Seasonal Simplicity Christmas Living Room

I could write this post with a, “Hello and welcome to our home, where the greenery is perfectly hung and a speck of dust doesn’t exist and every little thing has a place in every organized cranny.” Because the truth is, if you only looked at the photos in this post, maybe you’d get that idea.

But then what kind of friend would I be if I let you believe that?

Today, I’m joining in with my sweet friends Krista of The Happy Housie and April from House by Hoff along with a group of super talented bloggers to share a little of our homes all gussied up for Christmas.

And I have to tell you, when I’m scrolling through all of these gorgeous Christmas tours in blogland and seeing all of the beautifully styled homes on Facebook and Instagram, I start to hear that little voice.

You know the one? The one that whispers, “You’re not doing enough.”

That little voice is more of a “bah humbug” than Scrooge himself. You’re a rock star, and don’t you forget it.

I hope, this Christmas, that you choose grace. Not to be confused with “graceful”… Clumsy McGee talking over here.

But when the dishes pile up and the laundry hampers overflow… choose grace.

When a cookie baking session with your kids turns into a frosting explosion… choose grace.

When someone cuts you off in a holiday traffic jam… choose grace.

When a cashier is short tempered in the checkout line… choose grace.

When someone lashes out on social media… choose grace.

When your spouse has a bad day at work… choose grace.

Christmas is joyful and exciting and magical in so many ways, but it’s always this time of year when I have to remind myself that how I love others matters so much more in my daily actions than it does in my gift shopping, than in my decorating, than in my fun-activity-planning.

Because that someone who cut you off in traffic could be thinking about a lost loved one who won’t be here on earth this year.

Because that short tempered cashier could be worried about how she will pay her bills and still make Christmas happy for her kids.

Because that person who gets angry on social media could be dealing with a battle in his own life that we know nothing about.

Because maybe the Grinch had it right after all. Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

I guess it seems contrary to share our living room all decorated for Christmas alongside such a punch-you-in-the-gut message, but it’s a piece of my heart, and something I have to tell myself every day this time of year.

But most of all, I hope you choose grace for yourself.

That Christmas tree filled with popsicle stick ornaments and pipe cleaner candy canes crafted by teeny hands is more beautiful than any magazine could ever create.

Those misshapen gingerbread men decorated with globs of gloopy icing are lovely just as they are.

The people in your house matter so much more than the twinkle lights hanging outside of it.

Because real beauty is everywhere as long as you look for it.

Sometimes it’s the Grinch of the day, the Scrooge of the week, the Abominable Snowman we encounter in the mall that can teach us more about the true meaning of Christmas than anyone else. Maybe it’s because we get a little Grinchy ourselves every now and then.

But eventually, even Scrooge figured it out. “I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”

Merry Christmas, sweet friends. I hope it’s amazing, filled with grace and forgiveness and love, and that it’s perfectly imperfect in so many ways.

If you want to know about any of the sources in our living room and breakfast nook, you can see them all here: (Some affiliate links are provided below for convenience.)

• Wall color: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
• Trim color: Benjamin Moore Simply White
• Door color: Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
• Sofa
• Armchairs
• Blue rug
• Jute rug
• Ceiling fan
• Lantern pendant light
• Coffee table (Craigslist find- similar linked)
• End table
• Wicker trunk (similar linked)
• French bistro chairs (TJ Maxx find- similar linked)
• Winter botanical prints
• Curtains
• Mercury glass lamp
• Silver round tray
• Wooden candle holders
• Mantel garland (similar)
• Boxwood wreaths (IKEA find- similar linked)
• Lanterns
• Cable knit stockings
• Ruffle tree skirt
• Faux fur pillow
• Silent Night pillow
• Cable knit pillow covers
• Silver metallic pillows
• Cream medallion pillows
• White pleat pillow
• Gray/cream sweater knit throw blanket
• Smoke blue throw blanket
• Mercury glass ornaments
• Gray wood bead garland (similar)
• Moravian star tree topper
• Wooden ornaments
• Wood origami snowflake ornaments
• Birch wrapping paper
• Gold stripe kraft paper
• Mercury glass candle
• Sugared birch green candle
• Cake stand
• White village house figurines