...because home doesn't happen overnight.

Sometimes it only takes a few shiny decor items to make a space sparkle for the holidays.  The effect is subtle and easy.

Metallic handprints on velvet stockings, a crystal snowflake reflecting into a mirror, sparkling berry branches in a pot and some glitter garland draped along the stair rail dress up our living room. {There are those elusive stockings!}

I always like to throw in a few shiny bells and balls.  The vintage silver bells in the kitchen window are from Handy Hubby’s childhood collection.  {See more on our mantle here.}  A rippled mercury globe bedazzles the living room coffee table.  These quick and easy additions are great ways to take a room from ho-hum to ho-ho-ho-holiday.  {Sorry.  Couldn’t help myself.}  And they look even better at night under soft, ambient lighting.  How do you make your home glow for the season? White string lights?  Mesmerizing snow globes?  Sugar cookie scented candles?  I’ve been burning my favorite buttercream scented candle every evening for the last week.  Yummy.  Handy Hubby is always disappointed to learn that I’m not actually baking anything.

images:  all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

10 Comments

14.December.2010

I love your simple and elegant touches! Shiny things always seem to make things feel festive. The stockings are darling.

i <3 your decorating style! :)

14.December.2010

nicely done…both sophisticated *and* sentimental (and shiny and sparkly, of course!)

we try to do one project together as a family every year, to add to our collection of decorations. When the kids were younger, the projects were quick and easy (tracing hands to make ornaments), but now, they are coming up with the ideas…

I was going to have them do the paper garland project you featured last week, but then realized how long that would take without a circle cutter! instead, we made new stockings this year, using fabric from curtains we saved from our old house…

14.December.2010

Elegant and pretty. Love it. Love the sparkle.

We live in a Hi-Ranch and our Family Room is on the 1st floor. That room is light and airy with Tans, Whites and Blue/Greens and warm wood floors. So I decorated with Silver, White & Blue/Greens. I love the outcome of the room. It’s subtle.

Then our Great Room Upstairs (kitchen, LR, DR) are all decorated in warm coppers, warm golds, warm greens and warm reds. They aren’t really shiney, more of the matte look with some glitter. I love how each space feels different and yet still feels like Christmas. :D

Beautiful!! Sometimes I get a little Christmas-overloaded, so I’m really loving your simple design. :)

14.December.2010

Carole – What a great idea to use old curtains for stockings! I love upcycled anything.

15.December.2010

Is the snowflake on the mirror temporary? How did you make it? Looks great!

15.December.2010

R8chel – The snowflake is just a large ornament from a craft store. I stuck it to the mirror with some of that squishy blue removable adhesive. So, yes, it’s temporary!

16.December.2010

oh, i love the cute christmas ball string above the sink! i am going to try something similar – is there any trick to the process? is each one tied on a piece of clear string/fishing line and hung at various lengths?

16.December.2010

Heidi – You got it! I hung them with fishing line from a bare curtain rod. {Haven’t quite figured out what window treatment to use there yet.} I started with the center/lowest ball and worked my way out to the sides. I enjoy looking up at them during dish duty after dinner. They shine in the evenings under the recessed lighting right above the sink. Good luck with your project!