already know that I am a huge fan of Lindsay Letters art prints.
When I saw her new Christmas collection, I fell in love with this Sugar House art print and this Lamp Post art print and this Messenger Angel print.
I ordered each of them in 8×10 art prints and placed them into unique wood and gold frames that I already had.
I finished off the Winter gallery wall with two smaller frames that had black and white family photographs in them, along with the oversized chippy white frame and hung a gold wreath over top.
Of course I had to add some of my favorite chiffon ribbon to the wreath for a little more soft texture and color.
There are no rules with gallery walls friend.
Just find what speaks to you, lay all of your pieces out on the floor and play with arranging them.
Also?
Don’t let a little nail hole here and there scare you.
Hang your biggest piece first and go for it!
Another new addition to this room is this new floor lamp from Target (just came back in stock!) by Threshold designed by Studio McGee and this new Greta area rug in navy / rust from Home Depot.
Loving how both new pieces help to really warm up our family room!
Especially loving the view of the living room from my desk in my home office.
That’s a cozy Christmas living room & front porch wrap friend!
I know it’s crazy out there…
I know you are so busy with a mile long list left in your hand…
I know there are still things left to get done.
But, let’s just make a pact…
To take a minute tonight…
To dim the lights…and quiet the list and the loud.
…and sit with our Savior on our mind…
and on the throne of our heart.
So that the God of Hope can fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. (Romans 15:13)
May you know that you are seen.
May you know that you are cared for.
May you know that you are loved.
May you know that you have a Savior.
Christmas is proof of that.
Merry Christmas dear friend.
Wishing you and yours health, and peace this Christmas.
Living on a prayer,
Heather
Still need Last Minute Gifts & Stocking Stuffers?
Shop my Amazon Storefront HERE full of gifts that ship in time!
Shop this post:
affiliate links used in this post
Merry Christmas.