Dec 19, 2014

Christmas In Our Family Room


Happy Friday, everyone! 

Today, I'm sharing our family room all decked out for Christmas.


This is where our family hangs out whenever the kids come over to visit, so we have plenty of comfy seating here for all six of us. It's the perfect room to be laid back and casual.



We watch lots of movies together here too, so when I found these vintage film reels in my Ballard catalog last year, I thought they'd make great wall decor for our family room. 

For our chalkboard Merry Christmas pennants, I was inspired by Rachel at Shades of Blue Interiors to try making some like hers with my computer and printer. Using simple shapes, a chalkboard font, and rubbing some white chalk over the black parts of each print after I cut them out, gave them a sweet chalkboard look. 



I just love old toy farm trucks, so I waited until this reproduction went on sale for half off at the craft store after Christmas last year and snapped it up. It's been driving around the family room and finally found a spot to park here in my little forest of trees with the rag bunting curled around them on the ottoman. 



I really depend on pillows and cozy throws to add seasonal color to our brown leather sectional (from Bernhardt.) These throws are the best buy ever (at $14 each online from Target) for the warmest softest throws you've ever felt. I have them in just about every color they make. The solid pillows are from Pier One, and the Christmas pillow is from Tai Pan Trading Co. The leather and wood ottoman (from Costco) has big deep drawers to store extra throws and pillows and pull-out trays to hold popcorn and drinks. Our huge wood ottoman tray is from Ballard Designs and provides a stable flat surface for decorating the ottoman, while leaving enough room to rest lots of pairs of feet around it.



You know how much I love chalkboards. This unframed one on the wall is the one I made by painting an artist canvas with chalk paint for my potting bench last fall. It's lightweight and easy to hang quickly with just a push pin. My husband used to quote this Ren and Stimpy saying to the delight of our girls when they were little, and it's the perfect sentiment for how we all feel about spending time together now at Christmas. 

The chalkboard on the front of the wood toolbox is also great for portable sentiments whenever and wherever the mood strikes. 

Chalkboards are great!



For seasonal artwork on my photo clipboards (photo clipboard tutorial here) I turned to my printer again. I used some free printable tartan scrapbook paper from Scrapbook Scrapbook as a background and added some white snowflakes from PicMonkey.



Last year we had a small live tree in a basket here next to our little writing table, but this year I bought a fake tree half off at the craft store and put it up on an old fruit crate with my homemade tartan tree skirt tucked around it. 




I haven't found time to properly decorate this little tree yet, but it's nice to have its sparkle and shine in the family room. I have plans to make some charming new handmade ornaments for it in my spare time. 

(What?! Spare time?!)



Most of our Christmas decorations this year are new or handmade by me, since we've given most of our older decorations to our daughters for their own homes. Our raggedy snowman, a sweet gift from my sister in law, is one of the favorites we kept. 



We really miss having a fireplace in our home this time of year, and a cozy fireplace for the living room is definitely on our remodeling wish list next year if we can win approval from the National Historic Commission to move a window. 

For now, we are enjoying a virtual fireplace in our family room, complete with stockings hung on the mantle and crackling fire sounds. While sipping on a glass of wine with some soft Christmas music playing in the background, we can feel the heat coming from our big screen as we bask in the glow from the "fireplace" and tree lights. 

Well, okay, maybe after two glasses of wine...   :)

Go on, give it a try!




Feel the warmth? 

Thank you for letting me share our family room with you today. I'm looking forward to baking some Christmas cookies this weekend, and I hope to be back early next week to share our festive Christmas kitchen.

Have a wonderful weekend!



{Visit our Christmas living room and dining room and kitchen, too!}

Please join me at some lovely parties!

The Charm Of Home
The Cottage Market


14 comments:

  1. Ya gotta love Tai-Pan!! Definitely one of those 'dangerous' stores... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a cozy room! I love the tree on top of the crate and love those pretty snowflake wall hangings...it all looks so pretty Laurel!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's all so festive! I haven't broken down yet and bought one of those Target throws but I just might now. They are so soft! Chalkboards are great! And I love your clipboards. I'm going to pop over to see how you made them. Ah, I could go on and on. I just love everything!

    ReplyDelete
  4. So cozy and festive! I love it, especially the red truck. Merry Christmas! ~ Angie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Laurel, that's one of the coziest family rooms I have seen! I love all your decorations like that cute truck..And of course the chalkboards! You reminded me I need to buy some more throws. Enjoy your lovely room and the time you will spend in there with your family!
    Merry Christmas! - Shelley

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great room, Laurel! It looks like a very comfortable and cozy place to hang out all year, but you've really made it very festive for the holiday. Love those reels from Ballard on the wall. Your little tree is adorable and looks just fine to me. I didn't bring down my little ones in urns this year.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely spot to gather on Christmas.

    I am coveting that red truck, but I think I need to bring in my rusty little red wagon instead.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh I love that great big comfy sectional! What a great family spot to gather. And leather is the perfect neutral dressed up with your festive pillows. I really must make some of your clipboards - so cute and versatile. The whole room feels calm and serene Laurel and I'm pretty sure I can feel the warmth of the fireplace!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your family room looks beautiful, Laurel! It's so cozy & festive. It looks like a perfect place for the family to relax & enjoy the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The family room is looking very comfy for Christmas Laurel. Your virtual fireplace is just right for sipping that wine and relaxing by the fire. Happy holidays to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Another gorgeous room, Laurel! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That's a collapse into the couch sit back and enjoy family room! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful Laurel! Happy New Year! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  14. I Must know where to get that ottoman! I checked the Costco site to no avail :( Is there anything else you can tell me about it, like the style name or brand??

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments. I love reading your thoughts! If you would like an answer to a specific question, please email me via the link on my sidebar. Thank you!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.