Canadian Christmas Home Tour

Man, I almost didn’t participate in the Canadian Blogger’s Home Tour hop this year because right in the middle of November my husband and I went on a (kid free!) vacation and let me tell you – when you go on vacation in November, it feels like Christmas is going to pounce on you when you get back. I knew that I wasn’t going to be to pull off decorating my large main living area in time but the idea of missing the tour (which is my favourite!) made me sad sad sad and so here we are – with a Christmas bedroom tour!  Have a look and then be sure to visit the other bloggers who are all linked at the end of the post.

As mentioned, the only way I could get this together is if I stuck to a timeline of just few days and a pretty small budget. I spent half my budget (around $100) on some much needed new bedding. I bought a new duvet cover and sham set and two new pillows to fit the shams. Everything else came from the thrift shop / dollar store OR I already owned it. I spent about another $100 on supplies and materials to bring it together.  Laurie and her incredible eye inspired me to snag a pair of tiny black ice skates to sling over the bedpost. I found them at the thrift shop for $6 and added red twine laces and a bit of greenery.

You’d think I trained the cat and dog to pose for me but it seems they just have to be involved in every thing I do these days. They’re both getting older and like to be at my side. I’ll take what I can get. Chibi is curled up on a new red crochet mat I threw together. It took two skeins of blanket yarn and a couple of hours. She seems to love it and I like that it has that vintage rag rug look. I have red accents and bottle brush trees scattered around on nearly every surface. One of my favourite bits are the wooden red, black and white beads. I found three strands at the thrift shop and I think I paid $3 for the bag.

On the other side of the room I’ve strung the remaining strands on a piece of driftwood between the book shelves. Some twinkle lights and cedar and I’m happy. There’s the clock with the embroidered face from last year and a bunch more bottle trees. My shelves are sort of a mess….don’t look too closely, but that’s where we keep kids art and photographs and yes, books. The real sort with non-matching covers. Our bedroom isn’t normally for show and so, this is our real life stuff, I will admit to a bit of pre-post purging from these shelves however. It’s bananas how quickly things pile up.

On the door, I’ve hung a little wreath that I made from a springform pan I picked up at the thrift shop for 0.75! The wreath inside it was a buck fifty at the dollar store. A bit of twine and a chipboard “Let it Snow” tag and done. Can’t beat the price of around $3 total.

This wall gives me nothing but confusion. It doesn’t seem so in the photo but it is a really large wall – that dresser is almost 6ft long and our ceilings are 10ft. We have so much going on with the book shelves that I don’t want to clutter it BUT it is so empty feeling otherwise. I opted for a simple oversized wreath and a few bits of decor on the dresser top. I could have fussed it up a lot more with a runner and things but in considering the room as a whole, I think it’s best to keep this area simple. If you have ideas on what to do on this wall let me have em!

Back on the other side of the room is the desk area. It’s normally closed but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to showcase a vintage typewriter from my collection! There are some dollar store twinkle lights and some vintage milk glass tucked in there as well as a jadeite coffee cup and a few books I was recently given. Brass candle sticks accent the top.

Over the desk is an art piece I quickly completed. it’s just plain canvas and standard acrylic craft paint in an oval hoop, over which I embroidered with some long straight stitches for snow and some french knots for red berries. I’m so thrilled with how it came out! It’s quite large, 3 ft maybe, and for about a $15 cost I just couldn’t go wrong. This was a fun project that I spent 10 min here and 10 min there to finish. I encourage you to give holiday DIY art a try!

Here’s a closer look at a few things. You know, I’ve never decorated the bedroom for Christmas before but I am really REALLY liking it. Christmas twinkle lights in the bedroom are incredible and I feel as though I’m tucked away in a B&B on holiday. If you can swing it, decorate your bedrooms for the holidays. You only need a few days and a few dollars and it can all come together!

Now, please go an visit the rest of the fine Canadian bloggers who have opened their homes for the holidays. You’ll get loads of inspiration and ideas. Every year these folks blow me away with their talent. Get yourselves a cup of pour over coffee and dive in! Happy Holidays!

Monday

The DIY Mommy | The Creek Line House | Woman in Real Life | Life is a Party | Lemon Thistle | The Learner Observer

Tuesday

PMQ for two | Amidst the Chaos | Clean and Scentsible | A Burst of Beautiful | Rambling Renovators

Wednesday

Satori Design for Living | Love Create Celebrate | The Happy Housie | Craftberry Bush | Sustain My Craft Habit | House by the Bay

Thursday

VinYet Etc. | A Pretty Life | Home to Heather | So Much Better with Age | This Little Estate

Friday

AKA Design | Kim Power Style | Elliven Studio | A Pop of Pretty | The Sweetest Digs