Christmas at the Bungalow: A Festive, Colorful Tour
The holiday season has officially arrived at the Bungalow, and it’s bursting with festive, colorful, and eclectic decor! This year, my theme was simple: COLOR. All the color. Here are my Holiday Decorating Tips:
When it comes to Christmas decorating, my motto is anything goes. I started with a fresh Fraser Fir Tree, decked out in all of our beloved family ornaments—each one holding a special memory. But why stop there? I also added not one, but two pink trees (because, let’s be honest, you can never have too much pink). I think Christmas should feel like home. Old memories and new. Old ornaments and new. Don’t worry about the trends, what era are YOU in? This year, I was in my color era. Bright colors! I tried to stick with the colors of my home (Pretty much every color you can think of, except yellow and purple)
Take a tour of all the festive details and get inspired to make your own home merry and bright!
Our real Fraser Fir tree is a treasure trove of memories, adorned with family heirloom ornaments. It features handmade creations from when the kids were little, framed photo ornaments, vintage pieces passed down from our grandparents, and all my cherished ornaments from our annual ornament exchange party. Each one tells a story and makes our tree uniquely ours!
My Holiday Decorating Tips
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- Group like items together! Whether it’s santas, nativity scene, or decorative trees, clustering similar pieces makes your decor feel cohesive and polished while guiding the eye through your space.
- Why I Keep My Lighting Consistent (And Why You Should Too!) One of the easiest ways to create a cozy and cohesive vibe in your home is by keeping the lighting consistent—inside and out. For me, that means warm white lights all the way. I’m a BIG fan of their soft, inviting glow. To keep things harmonious, every light bulb in my lamps and fixtures matches perfectly. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference! When it comes to Christmas, I stick with warm white lights for my trees and outdoor decor too. The result? A magical, unified look that feels like a warm hug during the holidays. Now, let’s talk about overhead lighting. I’m firmly on Team Lamps—with a few exceptions. Overhead lights belong in the kitchen, dining room, laundry room, and hallways (and even then, I prefer dimmable options). For the rest of the house, it’s all about the lamps. They create a softer, more inviting ambiance, perfect for making your home feel warm and lived-in.So, here’s your friendly nudge: ditch those harsh overhead lights and embrace the glow of a well-placed lamp. Your home will thank you!
- Be you, not trends. I think Christmas should feel like home. Old memories and new. Old ornaments and new. Don’t worry about the trends, what era are YOU in? This year, I was in my color era. Bright colors! I tried to stick with the colors of my home (Pretty much every color you can think of, except yellow and purple)
- PURGE once a year. After I decorate the entire house, I go through everything that I decided not to use. I donate any unused ornaments (my taste has changed over the years) ugly, beat up garland and decor, and random, mis-matched stuff that I will never find or do anything with. I put it in my car and the next time I drive by goodwill I drop off.
- Group items in odd numbers. Most things are more visually appealing if there is an odd number. Of course there are exceptions, but the general rule is odd numbers. Have a variety of heights and depths. See the trees in the photo below. They are all different sizes and different heights. You can add boxes or stands to elevate. In general, if you have a grouping, they look better if they are not all the same size.
