Are you looking for some decorating inspiration for the holiday season? Today I’m sharing some rustic natural and neutral style décor ideas for Christmas.
Are you a “before or after Thanksgiving” Christmas decorator?
I’ve JUST started decorating for Christmas. In fact, if you came over for a visit today you would see a clean and decorated living room space.
But you’d also see the rest of the house completely torn apart as I continue to decorate the rest of the house.
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The Celebrate Christmas Home Tour
Today I’m joining Leen at Sand Dollar Lane for her Celebrating Christmas blog hop, which is a week of holiday décor ideas and inspiration from 29 bloggers. Be sure to see all the home tours at the end of my post.
If you just came over from Marianne at Songbird, I’m so happy you took the time to stop by. Didn’t you love her beautiful Christmas decorating ideas and how simple they were to create?
Welcome to My Home
If this is your first time on my blog, welcome.
Shiplap and Shells is a home and garden blog from the Pacific Northwest. I have a passion for gardening, vintage décor, and boating on the Puget Sound.
I hope you take some time to get to know me and see what Shiplap and Shells is all about.
Christmas Living Room Décor
I’m starting the holiday season off with a neutral living room home tour and I’m so excited to show you what I’ve been up to.
You can see last year’s Christmas tours HERE and HERE.
Be sure to come back and visit for 2 more Christmas home tours after Thanksgiving. I’ll be sharing my kitchen, office studio, and 2 bedrooms.
Christmas Color Palette and Theme
Each year I try to change up my Christmas decorating theme and color scheme from the previous holiday season.
When it comes to traditional red Christmas decorations, I tend to leave them out of my cottage-style living room and usually gravitate more toward blue, green, silver, and gold.
This year, I’ve decided to create more of a rustic natural and neutral holiday décor vibe. A neutral color palette felt more calming and gentle on the eye which is something I really need my home to be during the holidays.
Here are some neutral Christmas décor ideas and inspiration for you.
The Christmas Tree
This is the first time I’ve put up a flocked Christmas tree and I’m really loving the change.
If this is your first time here, I have a 1600-square-foot beach cottage and literally don’t have room for a big tree.
A 6-7 foot pencil Christmas tree is perfect for this space.
I had a completely different idea for my tree this year but you know how things go. As I started decorating the tree, I realized it looked more formal than I had thought it would.
We live in a 1920 cottage so I tend to go with a more casual vibe so I decided to tone the tree down a bit.
The Tree Decorations
I guess you could call this a winter wonderland theme.
New Christmas tree ornaments, like these white birds, gave my flocked tree the special detailing I was looking for.
Here are some other decorations I added to my Christmas tree.
- Dried orange slices
- Christmas bells
- Ornaments in shades of blue
- Cream flower heads
- White tissue paper pinecone-inspired ornaments
Faux blueberries and leaves were placed on top of the Christmas tree and used as a topper.
This tree collar was bought at Target 2 years ago. I used a cream knit throw to hide the tree stand inside the tree collar.
If you are putting up a faux or artificial Christmas tree, using fresh cedar branches or a Tree Farm candle will give you that much-needed tree scent gives you that Christmas tree smell.
Using Greenery and Other Natural Elements
When choosing to use neutral colors for the holiday, greenery is such a great way to add a pop of color to any space.
Mini Trees
I brought in different sizes of tabletop trees on the buffet. A white ceramic container and vintage silver cups and trays were used to display my faux trees.
Garlands
My new 60″ faux Afloral Real Touch Norfolk Pine Garland look so realistic and look great on the buffet with Christmas lights. Sadly, the garlands are sold out at both the Afloral site and Amazon.
I haven’t had a chance to go out and forage fresh branches but will add some to the faux mix.
Green Wreaths
Simple green wreaths are great for a pop of color in a neutral space. I bought a 24″ faux Real Touch Norfolk Pine Wreath this season and love it so much that I decided to leave it bare.
Natural Elements From the Outdoors
Natural elements such as fresh greenery and pine cones are my favorite things to use at Christmas time.
I’ve tucked in both fresh and faux greenery to my stockings, snowshoes, vintage roller skates, and a dough bowl full of ornaments.
Textures are a Must for a Rustic Natural and Neutral Style
When it comes to the best neutral Christmas décor I’m all about textures…all kinds of textures.
Whether it’s a chunky knit stocking or a vintage wicker picnic basket, it’s so important to add different textures to your space.
My Oversized Basket
I’m head over heels in love with some new pieces I picked up at the beginning of the month. I’ll be honest, once I got this oversized basket home, I wasn’t sure I had made a very good decision but once I got it hung on my vintage windows and added a Christmas tree, I was sold!
Textured Pillows and Throws
Using these textured throw pillows and chunky knit throw gives our home cozy and warm vibes throughout the Christmas season.
Wooden Dough Bowl and Textured Ornaments
Gathering ornaments in this vintage wooden dough bowl on my living room coffee table creates a gorgeous focal point.
A few of the white textured ornaments feel like they are made from tissue paper. They are the perfect neutral décor for the holidays.
Christmas Bells and Driftwood
I’ve never decorated with bells before but was really excited when I found these. This piece of driftwood was just lying in the backyard so I brought it in to hang the bells on the cabinet for the holidays.
My Favorite Christmas Reindeer
Some of you have offered to buy this cute little reindeer head that I’ve hung year after year. Perfect decorative accents like a wrapped scarf around his head and greenery with bells give him that special holiday vibe, don’t you think?
Vintage Finds are Always a Christmas Favorite
The yellow-striped vintage sled and ice skates in the corner behind my Christmas tree are a winning combination. I have a couple of other sleds that I’m putting out near my greenhouse this year.
A great antique mall on a girl’s trip to Oregon last week had so many vintage finds. I couldn’t believe all of the vintage ornaments I ended up taking home!
They aren’t on my tree yet, but they will definitely be mixed in soon.
The vintage snowshoes are a find from an antique mall we visited on a boat trip to Olympia this month.
Even though I haven’t added décor in this neutral living room like bottle brush trees and wooden trees, you’ll probably see them in other spaces throughout the house.
These trees along with basic faux pine trees can be kept up through the winter season as well.
Our Celebrate Christmas Home Tour continues with Jayne at Chalking Up Success. I’m always inspired by my friend and I know you are going to love her Christmas kitchen decorating ideas. Be sure to check out the rest of the tours below.
I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a tour of my rustic natural and neutral décor-style home for Christmas. I can’t wait to show you the rest of my home after Thanksgiving.
Until next time,
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Celebrate Christmas Home Tours
Sand Dollar Lane // 2 Bees in a Pod // At Home with Kristy // Exquisitely Unremarkable
Our Crafty Mom // Hearth and Vine
Zucchini Sisters // Postcards from the Ridge // Southern Crush at Home // Amy Sadler Designs
Pasha is Home // Simple Nature Decor
Worthing Court // The Tattered Pew // Cottage in the Mitten // DIY Beautify
Thistle Key Lane // At Lane and High // Feet Under My Table
White Arrows Home // Aratari at Home // White Lilac Farmhouse
Cottage on Bunker Hill // Bricks ‘n Blooms
My Family Thyme // Southern Home and Hospitality // Songbird // Shiplap and Shells
Chalking Up Success // Pure Happy Home
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SHOP MY HOME
I love all the greenery you have used, from the wreaths, garlands and mini-trees. It’s all so beautiful and relaxing at the same time.
What a beautiful cottage feel home. The Christmas decor is right up my alley. I love everything coastal. Happy Thanksgiving.
everything looks beautiful! Did you make the woven look balls in the dough bowl or where did you buy them.
Kim, I just adore you natural Christmas wonderland. It’s beautiful and your pup is adorable!
What a great idea to use natural pieces in your decorating! You’re so talented my friend! I’m loving it all! Thank you for sharing!
Kim, I love your neutral decor! Everything in your home looks so beautiful! So many pretty things it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I do love the decor on your tree! Always a pleasure hopping with you, friend! Merry Christmas!!
Kim, I just adore everything you do. That Christmas Reindeer with the scarf it just the cutest! I love all of the beautiful vignettes you have created in your holiday decorations of your home.
Where do I start? No one does cozy as well as you Kim, and once again I’m in awe of your beautiful displays of vintage treasures. Love the greenery, interesting textures and dazzling Christmas tree! Pinning lots of inspiration!
Kim I adore your Christmas decor! So many beautiful touches! I love the skinny tree in the basket the most:) Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friend!!!
Kim it looks amazing!!! Your home gets better and better every season!!! I love all the pretty rustic neutral details and textures. Pineed!!!
Kim, your Christmas decor is beautiful. I love the color combinations on your new flocked tree and that basket with the tree is fabulous. You are certainly bringing a calm to your home this year. Thank you for sharing all of your inspiration.
How gorgeous! I am in love with the natural and greenery and then the gold touches mixed up. My favorites are your tree, the scarf wrapped deer and those skates on the sled. Beautiful job! Loved sharing your inspiration on the home tour this week.
I have so many favorite things in this room I don’t know where to start, Kim! First the color scheme paired with rustic and elegant is so cozy and beautiful. I love that you put the pencil tree into that big basket and your arrangement on the buffet. And if I lived close by, I might be tempted to take home that hanging reindeer or that sweet pooch!
You are so sweet Kate. Thank you for the kind words. I’ll give you the reindeer but the pup will need to stay. Happy Holidays!
LOL Kim, your house sounds like mine! We have to go around the opposite way to get through the entry. It’s terrible and has been like this for a week! It’s a bit overwhelming actually. Love your living room and the casual elegance it has. All the greenery and fun little pieces tucked here and there are darling. Love the scarves too. It’s all so beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one whose house is a big mess! Thank you for the compliments, Cindy. Wishing you the happiest holidays.
I can’t get enough of your home Kim, just beautiful! I agree vintage Christmas decor is my favorite as well. So much nostalgia and charm. Nice meeting you and hopping with you!
Thank you for the kind words, Maria. I’m so happy we were able to be on this Christmas tour together.
Kim, your cottage looks so pretty all dressed up for Christmas! I was duped by your faux green trees and garland, I really thought they were real! I love how you mixed lots of vintage items into your vignettes. The snow shoes were a fantastic thrift store find! I can understand why everyone wants to buy your reindeer head – he looks so cute in his winter scarf! I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of your tours! Happy Christmas my friend!
Thank you for the many, many kind words, Jayne. I was also surprised by the faux tree and garland. It’s amazing how realistic faux greenery is these days. Wishing you the happiest holidays my friend.
Kim, your natural Christmas decorating makes your home look even more cozy!
I love all the little touches and textures. My favorite part is your tree, its gorgeous!
Thank you, Leen. I love the Christmas tree too. Thank you so much for including me this week. I’m loving all the inspiration.
Kim, though I love traditional red it was really nice to tour your home with neutrals and touches of greenery. Might be something to try. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you, Patti. I love red too and will be adding it to the kitchen and guest room soon. Happy holidays.