Happy day beautiful friends! I hope you are fully engulfed with Christmas by now or at least saturated with fun ideas. Seeing so many wonderful designs this week in the Bloggers’ Best Home Tours hosted by Kelly at The Tattered Pew has me anxiously eager to finish the entire house. I literally giggle as I type that because my hubs will tell you, nothing I do is ever finished. I love decorating so much that I’m always tinkering, fluffing and fiddling around here. My biggest issue during the holidays is the color red. My family loves it, but me, not so much. And since I want everyone to be happy, here’s how to incorporate Christmas red when you really don’t love it.
How To Incorporate Christmas Red When You Really Don’t Love It
If you’ve hopped over from Follow The Yellow Brick Home, howdy! I’m glad you’re here. Wasn’t her tour stunning?! I’ve long loved Amber’s traditional vintage style. She’s one to follow for sure.
Our Simple Christmas Dining Room With Lots of Greenery and Coziness
The first room I decorate is our dining room. Probably because it’s the catch-all table for every package and it gives me the opportunity to tell everyone to get their crap gather their things and put it in their rooms. It has lots of greenery with small touches of red as well. If you’d like to see the full tour, click here.
Family Room
Our family room is the second room to decorate. We spend a lot of time in here and I can see it from the kitchen so I really need to watch how much red I incorporate.
Here are my tips for using red when holiday decorating.
1. Use smallish red accessories
2. Spread out the red accents
Instead of filling the mantel with red berries or ribbon, I opted for none and only used tiny red wreaths from Hobby Lobby to accentuate the stockings. Not too much but enough for the family to enjoy it.
I use the least amount of red to make me happy too so not every vignette will have it. Hence the spread it around tip.
I usually have a gray slip cover on this velvet chair except during fall and winter. It’s one of the oldies but goodies (meaning comfy) so in order to keep things different and use the reset of the year, slip covers are the way to go.
My favorite style of tree from King of Christmas!
Usually, I have my trees either full or naked. This year with my less is more motto, I added a few red ornaments to mix with a few neutral ones. Did you notice the hanging white candles? I went to several stores and online looking for hand dipped 6 inch beeswax candles. The ones made with only a single string. I couldn’t believe the price. It would have been fine if I only needed 4 or 5 but I needed 12 sets. Wanting to watch my pennies, I bought singles from Hobby Lobby at 50% off and tied them together. I know, it doesn’t look quite the same but it’s good enough for me. Yeah, that’s my second motto in life. Good Enough. LOL!
Improvise and create your own hanging candles!
I also switched out our neutral everyday curtains to an olive green velvet. I love them even though they came shorter than the described length. And since it’s the season where people are being nicer than usual and because I didn’t want the Mister to throw a conniption seeing me drill more holes in the wall to move the rod, I’m using them anyway. When winter ends, I’ll take them down and maybe sew something on the bottom so they barely skim the floor. Maybe.
On the other side of the room there are a few more smallish red accents. It’s hard to tell but the beaded wreath on the top shelf of the hutch is red too.
Paper picture purchased at Frisco Mercantile in Frisco, TX
This little paper picture was my inspiration for decorating our entire house this year. When I showed the family, one of them said – I wish it had some red in it (insert rolling eyes). That’s when my entire plan went kaput, I became very strategical, and now we have red accents everywhere.
Don’t get me wrong. Red is a nice color, especially at Christmas. But I wasn’t alive back when the powers that be decided red and green were the standard colors for Christmas. Like black and gold for New Years or orange and black for Halloween. Yuck on all 3 holiday decisions! There are so many prettier combinations out there.
A collection of houses handmade by me!
When I put the little white houses I made in pottery up on the hutch, I looked at the sixth one on the right and let out a loud chuckle. I must have been having a bad hand-building class that day. It looks like I was drunk when making it!
On the other side of the room is a new treasure. I have been looking for a manger scene for years. Decades! And I finally found this one in Navasota, TX (where our farmhouse is located) of all places. Love the simplicity.
Well as this tour comes to an end and I’ve shared how to incorporate Christmas red when you really don’t love it, I wanted to mention that most of the green stems and garland you see hanging and tucked into nooks and crannies, was totally free! Just go ask the nice guys cutting the bottoms off of Christmas trees at Lowes or Home Depot if you can have it. They’ll be happy to give you all you want!
Next up in the fabulous Bloggers’ Best Home Tours is Elizabeth at Country Peony. You will love what she’s done in her studio! Y’all, she has a pink tree! Aaaahhh!
Bloggers’ Best Holiday Home Tours
Thirty-five talented and very creative women are opening their homes up for you to tour all week long. You can visit each Christmas home tour by clicking the links below.
Monday’s Tours
The Tattered Pew // Cottage On Bunker Hill // StoneGable // My Wee Abode
Open Doors Open Hearts // Cottage In The Mitten // My Thrift Store Addiction
Tuesday’s Tours
Midwest Life & Style // She Gave It a Go // Sand Dollar Lane // Bricks n’ Blooms
Pasha Is Home // Robyn’s French Nest // The Ponds Farmhouse
Wednesday’s Tours
Shiplap and Shells // White Arrows Home // This Is Simplicite // White Lilac Farmhouse
Peacock Ridge Farm // Cloches and Lavender // Simply2Moms
Thursday’s Tours
County Road 407 // Country Peony // Eleanor Rose Home // Le Cultivateur
Thistle Key Lane // My Family Thyme // Follow The Yellow Brick Home
Friday’s Tours
Southern Crush At Home // A Life Unfolding // Southern Home and Hospitality // WM Design House
Dabbling and Decorating // Lora Bloomquist // Vintage and Grace Living
Cindy these are great ideas for adding small touches of red! Everything looks gorgeous and I love your holiday home tour! Merry Christmas! xoxo
Author
Slowly but surely it’s growing on me. Thank you Stacy.
Cindy,
such a fun tour. I loved the berry wreaths on the stockings.
Author
Me too. Makes a big difference with them there. Thank you Rachel.
Great ideas, my friend. I’m not a fan of red either. Happy Holidays!
Author
Yay! I thought I was going to be the only one that didn’t like red. Merry Christmas!
Hi Cindy! I enjoyed your lovely home tour. You shared great tips for the less-is-more addition of red and what a clever idea to tie the candles together on your tree. Your velvet chair is fabulous, too–pinned! Wishing you a joyous Christmas season. Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Author
You’re so sweet Cecilia, thank you. Hope your season is magical. Merry Christmas
I love all of these wonderful tips! Your home is beautiful. And, your farmhouse is very close to me as I am in La Grange, Tx. 🙂
Author
Whaaaat?! No one ever knows where Navasota is located! I love it. I bet we’ve passed each other in Round Top a time or two! Actually, did I see some of your quilted jackets at Junk Gypsy? So glad you visited today. Thank you Elizabeth!
You are so nice to keep your family in mind when decorating!! The little hits of red are beautiful and I LOVE those houses! How pretty!
Author
It is quite nice of me, isn’t it – especially since I’m the one doing all the work! LOL. Next year might be an entirely different (more selfish) story. 😉 Thanks bunches Rachel. Merry Christmas
Beautiful home! So many good ideas for incorporating these colors in your holiday decor!! Pinned.
Author
I appreciate that AnnMarie, thank you. Hope you are enjoying the holiday season.
I love your tips!! I’m not a huge fan of Christmas red either. I’ve been slowly transitioning my Christmas red out and bringing in burgundy the past couple of years. I’m so glad you shared some ideas to help me through this transition!!
Author
I’m not sure next year I’ll have a dash of red at all. Mostly because the kids will be gone and I get to do what I want! LOL. Now I could get behind burgundy! That’s so pretty. Merry Christmas Aliya!
I’m constantly reminding myself, especially around Christmas that I’m not decorating just for me. Therefore I have just enough red on the Christmas tree to make the Mister happy. 😉 I love the art print that inspired your decorating scheme, and you have incorporated the perfect amount of red. The candles on your tree are so pretty, and your little trick is brilliant. Pinning that for sure! All of your greenery looks amazing, and I’m admiring your little houses once again! Let me know when you are taking orders for those! Happy Christmas my friend!
Author
Thank you Michelle. I literally laughed out loud when I read your comment. I’m not sure I’d ever take orders for the little houses. I’d be a nervous wreck making sure they were perfect and never enjoy the process and most likely they’d turn out like the one that looks like I made it while drinking. Next year when the kids are gone, I doubt I’ll even have a stitch of red in my Christmas decor. But you’re way nicer than me. Merry Christmas! 😉
Cindy, I love the subtle ways you added pops of red to your home for the holidays. It is one of my favorite Christmas colors and you used it beautifully! So happy to be touring with you this week. Merry Christmas to you!
Author
I used to love red but I think having to live with it way after it was “in” drove me over the edge. But the kids like it so I obliged. 😉 Thanks for the sweet compliment. Merry Christmas Jen!
Your house looks festive and ready for Christmas! I love the pops of red and especially like those little red wreaths on your stockings! Nice hopping with you and a very Merry Christmas!
Author
I liked the stockings too. It makes a world of difference with a little something each year. Thank you Kim.
This is the blog that will make you Merry and Bright. All those things you pointed out I had to scroll back to see. I always enjoy reading your blog, I don’t care for red myself but you did a great job and it is so pretty. You saved the best for last, our Savoir Jesus Christ was born, have a Merry Christmas.
Author
Aww, thank you Marlene. You made my day AGAIN! I always appreciate your sweet comments. And being a sister-in-Christ makes it all the more special. Merry Christmas!
Cindy, you have wonderful tips here on adding pops of red. Love the less is more motto and your tree is divine. I love naked trees. I tell my husband every year, let’s go and get a real tree. With the intent of just adding lights only to it and a star on top. Don’t be surprise if one year, he caves in. Your home is beautiful for the holidays. It looks so cozy and welcoming.
Author
I know when the kids aren’t home anymore, I’ll probably have all naked trees but I’m being nice this year. I think a naked tree with just a star would look fantastic! And I finally found a star I like. It was on Heidi’s blog – Eleanor Rose Home. I’ve looked for years (like the manger scenes) and haven’t found one but hers would look fantastic at the farmhouse! Hope I can find out where it’s from. Cheers to hoping your hubs gives in one year and y’all get that real tree! Merry Christmas Tammy
Well Cindy you did it, you made red work even though you don’t love it! The candles on your tree are my favorite. You are so creative and green velvet curtain? Yes please! Merry Christmas my friend. Beautiful tour!
Author
I’m really liking the added color in the family room. Who knows, maybe 2023 will be the year I go crazy and add color?! Everyone but me around here is crossing their fingers. LOL. Thanks so much Kelly. Merry Christmas
Okay Cindy you made me feel bad. I don’t use red at all for Christmas. It clashes with our home especially since it is a semi-open floor plan.
I am loving your less is more and I have every intention of doing this but I’m a Christmas-crazy woman. I use tons of greens so I don’t find it overwhelming and the hubby loves it.
Love your taller lantern Pinned!
Author
Well I didn’t want anyone to feel bad! 😉 I’m with you when it comes to tons of greens. When the kids are gone, I doubt we’ll ever have red again. Maybe at the farmhouse. Hope you have a the best holiday season Cindy.
Your Christmas home look so calm and cozy! I am also using less red in some areas of the house this Christmas because I am craving simplicity, and I love green, ivory and gold for Christmas. I do feel like there needs to be little touches of red, and I love how you have incorporated just enough red for the holidays.
LOVE the green curtains. I passed on some at TJ Maxx in October and have regretted it ever since.
I also love your pottery village and sweet little nativity. JESUS is the reason for the season!
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Author
Our TJ Maxx/HomeGoods rarely has any good curtains. I’ll have to keep checking next year since I now don’t even bother going down that aisle. I think you could do anything you want in your gorgeous home and it would look fantastic! I’m actually thinking one year soon, I’m doing pink. Like fuchsia and dark green. I think I’d love that! Merry Christmas to you as well Amber!
Your home looks so beautiful Cindy! I love hanging the candles on the tree, I would have never thought to do that, I may have to do that next year! The houses you made are so adorable. Happy holidays!!!
Author
Thank you Heidi. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of the candles before this year. I’ve been wanting them for years! Merry Christmas 🙂
How pretty it all looks! I don’t care for red, either, so I opt for a deep burgundy for Christmas (alongside gold, cream, or greens). Wish I had time to browse all the home tours (if I did I’d never get my house decorated for the season)! Thanks for the inspiration!
Author
Well come back when you have time. You will LOVE what you see. I was so inspired and pinned many ideas for next year. But I totally get not having the time. I had to come back several times throughout the week. 😉 Hope your Christmas is magical. Thank you Karen!
I had no idea about your aversion to Christmas red! Well, you placed the touches inside your home perfectly… and those red pillows looks smashing on your gray/white chairs! Like gorgeous! More than good enough! 😉
Author
LOL Julie. Yes, I dislike red. And some oranges. I think it goes back to my old world decorating days and having to live with it for years after it was “out”. Weirdly enough though, I love it in other peoples houses. Ha! Thank you for the sweet comment. It made me smile and feel much better about how it turned out.
I loved this Cindy! I don’t use much red in my home for Christmas, and I really don’t own much at all in that color but I do like that pop of color. I think it has something to do with all the crap I bought at Target one year when the “in” colors were red, black, and mustard (I’m sure they called it something else back then). Thanks for the great tips. Your home is decorated so beautifully for the holidays my friend. So much inspiration.
Author
LOL Kim, I was thinking the same thing for my aversion to red! The “old world” style was in longer at my house than in anyone else’s and I got so sick of it. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and thanks so much.
Cindy, I just bought the same mercury glass ornament cluster at a holiday bazaar today…and now I see you have them too!! Everything you did looks so festive!
Author
I got mine at Home Goods and love love love them. They’ll be a Christmas staple for sure. Hope you have the happiest of holiday cheer and thank you Jennifer!
Cindy, your holiday home tour is lovely! I love your decorating style, with greenery and the little touches of red you incorporated! It’s beautiful! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, my friend!
Author
You are so sweet Lynne, thank you. The red is growing on me. Maybe like a fungus but the kids got their red! 🙂
Love your home, your style, and your great sense of humor, Cindy. It all looks fabulous, and you accomplished your goal of spreading the red very nicely.
Author
Thank you Rita. I’m still not loving it but the kids are happy so…
You did an amazing job of adding red to please everyone, Cindy! I’m team red with your family, but it actually looks best when you don’t use too much of it, right? Have a wonderful Christmas, my friend!!
Author
I can appreciate team red. LOL. ALl I can say is that it’s not the worst way I’ve used red before. LOL. Thanks bunches Kate. Merry Christmas!
Cindy, your candle hack is cracking me up. I think you’re going to start a new trend;) Some years I like red and some not so much; I’m red fickle you could say. This year is a banner red year; guess I’m feeling hot from losing a few pounds;) That deer print: I’ve got a similar one and wanted to hang it in my bedroom and now I can’t find it. Hate it when that happens! Hopefully he’ll show up before Christmas. Fun touring with you, friend! Enjoy the Merry!
Author
I know, the candles don’t quite look normal but heck, it goes with me not being normal (a.k.a. cheap). And I can’t find my favorite white ribbon used last year so I totally get it. Hope your deer print shows up. And kudos for losing a few pounds. I think they flew down and stuck to my butt. 🙂
Cindy,
Everything is just so pretty!!! Love a fellow Home Goods/TJMaxx shopper, I find the best stuff there.
Author
Girl, you know it! A HomeGoods gift card is always at the top of my list each birthday or Christmas. Thanks for the sweet comment Libbie. Hope your holiday season is wonderful.
Hello my friend, my apologies for being so late to the game. I have been in a blogging hole. :)))
Your home is just gorgeous and I adore your touches of red. I know red is not everyone’s favorite.
I love how you hung the candles on the tree, just brilliant.
Author
I was having a not-so-great day so to come home and read your comments is so nice! Thank you and I’m so glad you found something you enjoyed. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas
Cindy ~ Your tour was amazing! You’re so talented I loved it all, but especially those ceramic houses! I’m super impressed, they’re awesome! Thanks for hopping with me! Merry Christmas!
Author
Aww, thank you Melanie. I really enjoy my pottery class. Hope you have a blessed Christmas.