2014 Christmas Home Tour {Part 2}

It's amazing what a little sunshine can do.  There was finally some sunshine here in Indiana after about a week of gray skies and rain.  So I ran for my camera and starting snapping more Christmas photos.

My dining room isn't huge.  Really it is just a extension of my living room because it is all one big space.  We eat all of our meals here, it is occasionally my work space, my craft space, and now my wrapping station during the holidays.  So it does get used a lot!  My favorite part of my dining room is definitely the buffet table I refurbished a few years back.  It is also one of my favorite areas to decorate for the holidays because it is such a focal point of the space!

I love how the neutral Christmas decor pops off the bright, cheery yellow antique buffet table!

A great tip is to use your everyday items in new ways with your Christmas decor.  Here, I used my West Elm white honeycomb vase with my Christmas decor and just filled it with some artificial greenery and some fresh magnolia leaves.

My chalkboard (made from an old window) gets moved around the house.  I love it leaned against the wall here, with a simple wreath hanging on it with just some simple ribbon.  It is the same ribbon I used to decorate my Christmas tree, so that all the decor is coordinating.

That's my dining room!  There is more to show in my home soon.  You know every room needs a little touch of Christmas throughout......

See {Part 1} of my 2014 Christmas Home Tour here!

2014 Christmas Home Tour {Part 1}

What's black and white and green all over?!?

My Holiday Home tour!!!

Welcome to my holiday home tour {part 1} because there are just too many pretty photos of Christmas decorating inspiration to show all of them in just one post!

Last year, I went with the traditional rustic red Christmas decor.  Which I loved!  But if you know me, I can't decorate my home for Christmas exactly the same every year.  That would just be way too easy.  

I love all things black & white.  So this year I have tried to add in a bit more of a simple color pallet with black & white & lots of green!  And of course a little red thrown in there too because I didn't go out and buy all new decorations.  I use the things I have in new ways and maybe not use everything every year. And lots of gold and sparkle too!! 

 Okay, so I have to admit, I did buy a few new things to add into my holiday decorating this year!!!  I fell in love with this Pottery Barn "All is Calm All is Bright" Pillow Cover but I couldn't justify the $30 price tag.  So when GroopDealz offered it online for $10.99 I was SOLD!   And it totes-adorbs!

 I also bought this For The Love of Letters sign .  It was $5 at Home Goods so I couldn't pass it up!  She is my all time FAVORITE local artist and it doesn't hurt that she is the sweetest person ever!  So I always buy her artwork when I see it.  I posted more about it here. 

I also bought this deer head to add to my collection of holiday deer head decor from World Market!  I am obsessed with it!!!  I also may be a little obsessed with deer heads in general right now!! I just have to figure out where I am going to hang this guy after the holidays.  He is too handsome to hide away in a box for 48 weeks of the year.

I also purchased this Smith & Hawken boxwood wreath from Target.  I have been eyeing this wreath for my front door for quite some time.  So when the sales rolled around and coupons came in, I snagged it up!  I have shopped around for a natural, dried boxwood wreath for a while, so I knew I was getting a great deal on this one.

 I do a lot of DIY projects for my Christmas decor.  Which saves me a lot of money -- not so much time.  But that is okay!  I think that is what Christmas is for -- fun crafts and homemade decor!!  It just makes it that much more meaningful!

My "NOEL" banner was made last year out of burlap and white ribbon.  I hand-lettered the artwork on craft paper and stapled it to the back of these rustic frames that I already had hanging here.  More on that later.

And now for the tree...

I have to admit....decorating the tree is my least favorite thing to decorate in my house.  I always leave it for last.  And this year I left it up with just the lights on it for over a week!  I was really dreading decorating it.  I don't know if it is because I am such a control freak and the thought of not being able to control the placement of each limb and each little light gives me anxiety or the fact that I know how long it takes just to decorate this little tree of mine, but I always leave it for last!

 Once the tree is finally decorated, I love how it looks!!  The twinkling lights, every special ornament hanging on the branches.  At night, it is definitely my favorite thing to see my glowing Christmas tree in the corner of our home.

What's up next on the Christmas home tour..........dining room, kitchen, entry way, guest room, and all the fun little areas in between!  

You can see how I made these DIY tree vases here.

All of the details of the DIY tree slice ornaments are here from my craft day.

Trend Spotting: Scandinavian Home Decor

Bringing the Scandinavian design style into your home!

After visiting a restaurant in the SoBro area of Indianapolis for my birthday, it got me thinking about Scandinavian Design.  Its white, light, and simple design palette was a beautiful backdrop to the hot and spicy cuisine of Delicia. 

Scandinavian Design emerged in the 1950's from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.  A design style known for their light, bright, simplicity throughout the decor.

1.  LAPPLJUNG RUTA Cushion Cover from IKEA

2.  STOCKHOLM Cushion from IKEA

3.  Manning Chandelier on Houzz.com

4.  Rustic Arc Table Lamp from Shades of Light

5.  Scandinavian Bird Hook from West Elm

6.  Mackinaw Small Accent Table from Crate & Barrel

7.  Half Moon Storage Basket from Luvocracy

8.  Wishbone White Wood Chair from Overstock.com

9.  Cross Throw Blanket by Pia Wallen from Mjolk

10.  Ottavia Rug from Crate & Barrel

You know that store that I really love for home decor and furniture?!?  You know the one -- IKEA!! Well, if you like IKEA then you like Scandinavian design style. Did you know that IKEA is based out of Sweden, so most of their products follow the Scandi design style or are Scandinavian inspired.  Look around IKEA the next time you are there -- clean lines, not a lot of ornate embellishments, modern, lots of white and cool grays -- it is the easiest way to understand and bring the Scandi style into your home!

via IKEA magazine

The home of style blogger from My Scandinavian Home.

via Stylizimo

A book of Nordic interior decor from the Danish couple Iben Ahlberg + Niels Ahlberg.

Scandinavian interiors will be sticking around for a while as long as IKEA is still in business.  And it has most definitely become more main stream and popular due in parts to IKEA whether you knew it not.  It has become a classic design style intended for the contemporary lovers.