I hope you enjoyed her festive tour and I can’t wait to show you mine.
So let us get started and like the headline already says, I stayed with natural Christmas decorations this year and it isn’t really all that different than last year. But before you click away because you think it’s the same, just give me a chance to show you what is different.
Natural Christmas Decorations
We had a mishap with our real tree this year which you might have seen on my Instagram stories. It looked straggly and misshaped. I started to panic but after calming down and wrapping the tree in lights and looking at it, I knew that there was only one way to decorate this tree.
To me, it was screaming icicles and only icicles.
Icicles
I found the perfect realistic looking icicles (HERE) and are great for simple natural Christmas decorations. I ordered 4 sets of them which are 96 icicles. I really wanted more but didn’t feel like spending more money.
I’m a little upset that the photos don’t do the look justice because when you sit in our living room at night with the tree lit it is pure magic. The icicles glisten in the light and look like the tree was covered in an ice storm. The kids and other visitors have been fascinated with the icicles and everyone thinks they look so real.
I love that this proves that you don’t need many decorations on your tree. I do think that you need a sparse looking tree (like this one HERE) for the icicles to hang right. The full shaped trees that you usually see in Christmas decorations won’t work with the icicles.
And for those of you wondering, the cats don’t bat them around and leave them alone. They do love sliding around the tree skirt though with drives me a tad bit crazy at times but is fun to watch. There have been the occasional wrestling sessions under the tree as well.
My favorite new candle (HERE) is not Christmas-y but I absolutely love the sent. My favorite vanilla blackberry perfume was discontinued so this candle is making up for it now.
As always I couldn’t help myself with snapping photos of our furry kiddos and Willy was front and center and eating up the attention.
My daughter wanted him to wear a Santa hat but he had other plans and rather attacked the hat.
So what are my natural Christmas decorations this year?
I decorated with oranges, nuts, cloves, pinecones, wood, icicles (I know, I know, not really natural 🙂 and straw!
I added some wooden snowflakes to the garland this season. Last year we only had the stars. (Find out how to make a similar one out of furniture legs HERE)
And I also decided to add some lights to the mantel this year. You can read about how I hide the cables on the mantel HERE.
Oranges and Cloves
I love the smell of oranges spiked with dried cloves.
Last year I used thick candle pillars and this year thin one.
Pinecones and Nuts
Candle number one was lit for the first advent Sunday yesterday.
I did find the mirror at Marshalls that I had posted about a couple of weeks ago in a round-up about my favorite boho mirrors to see the post (HERE). I tried it out in the living room when my mom was visiting and she and my daughter loved it so much so I kept it. I didn’t get rid of the other one though and will keep going back and forth between them when I feel like a change. I love the texture of the grasscloth and raffia embroidery of the mirror.
Straw
The mirror pattern is very busy which is why I also kept the tree next to it simple and only used my collection of straw stars (HERE) on it. The large straw star on the top (HERE) is my favorite. I also stuck real pine branches into the tree to make it look more realistic.
The big difference between last year (HERE) and this year is definitely the room layout (HERE) with the new chairs (HERE), the mirror (HERE) and the tree decor.
I covered all the chairs and sofa in furs because Anthony wants to claw everything and this keeps him from doing it so far. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Wood
We added two new pieces to our German Christmas collection (You can see more about my favorite German Christmas decorations in this post HERE). A new smoker from Rothenburg which we bought this summer…
….and a shaved wood and angel scenery which I actually found at Marhalls when my mom was here (similar ones HERE and HERE and only trees HERE)
Our grumpy Maya:
This is just a peak into our dining room because it is getting an overhaul and I’m waiting for some pieces. I also didn’t make anything out of the big beautiful driftwood log I found this summer but I love it just as is on the table too with some candles.
My annual family photo Christmas ornaments are hanging up again too. Find out more about them HERE.
You can read more about my powder room HERE.
If you missed my update about our newly adopted mental patient, uhm I mean cat Anthony, then you can click HERE to read more about him. I had wanted to take photos of him for Christmas with the tree but he doesn’t really come down stairs. Maybe next Christmas!
I hope you enjoyed my very simple Christmas this year.
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And now it’s time for you to hop on over to Brooke of Nesting with Grace. Her home is always so festive and cozy for the holidays and a must-see.
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Tschüß and Merry Christmas
More of my Christmas decor posts:
Wow, I love those icicles, they really do look real on the tree What a genius idea. Your mantel is also stunning, those lights are so pretty and that wood bead garland is amazing. Beautiful tour and such a lovely home. Your fur babies and your daughter are show stealers too. Thanks so much for joining the tours, I always love seeing your home.
Thanks Marty, I wish I could show how the icicles look in person.
I love those icicles. My cats would have knocked them out of the tree:) Your home looks amazing. Thank you
Thanks Debby, surprisingly mine leave them alone completely. They don’t make great toys 😉 they have better ones which is why I think they leave them alone LOL
Beautiful Julia, I love the icicle tree, so sparkly & the oranges with cloves centerpiece. It’s all so pretty and festive! Merry Christmas to you!
Thanks Rhoda and Merry Christmas to you too
Very pretty! I love the icicles. I had some little birds with balsa wood tails that I brought home from Germany…30 years ago…. sadly most of them have fallen apart, but I still have my smokey Santa.
My wooden smokers have started to fall apart too which makes me sad. They are all pretty delicate and having little kids around didn’t help.
Your Christmas decorations are beautiful and I especially love your icicles tree. Awww, that picture of your daughter and Willy is so very cute!
Thanks Julia, my daughter is obsessed with Willy and so am I 😉
The icicles are stunning! Love your wooden garland. Is that one of your DIY projects? Love everything. Merry Christmas!
Thanks Gina, it’s actually a vase filler I bought at Pottery Barn two years ago and that I turned into a garland and added some wooden ornaments I found at HomeGoods. But I cam up with an idea how you can make your worn with furniture legs. https://cuckoo4design.com/diy-huge-wood-bead-garland/
ooooh i love those icicles! so beautiful, julia! your home looks magical!
Thanks my friend!
The icicles look so real I envision them melting.
Your house looks Faaab,as usual. (I bet you could make a little cash doing small decorating jobs..and I only say “small” so that it’s not stressful and still fun for you) .
Your daughter is growing into a beauty (she looks like you). Did you do her braids?
LOVE the cats!!!
🙂 Thanks Carol, I’ve done that before but more often little decorating jobs turn into big ones 😉 And yes I did braid my daughters hair. It’s her favorite hairdo.
Julia your icicled tree is amazing!!!!! I am so in love with it! I’ve been craving a simpler and simpler Christmas every year as my kids have gotten older and this is so beautiful and natural. Love how it looks in your home!
Thanks Lisa,
If I go even simpler than I won’t have anything to write about anymore 😉 Merry Christmas
Absolutely magical Julia!1 I just popped onto Amazon. Such an inspiration and they will go with any style!
Thanks Jenifer, I agree he icicles definitely go with any style.
I just love your Boho Hygge Christmas decor this year! Your tree is simply elegant and everything feels warm and inviting without being cluttered- well done! So fun being on the home tour again with you…have a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much Kristy, I always struggle with what to name my tours LOL. Merry Christmas to you too!
I love your home Julia! Especially the icicle tree and the furbabies 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Thank you Summer. The kitties are always my favorite too 😉
sieht sehr edel aus! schöne Weihnachtszeit!
Vielen Dank und Euch auch eine schöne Adventszeit.
Julia, your tree with those icicles is just so gorgeous. Less is definitely more on that beautiful tree. your entire home is always so special with the items that you incorporate that have real meaning. happy holidays to you and your family….and the critters.
Love, love, love. I really want to buy those icicles. I have no tree this year and it is making me so sad. Crazy Neil cannot be trusted.
Looks beautiful! I love all of the natural elements and those icicles on the tree are amazing! They look so real. I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!
It’s gorgeous! I love the icicles!
What a gorgeous tour! I adore your tree with its icicles and your mantel garland is spectacular. Your daughter is a true beauty!
Where on earth do you find your Christmas trees? I keep looking for unshaped trees, but all that I can find around me are triangular cones of fir!
Lovely pictures and your home looks just adorable. Your cat looks like she is ready to attack the tree 🙂
everything looks beautiful! I’m loving the simple icicle tree! And I’m always here for more kitty pictures 🙂 . You’re making me want to start my own German Christmas collection–so totally charming!
Thanks Gretchen, I could totally see the German Christmas decor in your house.
Wow, the icicles are a genius idea. Even in the picture, they look so stunning and real. I can’t believe that this is the first time I ever saw an idea like this. Your cats are also very cute. I love cats! I might get one this year 🙂 The furs that cover your chairs and sofa look very comfy too. I have a carpet that’s similar in texture, but I should probably get more for my couches.
Your decoration is soo adorable! I love it, the tree looks just stunning.