Christmas decorating Archives - At The Picket Fence

Holiday Housewalk Christmas Tour 2018

November 29, 2018

“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!” ~ Charles Dickens

Welcome, dear friends, welcome! I’m so thrilled to be opening my home for a Christmas tour to you today as part of the annual Jennifer Rizzo Holiday Housewalk! You will want to start at the very beginning to soak up all of the beautiful inspiration so head over to her place and sit back and take it all in.

If you are arriving here from my friend Traci’s beautiful home, I’m so glad that you decided to continue on with the tour and I hope you feel very welcomed.

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Take Your Mantel From Fall to Christmas

December 13, 2017

I know, I know, it’s kind of late in the game to be sharing with you how I transitioned my mantel from Fall to Christmas, but maybe you still haven’t decorated your mantel for Christmas (I KNOW there are a few of you out there!) or maybe you want to tuck the ideas away for next year, or maybe you’re just going to enjoy the reassurance that you aren’t the only one who is trying to do things as simply and cost effectively as possible in your home.

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Winter Decorating in the Dining Room

December 6, 2017

A few years ago, as I began to decorate for Christmas, I had a glorious ah-hah moment. One might even call it an epiphany. Get it…epiphany…Christmas….I can never resist the opportunity for a good pun!

ANYWAY, as I began to clear off surfaces and psyche myself up to head into the attic for the bins of decorations, I realized that I was feeling this sense of dread. It wasn’t that I didn’t look forward to having the Christmas decor around the house, it was knowing that I would be doing all of that work only to take it down so soon afterwards.

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How to Make a Hot Cocoa Bar in 10 Steps

November 17, 2017

I’ve noticed a trend happening over the past few years. When it comes to decorating for Christmas, I always start with the hot cocoa bar.

Maybe it’s because my kids ask me umpteen times when it will make it’s appearance. Maybe it’s because I feel like I can set it up before Thanksgiving without people getting all judge-y and thinking that if I have even a hint of Christmas before turkey day I’m breaking some kind of sacred rule.

Because hot cocoa is really just winter-y right?!

Or, maybe it’s because dragging out the trees and the garlands and the lights always feels so daunting so starting with this one little area gently eases me into the season.

It’s simple and sweet…pun intended.

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Simple Christmas Ideas and Inspiration

November 4, 2017

I ease myself into Christmas.

I love it so, SO much but I can’t just jump right into blasting Jingle Bells and draping garland on every surface. I’ll admit that I do start listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving but I start out with just soft instrumental versions before heading into the more hard-core stuff. Easing into it.

I also ease into the decorating. By virtue of being a blogger, it all has to be done on the earlier side but I just can’t bring myself to head into the attic the day after Halloween to drag out the bins of holiday decor while repeatedly banging my head on the rafters (happens every.single.time!).

Instead, I like to take my time looking at magazines and Pinterest and glancing around the rooms of my house, imagining how I will tackle this corner or that tabletop. Easing.

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Christmas down South….

December 22, 2016

Welcome! I’m so excited to finally give you a peek at our new home! It seems these days, I’m a day late and a dollar short but here I am with a glimpse into our house dressed up for Christmas day. It might be sunny and almost 70 degrees on December 22nd, but that’s okay because, “This is how we we roll in the South!”

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Winter Buffet Table in the Dining Room

December 7, 2016

*I have some very simple winter buffet table decorating ideas for you today*

For the last couple of years, I’ve given myself the best gift. It’s not something that would mean a whole lot to anyone else, but it definitely means a lot to me. And it’s a gift that keeps on giving, long into the new year.

What is it, you ask? Well, I had an epiphany last year when it came time to decorate my house for Christmas. As I began to pull out the bins of decor I felt almost myself having an almost visceral reaction. I just couldn’t bring myself to make the house soooooo very Christmas-y.

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My Christmas Home Tour

November 29, 2016

Welcome, welcome friends! I’m so excited to be apart of the Jennifer Rizzo Design Company Holiday Housewalk again this year and bring you some Christmas home decorating ideas and inspiration!

You won’t want to miss out on all of the beautiful homes so be sure to head over to Jen’s to begin at the beginning.

If you are coming here after paying a visit to Jen at City Farmhouse I know you’ve already seen some truly beautiful eye candy and I’m so glad that you continued the housewalk and have found your way here.

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A Simple Hot Cocoa Station

December 11, 2015

When my kids were really little, the days spent at home with them were mostly awesome. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. But they were also exhausting. Really, really exhausting.

Being home alone with young children day in and day out can be both very fulfilling and very isolating.

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Paper Angels and Pretty Trees

December 8, 2015

I don’t know about you, but it seems that beautifully decorated homes all dressed up for Christmas have taken over my social media accounts these days. In fact, this week I’m joining a group of bloggers who are going to be sharing some of their favorite holiday rooms. Hosted by The Everyday Home and Town and Country Living, each day we’ll be bringing you loads of Christmas eye-candy.

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