Unintentionally, camels became the theme of my holiday home tour this year.
I didn’t mean for it to happen. It just did. I looked around my living and dining room after all the decorations were up and realized I had multiple camels varying in heights of nine inches to two feet looking back at me.
We’re just going with it, ya’ll. Embrace the camel this season. When Christmas camels become a trend, just remember you saw it here first.
Before you see the camels in all their holiday glory, let me first welcome any new folks here hopping over from Haneen’s Haven as part of the It’s a Colorful Life Christmas Home Tour. If you hadn’t already determined from my camel spill, I’m not all there. We just go with that too around here. Embrace it.
Let’s get on with the tour, shall we?
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A Colorful Christmas Living Room
Green Chairs / Multi-Colored Pillows / Mustard Pillows / Lion Art
I never really mean to change out and switch up my holiday decor, but it never fails that I end up doing exactly that. And spend waaaay too long debating whether or not Santa should go on the table or Mrs. Claus. Or both. But then what would go where the other was supposed to go?
Yea, it doesn’t make sense to me either. Again, just go with it.
This little table and quite a few of the things on it are new additions. I scored the table at a yard sale as a package deal with a matching bamboo bar cart for $10. I know, crazy, right? And there’s camel #1 is taking up residence on the bottom shelf here. I’m lucky to have a group of friends who are always on the lookout for each other when it comes to holiday and general home decor. One of those friends, Ashley, found me that pretty camel at a thrift store. I had a great urge to put a holiday attired Barbie on top of him. I abstained. I won’t say it won’t happen before the holidays are over though.
And here’s where Mrs. Claus ended up! She was a yard sale find and the sleigh she’s in was a thrift store find. Marilyn made the sleigh in 1985 and I know this because she signed it on the bottom along with the date. Marilyn, wherever you are, I love your sleigh and will take good care of it. That’s why Mrs. Claus is in it and not Santa. Sometimes you just can’t trust a man.
See that little drum? It was not that pretty when I found it at the Goodwill. In fact, it was downright hideous. The fabric on it was atrocious. But I deconstructed it, re-wrapped it in pretty wrapping paper and for $0.99 ended up having a damn pretty drum. You can too – don’t pass up the hideous ones at thrift stores. Unless I get to them first, then there won’t be any for you. I’m feeling a drum themed Christmas coming on for next year.
If you are new around here, I’m sorry-not-sorry if you were expecting a beautifully themed color-coordinated Christmas tree. We don’t do that. Our tree sports special ornaments, stuffed animals and even a shoe or two.
Coffee Table (similar) / Sofa (similar) / Floor Lamp / Navy Pillows with Colorful Trim / Santa Pillow / Leopard Print Pillow
This little vignette is a favorite of mine this year. The Staffordshire dog was a Goodwill find from the summer and obviously, it’s not a Christmas specific decoration, but I dare you to find a Staffordshire dog that’s prettier than when surrounded by holiday decor. Also, I’m sure it’s not one of the real Staffordshire dogs, but I’ve never shook at my head at a faux fur before and I’m not going to start shaking it now at fake Staffordshire dogs.
Those jeweled coasters are a new favorite of mine as well. I bought a set as a gift this year and loved them so much that I bought myself a set too. They are absolutely the most gorgeous coasters I’ve ever seen. The dog agrees.
Sidenote: If you tie pretty satin ribbon on anything non-holiday-esque, it automatically becomes authentic holiday decor.
There’s the dog arrangement again. Because everyone should see it twice. From different angles. Did I mention I’m not even particularly fond of dogs? #gofigure
The teal poinsettias are at Michael’s this year. I’m usually not a fan of faux flowers, they tend to be the only faux thing I shake my head at, but these oversized beauties stole my heart the minute I saw them. We’re faux-ever friends. I tied an ornament cluster (find out how to make those here) around the vase for an extra pop of color. And because there had to be something else substantial there to even out that oversized poinsettia.
I also adorned just about every piece of oversized art in my house with hanging ornament clusters. Because you can never have enough colorful ornament clusters around your house for the holidays. Tell me I’m wrong.
Lion Art / Red Drapes / Green Chairs / Multi-Colored Pillows / Mustard Pillows
Introducing camel #2. I spotted him on Facebook one day when someone from my hometown posted pictures of their yard sale and he was in it. My dear Judy, our group mom and also direct line to Jesus, went to pick it up for me. We don’t just call her a saint because she keeps us on her prayer list, it’s also because she’ll also do anything to help us even if it means picking up a stray camel from a yard sale.
The teal poinsettias struck again in this vase flanked by a vintage Santa and bottlebrush trees. I also bought some extra poinsettias to stash away for future Christmases. You never know when you might need an oversized faux teal poinsettia. It’s always best to be on the safe side.
I always cheat and use wrapped gifts as decor around the house too. I mean, what’s the use in going to all that trouble wrapping gifts and making them pretty to just stick them under the tree barely seen all season? Again, tell me I’m wrong.
This space is really dark and so I tried to lighten it up with the white garland, lots of colorful ornaments and candles. Of course, the candles also illuminate the Studio54 jeans art print. And that ain’t a bad thing. Everyone needs to see how great quality those jeans were. 😉
There’s more drums – see I’m already priming for next year’s holiday theme.
A Colorful Christmas Dining Room
Glass Table (similar) / Rug / Red Drapes / Abstract Art Print
The dining room is pretty low key, compared to the living room. We use our dining room table for meals every night I cook, so I don’t like to clutter it up too much with holiday decor that I just have to move every night. I’m lazy. I admit it.
I added a tree in here this year. I mean, a friend was selling a silver tinsel tree and I had this big box of vintage ornaments I’d bought at a yard sale with no tree for them to go on. I needed the tree. I really didn’t have much of a choice, right?
Also, photographing a silver tinsel Christmas tree that has multi-colored lights on it that’s right beside red velvet curtains is like the hardest thing ever. You’re guaranteed to get a redish overcast that may make you question whether or not there are a few demons around trying to steal our holiday joy and take over the souls of the nutcrackers to wreak havoc upon your home.
I really hope that doesn’t happen.
Bar Cart / Record Player / Woman Art Print
And for the finale, the almighty bar cart.
And of course, camels.
I found these glorious souls a couple of years ago. They don’t get stored away with regular Christmas decor; they have their own special cabinet they go in to make sure they are safe and protected throughout the year. We treat our camels right around here.
The lamp tassel is something that stays on all year long, but just so happens to work well with holiday decor. Again, it’s really just another way for me to be lazy. See how to make the lamp tassels here.
And of course, I added on an ornament cluster to the edge of the cart for good measure and all.
The little golden nutcracker is actually a corkscrew – another thrift store find.
You can find the tutorial for those mini Christmas ornament drink stirrers right here. it will take you all of 10 minutes to make them and your holiday guests will think you’re totally the hostess with the mostess and not the hot mess that you really are. Or at least, that’s the case with me.
To summarize this post, hand-to-God, I was legit sober during the writing of this post. This is the normal me. And that folks, is terrifying.
Up next is Mum Little Loves – I’m sure she’s sane, y’all.
Catch any homes you missed with the full It’s a Colorful Life tour lineup below!
Tuesday, December 4
Wednesday, December 5
Thursday, December 6
