Creating a cozy yet chic look, Haeley Giambalvo of Design Improvised transformed her new living room into a festive Christmas-time gathering space that’s all wrapped-up in winter-wonderland style.
One of my most favorite moments of the year is when we pull our boxes of ornaments out of storage and set up the tree. You can bet there will be holiday music playing and hot cocoa in the works as the whole family decorates together. Never does a home feel cozier than during the holidays, and I absolutely love it!
Holiday Decor Refresh
While I love reusing sentimental décor each year, we were in need of a refresh after moving to our new home. Hayneedle had everything we needed to make our new living room extra special for the holidays. This two-story room meant that the 5-foot tree we’ve had for years wasn’t going to cut it. I opted for this gorgeous 7.5-ft. pre-lit flocked tree. I chose the slim option to provide for plenty of walking space around the tree.
If you’re like us and have been using the same artificial tree for years, now is the time to upgrade, especially if you aren’t using a pre-lit tree. Not having to hassle with stringing the lights lets you focus on the fun part (the ornaments), and the bulbs let off an even, gorgeous glow throughout. I would even recommend trying out a different style of tree from what you’ve had in the past – this is our first flocked tree and it is stunning.
Wonderful Winter Details
I especially love the winter-wonderland feel down here in Texas, where we’re unlikely to see any real snow. I carried the wintry theme over to our mantel with a matching flocked wreath and garland. Both are also pre-lit – all I had to do is plug the two together and hide the cords behind this beautiful mirror.
The mantel is a great spot to try out some new décor this season. A wreath above the mantel makes a perfect focal point. Then try anchoring the two ends of the mantel with a pair of tall arrangements. I started with two large, black urns and then added some inexpensive branches from the craft store and a few jeweled bird ornaments among the branches. I finished by layering some extra ornaments from the tree around the base. A few candlesticks complete the mantel by adding some varying heights and of course, don’t forget the stockings! I love the modern look of these chevron stockings.
Create Christmas Memories
My girls (Stella, 5, and Hazel, 3) are the perfect age to soak up the holidays. I made sure to involve them in decorating the tree. They sang to some Bing Crosby Christmas songs on this cool retro-inspired record player while putting all the ornaments on the tree by themselves. These Vickerman ornaments are not only beautiful, they are shatter-proof – perfect for little hands. The girls had so much fun decorating the tree, and I got to have fun artfully rearranging some of their ornaments later on!
If you’re looking to incorporate a new color scheme into your tree this year, I would suggest selecting some of your favorite ornaments and then finding a new complementary color to go with them. I have a set of multicolored balls I’ve loved for years, but wanted to give them a fresh look this season. To do so, I paired them with a variety of new solid blue ornaments in different sizes and shades, including a few glittery blue pinecones. I love how it turned out!
Family Holiday Fun
To encourage our family to spend time together away from the TV over the holidays, I incorporated a few fun pieces that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find in a formal living room. I created a game table space in the middle of the room – perfect for a game of checkers or Scrabble by the fire. These pretty, patterned chairs fit the bill for comfort and style, while the industrial cocktail table can adjust heights. The girls love having a globe to explore and some comfy floor pillows to lie on in front of the fire.
I turned a console table into an entertaining station with room for serving food and drinks, playing music, and storing records and games. Adding a set of wall shelves rather than hanging artwork lends a more casual feel to the space and makes it super easy to switch up décor by season.
I hope you have a wonderful time preparing your home for the holidays and try out a little something new this year – whether it’s a new set of ornaments, a wreath above the mantel, or a comfy space for your family to play games together.
– Haeley Giambalvo, lifestyle blogger, Design Improvised
Take a look at Haeley’s Cool-Toned Christmas Living Room Idea Board and see what touches of blue can do for your holiday décor and living room furniture.
