Christmas Decorating Santa Style

     This is a repost from a couple of years ago.  I finally finished my baking last night.  I am still frantically working on finishing a large job for a client so cheating here a bit by copying an old post.

     When I decorate I do every room in my house including the bathrooms.  My collection of Santas are in my powder room.  The centerpiece of the display is a Santa from my grandmother.  I remember it standing in her living room every year.  I have no idea how old it is.  Surrounding him are some inexpensive potted silk poinsettias and a small tree that I bought when I went away to college.  The tree is falling apart but with some poinsettia blossoms and bows tucked in it looks fine.

     On the shelf where watering cans and birdhouses normally reside I have placed some more Santas.  There are a couple of pairs of salt and pepper shakers in the mix.

     Even the window gets a few Santas.  The one sitting on the window is soft so if he falls when opening or closing the shade no harm will be done.

     Here is the sink all decked out with a Santa soap dispenser, towels, tissue box cover (that my husband's aunt made) and some door knob hangers on the drawer pulls.  I also am sure to include a nativity set in every room, this one is just a small plastic one that won't be harmed by soap and water.

    

     And last but not least is the toilet.  A fun lid cover and rug dress it up while another Santa perches on top.  My friend Ellen made him for me.  A few more Santas are perched around the room also.  Just a fun way to display my collection of Santas.  How do you display your holiday themed collections?

Christmas Decorating with Teddy Bears

Entry with Santa and Mrs Claus

     This week I am showing a few photos from my entry and foyer.  The theme for these areas is Teddy Bears.  In our previous house these were the family room decorations.  In this house the family room, eating area and kitchen are all one big room.  This meant finding a new home for the bears.  

     The first photo is from our entry.  When you come in the front door there is a wall with the mirrors (that is me reflected in the photo) and a set of 3 wood file cabinets with a top that goes over all three.  I have a set of lamps on this credenza.  We removed the ceiling fixture in this area and just use the lamps.  To the left is our den and to the right is the foyer that leads to the living room, dining room, kitchen, stairs and master bedroom.  We have often joked that this is our 'ballroom'.  

     In the entry I have a pair of bears dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus.  They have a tree and packages.  The runner has teddy bears on it also.  A small wreath on the mirror completes the room.  

     Since the entryway is the first thing people see, make it attractive and welcoming by adding a few decorations without adding clutter.  I think this sets the tone that our house is fun at holiday time.

Teddy Bear Tree

     Here is the tree for the foyer.  It has teddy bear ornaments and is in the traditional red and green of Christmas.  I even found a bear angel for the top of the tree.  I would love to find some more teddy bear ornaments but I haven't found any I like lately.  The tree skirt belonged to my husband's aunt.  I think she made it.  There is a collection of bears at the base of the tree and more at the base os the table where the teddy bear nativity set is displayed.

Teddy Bears Line the Stairs

     To complete the foyer there is a collection of bears and pillows lining the stairs going up.  Our grandson has discovered the bears here but finds them more of an annoyance I think because he loves to go up and down the stairs.  They are just in his way :-)

Teddy bear creche

     What he does like though is the teddy bear nativity set in the foyer.  He likes to take Baby Jesus and the lamb and play with them.  Of course the little lamb has to make a lot of baaing sounds.  When he out them back after playing with them, he made sure that the lamb was right next to Baby Jesus.

     Usually the foyer has an oval table in the center of the room with a light hanging over it.  For Christmas we remove the table and hang the light higher so no one hits their head on it.  Since this room is open to the dining room I have occasionally used it to set up another table so we can be all together for our Christmas meal.

     Wishing you all a Beary Christmas and Happy New Year

Christmas Decorating with Pink and Angels

    This is a repost of a blog from a couple of years ago.  I did a slightly different arrangement of the angels on the mantel this year.  I am also trying to downsize some of my decorations but I am finding it very hard to part with some of them.

    To keep things from looking overdone I always remove the everyday items and pack them away.  Here is my living room mantel.  My living room has yellow walls with blue and yellow window treatments and a couch with a pink, yellow and blue floral print.  Red and green would be quite distracting in this sunny room so I have chosen to decorate with pink poinsettias and angels.

     The mantel scarf is actually four embroidered napkins I found on sale after Christmas one year.  The back edge is folded under and they are just laid on the mantel, slightly overlapping.  A small wreath with pink flowers and a bird hangs from a small nail.  I only have five angels on the mantel but with a couple of large poinsettias and a couple of small wreaths the whole mantel is filled in.

     On the hearth below I have arranged a lush garland around the base.  Another angel, this one much larger and a couple of silk poinsettia plants, one placed on a large book, and I have another focal area.

     Behind the couch I have a refinished cedar chest that belonged to my grandmother.  Here I display a paper mache  nativity set.  Every room in the house has a creche.  The coffee table, which is an old sled, has a small pink poinsettia floral arrangement on it.  Next to the cedar chest, on the floor I placed three Santas.  They aren't angels but they fit the color scheme and feel of the room.

  

   Right now there is no tree as we are waiting until a little closer to Christmas to get a real tree for the room.  The other rooms in the house have artificial trees.  The living room tree gets decorated with the ornaments we have collected over the years including ones we but when we go on vacations and ones the kids have made.

     I have added a photo of the display bookcase that is on the wall to the left of the fireplace.  More angels, pink and blue poinsettias and a couple of candles decorate this area.  The three straw angels on the right are from my mother-in-law's house.  They look right at home here with the rest of the angels.
    In the next weeks I will post about some of the other rooms.  I hope these photos help show you how holiday decorating doesn't have to be all Santa Claus and red and green.