So I have a few trees throughout my home, varying in different sizes. The main tree that changes theme year over year and two other trees that are decorated in specific collections, those two don’t change much. One is my daughter’s Snoopy Christmas tree that’s 26 years in the making and the other is my Santa Christmas tree that I started about 5 years ago. Every year I add new ornaments so the collections continue to grow. I initially started each collection as a small table top tree and grew each one to a full 7 foot pencil tree!
Previously the Santa tree was a white tree. I was never happy with the structure of the tree, it was thin wire so the branches were weak and it didn’t look very plush. This year I went to Hobby Lobby when they brought out their Christmas merchandise and I found a flocked pencil tree that was full and just the height and shape I was looking for. The Santa tree was initially set up in the dining room and after some changes there, I moved it to our converted garage – we affectionately call the Fun Room.
I wove a red ribbon with a stitch detail throughout and added a lot of red, green and white floral picks for pops of color. I have ornaments of all types of finishes – porcelain, plastic, wood, glass and they all work. I also have a few Santa ornaments from my travels including a Georgetown University, my daughter’s alma mater, Santa ornament dressed in a blue and gray suit! They bring me great joy when I see them on the tree and they remind me of memories made.
I love the musical ornaments like this blue ice cream truck and those Hallmark collection series. A white faux fur piece of material from JoAnn Fabrics was the perfect tree skirt for this thin tree.
Let me give you a little tour around the Fun room. So as you pan around from the tree counterclockwise, you’ll see a large leather recliner sofa against the wall. In front of the sofa is an antique cedar chest I bought years ago at an outdoor market in Ocala, Florida. The space isn’t large, so I have two small tables on each side the sofa. Continuing counterclockwise, is this antique chair, a small gray cabinet I painted with chalk and applied a few transfer decals. Here’s a link if you wish to see the DIY cabinet makeover. This room is very casual and has a farm house easy going vibe.
I love this Lodge/Hunter Santa I picked up a few years ago at Pier 1 Imports and the Country Santa I purchased 25 years ago at a Craft Show. They bring a unique cheer and warmth to the room. I love they are not in the traditional red suit. The mini accent storage cabinet is from HomeGoods, the metal/wood wall accent is from Kirkland and I attached a green wreath from Pier 1 Imports.
The sofa faces this white cabinet we had built as auxiliary storage for the kitchen. It’s bursting at the seams with my kitchen dishes and collectible items. Sometimes I think I’m a hoarder, but I look around and realized I’m a collector of fine items living in a small home with limited storage. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
So this summer I bought a 2″ poplar wood plank at a local lumber yard, I stained it in Honey, added brackets from Home Depot and created this open shelving around the television. I love it’s rustic look and added decorating space. Not bad for a converted a garage.
Staying with the Santa theme, I added my hot cocoa station, Santa cookie jars, Santa cake pedestal plates, wooden trees to add to the farm house look and a few gnomes for good measure along with my collection of Santa mugs from Sur la Table. I filled the top shelf with various mercury glass trees, flocked trees, a Santa serving tray and HO HO HO wooden sign.
I displayed two Santa cookie jars (I have more) with these wooden Christmas tress from HomeGoods. I love the natural elements and the warmth this room has.
That concludes the tour. I hope you enjoyed it and find it as a source for inspiration in your own home. Merry Christmas!
