Outfit Details:

Gal Meets Glam Collection Dress, Dot Tights, Scalloped Pumps

This is our first Christmas in our house since we completed our renovation, so many aspects of our holiday decor are brand new, and things we have never done before. Yet, at the same time, when I see the soft glow of the twinkle lights at night, spot ornaments from my childhood nestled into the branches of our tree, and see festive touches paired with the decor Thomas and I have collected together over the years, I feel as though this has always been home. There’s something about Christmas decorations that can give any house that magical feeling–they so beautifully blend traditions from years past with the excitement and joy of the present season.

That sentiment was one of our guidelines as we dreamed up how our home might look all dressed up for the holiday season. Since we’re hosting this year, we wanted to go all out. While we did want to include a few traditional elements, our biggest priority was ensuring that the decorations blended perfectly with our house’s aesthetic, as well as with our Lowcountry locale.

The doors of Charleston at Christmas time are famous in their own rite (Southern Living magazine included a whole feature on them in their December issue), so we happily joined in the local tradition of a dressed-to-the-nines doorstep. Inspired by one of my favorite doors I spotted downtown last year (seen in this post), we draped a magnolia wreath around our entryway. Not wanting to relocate our potted trees flanking the door, we instead added to the collection with mini trees in similar blue and white pots. Copper lanterns incorporated a gorgeous touch of metallic, and when both the lanterns and trees are lit up at night, the result is truly stunning.

We carried the magnolia theme throughout the house, lining our railings with similar garlands and hanging wreaths in a few places throughout the house. We added evergreen garlands and boxwood wreaths throughout the house–different types of greenery to add dimension and interest to the overall look. I could never decorate without flowers, so we opted to add white and green florals in some of my favorite blue and white pottery–a large one for our kitchen island and entryway, and a few smaller arrangements throughout our living areas. A small finishing touch that is easy to recreate is the evergreen tucked into our chandelier. It adds such a cozy feel, but since our chandelier is very contemporary, it looks fresh and modern at the same time.

Christmas decor wouldn’t be complete without a tree, and we opted for two! In our family room, the tree extends our blue and white motif with delicate ginger jar ornaments, bulbs in varying shades of blue and white, and mini wooden stars. In our formal living room, the tree has a more playful, nostalgic feel–it incorporates ornaments we’ve collected together, including a few from my childhood, as well as small themes for each of us. My love for bunnies is well-documented, but what you may not know is that Thomas has a soft spot for owls–you’ll find both throughout this tree if you look closely. Those personal touches make me smile year after year.

We can’t wait to relax and spend time with visiting family. There is truly nothing more special than being home for the holidays.