As much as I love Christmas, I sure do love how clean the house looks after all the decorations are gone. However, it can lead to a dilemma. How do you decorate? What do you use if you like to add decor to match the season? Well, if you live in Michigan you just decorate your house with tons of snow. And air conditioners.
If you’d rather not be that drastic, might I recommend just using a lot of white in your home? This velvet duvet is being shipped to me right now. I can’t wait. The idea of crisp white and ivory bedding sounds delicious to me right now.
Of course, I can’t wait to pair it with this new throw that I got from Santa my mom. Velvet and fur on the bed? Yes, please.
Speaking of fur, I have another one in the living room. It immediately gives off the “warmth” vibe in the room even when it’s 12 degrees outside.
I like things to be quite simple around the house after the holidays. I tend to put items away just to “cleanse the pallet” for a while. Nothing too busy. You may notice that I didn’t change things up too much from my Christmas mantel. I replaced the reindeer with a silver vase and took the leaves off the vases.
As for those vases, I had some questions about them. From a distance, I guess you can’t tell that they’re really just glass jars (purchased at TJMaxx) covered in sweaters I bought at Salvation Army. An easy way to winterize things.
I might also suggest using flowers. I think it’s an ultra-fresh way to soften up cold, wintery rooms. Unfortunately, I have a dead Poinsettia and some Narcissus bulbs right now. I don’t think those really count just yet. Here is some inspiration for you.
I think the room below epitomizes a wonderful “winter space”. I love the crisp, clean lines, the touches of color through accessories, and the sparkle of the silver accent pieces. Throw in a crackling fire, and it became a perfect room.
What d’ya think? Am I missing something? Textures, whites, fresh greens, and fireplaces are mine 🙂 Share your thoughts if you have something to add!
I love it all! I especially love those vases covered in vases. The calm neutral colors are nice.
Sorry I meant vases covered in sweaters. That’s what happens when you try to watch t.v. and type at the same time!
I love it all! You have an absolutely beautiful home!
I love those sweater winter vases , great idea
Rasha @mychampagnetaste
I love your after christmas decor!! I hate taking down my Christmas stuff, especially my tree and village, because it seems so dark.. and bare.. without it. I love the idea of whites/silvers and maybe some blues for Jan, but I tend to not put anything out and just put everything christmas/winter away and towards the end of Jan I will start putting up some reds and pinks for Valentines.
I need a bedding change though soon, usually I get a new comforter set every Christmas but I haven’t the last two christmases. I did find a nice down comforter at Goodwill last year though and i’ve been using that one since then. But I definatly do need something new!
We think alike Sista!! I love your vases too. I haven’t changed much since Christmas either other than put the Christmas decor away – which is a JOB!! My shelf in the living room still has the boxwood wreath hanging on a picture frame. The only thing I changed about the shelf was to take the gold glittered pomegranets out of the wreath and pull the loose boxwood out of the vases I had tucked it in. Looks wintery now instead of Christmasy. I’m always a little at a loss when the Christmas decor goes. It’s kind of like “where is all my decor?” I do have some dried hydrangea blooms that I used in my fall decor when they were green, in my Christmas decor as they mellowed to pinks and brown. And now I’ve pulled out the greenery I had mixed with them and have them displayed in white and neutral pitchers, urns and pots. Nothing fancy – it will soon be time to get a few Easter things out!
Ok, can I pick my jaw up…I want those drapes…dreamy.
The only thing I’ve done to infuse a bit of winter is to leave some of the DIY snowglobes we made this year and a mason jar w/epsom salt and a candle inside. It’s all just white and wintery looking. I also have a big snowglobe with a picture insert from Restoration that I actually leave out year round. It’s just fun.
Oh and outside I still have sleds on the front porch and I usually leave the greens in my window boxes.
Any snow over there yet? None in Southeast MI. Kids are not happy:).
Love that throw! Your mantel looks awesome! I love the sweater covered vases! Thanks for sharing.
You aren’t missing ANYTHING! It’s beautiful! Your mantel makes me drool on my computer screen! 🙂
Great inspiration! Thank you so much for posting the last picture. It is exactly what I’ve been looking for to show my husband the furniture arrangement I wanted for a room re-do. So much easier to have a picture to go by!!
I have so enjoyed your blog! I love your winter decor idea’s. The tree next to your chair is beautiful. What is it made of ? Is there a tutorial on making it? Thank for sharing your talents
Hi Chris,
Love that picture of you and your “baby” on the couch! I’m glad to see some winter decorating. I’m not ready to skip to spring yet, winter is such a nice simple season ~ even though lots of people have no snow.
Beautiful mantle and I love that tall woodsy tree also.
I have some silver ornament balls I will put out and then I have some snowmen
that will stay out with the Valentine’s stuff.
Melinda
Ah! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sweater wrapped candles! What a phenomenal idea! Also, the mantle looks so fresh and classic! I love it! You are so creative and such an inspiration to a new blogger like myself! Thanks for the inspiration!
Love those sweater-covered vases. SO CREATIVE!!!
Hiya Chris! I’m in love with your new duvet cover – but I’m assuming that Maximus doesn’t sleep on your bed? I inherited a Border Collie when I married my husband, and she has always been allowed on the bed – I love my furry daughter, but I miss being able to have my white comforter. Do you let Max on your bed? Any other tricks to keeping white/ivory bedding crisp and clean?
Oh, and I’m totally ransacking my local GWs for sweaters as candle holder covers! Brilliant! 🙂
Hi Ginger. That was the ONE thing I was adamant about. He is NOT allowed to sleep on our bed. 1. He’s just too big. It’s not like he can sleep at the foot of our bed or anything–it’s like having another human in it! 🙂 2. Hair and drool. It stresses me out just thinking about it. We had to really work at it when he was a puppy because he would try to sneak up there. Now, however, he’s too lazy to go upstairs…and he knows I’ll throttle him if he does. 🙂 Otherwise, I don’t know what to tell you about keeping the bedding clean. No more doggie sleepovers? Good luck!
I did the same thing over here! I love the crisp white, reminds me of snow (the snow you guys hog all of, btw!). I kept my mantel simple with silver candlesticks, and used the dried magnolia of my christmas mantel for a pop of green. I love it…and will probably keep it way past winter!
Oh, I love the sweater vase idea! So cute.
The winter decor looks great! I am in the process of switching out Christmas for just “winter” but it is slow going.
I love your style! Feel free to take a look at my blog 🙂
I’m in love with your room. So clean and crisp. I found a faux fur throw at Target today to help warm up my space. I’m totally diggin’ the sweater candle covers! So creative! And that tree… LOVE it!! Where did you find it? I like the height it adds to the space. 🙂
Thanks so much, Alicia! I actually found the tree on clearance at TJMaxx a couple of years ago. I wish they still had ’em. I’d have ’em all over the house. 🙂