Minimalist Christmas Home Tour

I’m sharing my Christmas home tour today, but I should tell you it’s a very minimalist Christmas home tour.  If minimal isn’t your jam, do I have a surprise for you!  Today’s tour is actually part of a week-long blog hop with some very talented bloggers, so if you scroll down to the bottom you’ll find links to nearly 40 homes decorated for the holidays.  If you’re joining me from My Sweet Savannah, welcome!

Why the Need for Minimalism?

This year, with all of the nuttiness, I found myself craving simplicity more than ever.  I still wanted to add a little bit of coziness and wintry magic, I just wanted to keep it light and airy.  That’s where my head is at right now.  I’m not 100% done decorating yet – I’m working on coop holiday decor and the bunkie has lights (it looks SO cute), but no wreath for the door.  So there’s more magic happening around the property, but I’m secretly waiting for a little dusting of snow to take photos.  Can you believe we have NO snow??!

Plans for Mom’s Apartment Holiday Decor…

I’m also headed over to my Mom’s this week because she wanted to decorate a real tree – the first time she’s had a Christmas tree in years (because we don’t actually celebrate Christmas).  This year she wanted one and I said, go for it!  I’m picking it up in my truck and am also bringing over some really gorgeous ornaments – I can’t wait to show you!  It will be fun to decorate a tree again, it’s been a lot of years since I did it – and just imagine how gorgeous it will look against her deep blue fireplace!

For now, the kitchen, dining, and living room in my house have a few festive touches that I wanted to share with you.  These ideas are simple and easy, with a modern and minimalist vibe, and perfect for a small space – or anyone else craving a little breathing room this holiday season.

Sparkly Holiday Touches in the Kitchen:

In the kitchen, I made a DIY felt leaf garland for over the window.  I love how it turned out, it’s so soft and pretty.

I also added a bowl of ornaments with battery operated lights wound around inside the bowl – the battery pack is hidden underneath the pile but it’s on a timer so I don’t need to go rooting around in there.  I thrifted these three candle holders years ago and painted them mint at the time – maybe next year they need a new color?  I think they look like little trees.  I like to create a little “winter scene” in a glass jar – click here to see last year’s and click here to see the cheese cloche turned diorama.

It was SUCH a grey and gloomy day when I took these photos.  Normally it’s so sunny where I live.  Cold, but sunny.  But recently it’s been overcast day after overcast day.  But this sparkle and glow makes it cheerier.

I also added a couple of bottle brush trees, here and there. (They’re the ones I bleached and dyed, years ago).  But some of them are getting so ratty from storage, I think I might make an outdoor wreath out of them because I’m no longer worried about keeping them looking perfect.  These trees are NOT easy to store, lol.

DIY Nordic Trees & Runner Plus Lights in the Dining Room:

In the dining room, my DIY wood trees are front and center, atop a felted wool runner I made.  I added some sparkle to the credenza – which always has my Iittala Festivo candle holders.  This time of year, this decor is especially on point because it looks very icy and wintry.  I also bring out my pair of cashmere throws this time of year, which add a cozy layer.

Minimal Christmas Decor in the Living Room:

In the living room, all I did was add some faux garland with battery operated lights on both of my mini mantels.  Since hacking the fireplace to make room for the TV, I lost a mantel.  But I did finally edit some of my aerial photos of ice on Lake Superior and uploaded them to my Samsung Frame TV.  Creating my own seasonal artwork for the TV is a free and easy way to instantly add some festiveness.

Some people aren’t fans of the Samsung Frame TV art mode because it always “glows” a little – even if you adjust the lightness.  The trick, for me, has been creating artwork that is enhanced by that effecr.  Photos taken in the gloaming, with the low sun sparkling on the ice, are made even more beautiful when displayed on the TV:

Here’s another photo, with a gorgeous glow from the sun in the upper left corner.

Here’s one of my favorite photos!

Even when choosing art from Samsung’s freebies, I favor luminescent landscapes which can benefit from being back lit:

My Favorite Holiday Decor Looks from Years Past

Cascading Ornaments, Kitchen Garland & FREE Scrap Wood Christmas Village (2019):

Blue and White Wintry Decorating (2016):

Dyed Bottle Brush Trees & All Natural Evergreen Wreath = Natural Meets Mid-Century (2015):

You can see every single DIY Christmas project and wintry decorating idea of mine right here!

I mentioned that this week I’m joining some of my talented blogging friends for the Christmas Seasonal Simplicity Series home tour week! We’re all sharing part of our home decked out for Christmas. Check out these fabulous Christmas decor ideas by clicking on the links below each image and be sure to visit Fynes Designs next!

Sharing with me today…

Wednesday

The Handmade Home / Finding Silver Pennies / Joanna Anastasia / Amber Tysl

The DIY Mommy / My Sweet Savannah / Dans le Lakehouse / Fynes Designs

And sharing the rest of the week…

Monday

The Happy Housie / Inspiration for Moms / Maison de Cinq / This is Simplicite

Chrissy Marie Blog / Modern Glam / Nick & Alicia

Tuesday

Cassie Bustamante / Cuckoo4Design / Lemon Thistle / Love Create Celebrate

tatertots & jello / Jennifer Maune / She Gave it a Go / Clean & Scentsible

Thursday

Two Twenty One / Cherished Bliss / Life is Better at Home / All Things With Purpose

This is Our Bliss / Home Made Lovely / Place of My Taste

Friday

The Tattered Pew / Life is a Party / Rambling Renovators / House by Hoff

Deeply Southern Home / Grace in My Space /
Taryn Whiteaker Designs / Just a Girl and Her Blog