Merry Christmas, folks!
We’re decking the halls here at the perfectly imperfect house by the minute, and this year we certainly have a few criteria. Our decorations this year need to be:
- simple
- family friendly
- inexpensive
I had to join my buddy, Layla’s, party today–head on over to see all the amazing table decorating ideas!
We are K.I.S.S. this year–keepin it simple, sugah.
We’re hosting our annual Cookies for a Cause party for Grayson’s class, so we need the table to be free of place settings until then.
I love letting the table breathe a little. We usually go all out with place settings, place mats, etc., but this time, I craved some fresh greenery with just a little sparkle.
I bought 20 feet of cedar (hello, magical Christmas smell) for $12.95 from Home Depot, and draped it in “wreaths” on the table, and sprinkled it with ornaments. I wanted to keep the decor low and conversation-friendly, so I just added a few tapers to an epsom salt-filled footed bowl. The small faux paper whites came from Pottery Barn.
The rosemary swags were super simple to create, and again, I love the fragrance and understated holiday vibe.
My sitter/friend/part-time assistant, Anna Lauson, (a.k.a. A-Lar, as Matt likes to call her). It just occurred to me that I’ve never formally introduced her. Well, meet Anna Lauson, everybody.
She frequently grabs a cup of milk for Ava, instructs a wild Grayson to “calm down, buddy,” and listens to my out-loud list making all the while.
She even helps make rosemary chair swags.
God bless her.
I’ll post a few more details on these soon–I made them for a special someone.
🙂
I’m still decorating the bookcases, and I’ll show them to you soon.
Until then, I’ll be cranking up the Christmas tunes & making myself way too many peppermint lattes.
😉
Love the swags on the chairs & your table looks great! Thanks for posting the tablescape button for lettered cottage….I was looking for that and couldn’t find it! 🙂 I’m linking up my little man’s cookies and cocoa tablescape 🙂
Thank you, girl!! I loved your little guy’s table!!
🙂
shaunna
Beautiful! I absolutely love the rosemary swags on the back of the chairs!
Love the rosemary swags and the pretty simplicity! love LOVE!
xo
Thanks Tiffini!
🙂
shaunna
I love the simplicity and natural feel to it all, rosemary is a favorite of mine and it looks so prety on the back of your chairs. I used some this year on my napkins for Thanksgiving, just a touch of green and the fragrance was wonderful, Kathysue
Thanks Kathysue!! Yes, rosemary is the best!
🙂
shaunna
So envy you being able to use live trims. Beautiful!
Hope you have a lovely week ~
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon
PS
Pop over for our GIVEAWAY
haha, I got them all from Home Depot! It was only $12.95 for 20 feet! I was blown away…usually don’t do live greenery either, but I am LOVING it!
🙂
shaunna
I love the garland – it makes me want to run to Home Depot ASAP for some right now! Beautiful.
DO it!
🙂
shaunna
Love it! Simple and completely beautiful. ♥
Thanks, Miranda!
🙂
shaunna
Thanks everybody!! 🙂 Hugs to you all!
shaunna
Hip hip hooray for greenery! LOVE how fresh it looks! 😀
Why, thank you, friend.
🙂
shaunna
Perfect- love the natural look and the rosemary- I can smell it now.
Happy Day
Thanks Teresa!!
🙂
shaunna
I love it, Shaunna.
Thanks Kim! Loved yours too!
🙂
shaunna
Everything looks so fresh and lovely!!! I do have a question though…how long does the greenery usually last? I want some!
I don’t know, Kristine…this is my first time! 🙂 I’m hoping til Christmas….I spritz it everyday with water to keep it from drying out. I’ll let ya know!
🙂
shaunna
its perfect! I love the simplicity of greenery and rosemary is one of my favorites to use during the holidays because it last so long.
And your dining room is GORGE!
Thank you, Amanda!! How sweet….yep, it lasts forever!
🙂
shaunna
Love your K.I.S.S..Christmas table setting. It’s beautiful!
Debbie
Hi Shaunna! Your table looks GREAT! I love the look and smell of fresh cedar:) I hope you and the family have a great holiday! Hi to Matt!
I have a rosemary bush on steroids out in the garden, so I am definitely emulating your idea for using some of it!
Love it! My favorite way to decorate. 🙂 Merry, Merry!
I love it!! Those rosemary swags are especially pretty. I don’t have a very decoratable table (it doubles as my crafting/sewing table), so I linked up my sideboard to Layla’s party :). It has my newly created toilet paper tube advent calendar on it!
I’m swooning, girlfriend! We are keeping it simple this year too and I just absolutely love how you’ve incorporated nature into your design. Fresh rosemary and evergreen must smell delightful. Happy Holidays!!! (hope you’ve gotten a chance to link up one of your Xmas posts to our Christmas Blog party).
Hugs,
Marie
Love that natural look on your table, Shaunna! It suits it! I also love those rosemary swags for the chairs. I always think the backs of chairs get forgotten about and that’s the first thing you see when you are coming to the table.
I just love the natural look. I walked into the store the other day and they had fresh wreaths and garland in the entry. Mmmmm! They smelled so good! I bet your house smells amazing! I love the swags on the chairs too. Very pretty.
Love it Shaunna! So simple and fresh! I just love the rosemary swags on the back of the chairs. It all really looks lovely.
This looks beautiful. I love the clean rustic style where all the materials show. You do it very well and make it look very easy, even though I know perfectly imperfect sometimes can be the hardest to achieve. 🙂
What you do is very inspiring. Thank you.
December wishes
Annika
The chair swags look great and I can only imagine how wonderful it smells in your dining room. 🙂
Love the idea of the rosemary swags on the chairs, the smell in the room would be fantastic. Quite the best way to decorate for Christmas/
SIMPLY gorgeous!
m ^..^
Beautiful, love this idea! Unfortunately my dining area can’t fit a large table.
Please elaborate on the swags. Please!!! :). How long does the rosemary last cut? Or is this something to do just before guests arrive. Love it
Love your dining room! I think my favorite part is the rosemary swags on the chairs. You did a great job. I like simple, too.
This is beautiful! I LOVE the Christmas touches on the chairs! 8 bloggers are hosting a Blog around the Christmas Tree Party and today’s feature is Christmas Scapes! I’d love to have you join up, the party is just beginning!
http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2011/12/christmas-blog-link-party-christmas.html
XO,
Aimee from ItsOverflowing.com
Who built your kitchen table? Do you have any plans on it??? Thanks so much.
Hi there Chuck!!
My husband Matt built the table.