JPF Holiday Home Decor Tour

So you may not know this about me, but I actually went to college for interior design for 2 years before changing my focus to small business and hospitality. There's a special place in my heart for design and decor. I love to make a house a home. I love to host and gather. I love to practice hospitality.

And Christmas is, of course, by far the number one time I get to this. We get to host Christmas for Joel's extended family and for me, it is the big hoorah of the year. Some blend the holidays all into one around this time of year. But, I like to think of Christmas as a time to reflect on God's faithfulness in my life over the years, as it is all nostalgic in itself, but to really dwell on those memories, the progress we've made with His provision and look forward to what's to come, to me, that's what's what Christmas is- saying "Thank you Jesus for coming here, to live this life alongside me."

Every year we choose a different cuisine. 2 years ago we did Italian with homemade Lasagna paired with my fresh scratch-made Italian herb bread. Talk about delightful smells! Last year it was Mexican with the best enchiladas I've ever tasted (not to toot my own horn). Sorry guys, even in a design post you're gonna get food. I know you don't mind. haha

Every year I fill our home with magic, and I don't mean spells and crazy Santa Claus (although I never mind a good binge watching on Tim Allen's version). I like to think of it as ambiance. Hosting is near and dear to my heart. After all, my goal in life is to open a bed and breakfast and share my home with you all!

So, I wanted to do a little LIVE episode for you show you how to decorate and DIY on a budget for the holidays and make you house warm and inviting for guests. I hope you enjoy!

1. Choose a Theme and Color Scheme.

Whether you want a rustic woods look, a farmhouse theme, or a traditional theme, it's important to keep to the theme. With so many options for colors and themes, it's easy to get a little crazy. But keep it simple, but not too simple- we will get to that later.

2. Recreate and use what you have (money saver).

a. Up-cycle: take something old and make it festive- an old ladder, a pair of ice skates, an old broken sign, the wrong colored beads or ornaments (paint them), pitcher, tea pot

b. Found Objects- sticks, pinecones- hint: things you'd usually find your theme... people think I'm crazy when I put sticks or pinecones in a tree... y'all... they come from TREES!

3. Embellish (on a budget) and Layer!

a. Lights: Who doesn't love lights? Shoot we can keep them up all year. However, twinkling lights feel magical, don't they? I've set a link to the ones I use. They also use rechargeable batteries, have 8 different modes of blinking repetition, and you can use the SAME remote on them all! Hallelujah!

b. Bows: I'm a southern girl, so ribbon on everything just runs in my soul. You don't have to buy the outrageously expensive, premade bows. All you need is some theme-consistent wired ribbon. Tie it on things you want to keep up all year around just to make them feel festive and apart of the decor. For me, I put bows on my light fixtures, on my wreaths, pitchers, shoot... my guitar for crying out loud. Bows are great everywhere. Mix and match when it comes too patterns. And if you aren't sure, find me on instagram and send me a dm!

When ready to make the ribbon, refer back to the video above, as I demo how to do it with just some wire cutting scissors and a coordinating second ribbon.

*hint: Shop the aisles of hobby lobby and find festive wired ribbon 40% off just after Fall begins. And when it doubt and it's too late to find all the good wired Christmas ribbon, and you're doing a farmhouse or rustic theme, just find some burlap wired ribbon!

c. And... last but not least Stems:

Mix and match these guys. Frosted stems, sparkling berries, pine branches, floral stems... I could go on and on. Find some and change out your current pots and plants (if you're like me and you can't be trusted to keep too many things alive at once). I even add an appropriate colored poinsettia to my boxwood barrel. This just makes it all come together cohesively. You really can't go wrong with stems, as long as you keep it simple.

d. Layering:

Layers like onions... or parfaits (haha sorry- my inner child is coming out) and depth is the key to achieving that warmth you want. It's important to remember that you need to stack, layer and create dimension with your placement. This will bring it from one dimensional and decor to a full tablescape. Keep the eye moving, but simply. Remember, not too busy.

See below for how I stacked my dinner napkins with color and variation to make a more pleasing, full look than had I just left one solid napkin on a white plate.

4. Personalize it.

Reminisce with me for a moment to your childhood...what things did you love? What little pieces of decor were your favorite from your parents' collection?

For me it’s putting ornaments on the back of the tree (haha, just kidding), a train at the foot of our tree just in front of the skirt that my dad put out every year, and my mom's Christmas village that she used to put on the mantle just above the stockings. See, I remember precisely where these things were and they were special to me.

Think about how to take your most cherished decorative pieces, family heirlooms and traditions and recreate them for your family.

5. Finish with Ambiance.

a. Use your senses:

Think about the things you love most about Christmas- smells, music, the sight of snow. Now, think creatively to investigate how to translate that into decor. This is especially useful when you are hosting for the holidays. Find your favorite holiday candles, wax warmers or wallflowers (Just sign me up for Bath and Body Works AA). Keep in mind that your guests who may be traveling are sensitive to certain smells, and perhaps ask them before you commit to filling your home with smells of peppermint candy cane and cinnamon pumpkin.

b. Warm Welcome:

Treat your guests by doing simple things that make a big impression. Fill a basket that you have lying around with goodies they might need during their stay. Freshen up some robes.

Here's our sweet bath and body box filled with luxurious ways to stay cozy.