Oh, I just had to! I needed to inject some serious holiday cheer into at least one corner of our house. Don’t get me wrong—my usual neutral, minimal Christmas styling this year still feels festive, but I craved bold reds and greens with a touch of whimsy. So here’s what I came up with…
Yep, I spent an afternoon that should have been packed with a million other tasks completely focused on hanging ornaments from the ceiling. Sometimes that’s how my anxiety works—I can’t tackle my massive to-do list, so I hyperfocus on something that lets me escape for a while. Some people nap when stressed, others hit the gym, and folks like me need to get creative to calm our nerves. So what did I do? I wanted our entryway to give guests a festive welcome this holiday season. I pulled out some vintage-inspired painted wooden ornaments I’d found at Home Goods a few years ago and hung them from the ceiling using string and a staple gun. Honestly, I didn’t measure a thing—just eyeballed where I wanted each ornament to dangle. I used a metal “Merry Christmas” sign I’d given a makeover (it came from a local flower nursery) as my guide. The sign was originally silver, but I wanted it bolder and more festive, so I painted it green and topped it with a dark wax over the green chalk paint. For this look, all you need are ornaments, string, a staple gun, and a sign. You can choose any color ornaments and any sign—wooden, metal, any size. If you recreate this, tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
Our 10-foot antique bench sits beneath all these festive ornaments, but of course I had to make it festive too. I added red pillows I’d picked up at HomeGoods a few years ago, plus a vintage Christmas pillow from my friend at Fabric Scout Studio. And naturally, I layered in plenty of texture, like that wool blanket from Modern Wool.
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Such a cheerful area! And it really helped me through a little bout of stress and anxiety this past week to spend an afternoon doing something I love. In a season that often gets too busy and stirs up a lot of emotions—like our loss and infertility—it’s nice to pause and not take life so seriously. I hope you all take a moment this season to do what you love, whatever calms you. And I hope you can make your holiday decor cozy and inviting for your family, whether that’s a single tree with family heirloom ornaments or hanging ornaments from the ceiling… May your decorations remind you of the blessings of family and the true reason for the season. Love you all, and thank you for stopping by the blog today and every day to see what we’re up to! xx
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