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How I Decorated Our Home for Christmas


Most of you already know that I FREAKIN love Christmas but most of all, I love DECORATING for Christmas … I definitely got my Christmas decorating passion from my mom! She doesn’t really decorate much anymore but she used to be one of those people who would have 4 Christmas trees set up around the house, LOL!! She also used to have a store in little ‘ol Peace River called “Beyond the Picket Fence” and it was HOLIDAY HEAVEN!! So, you can probably see the connection here! LOL!

Every year I’m always excited to decorate but this year it felt soooo different!! This is the first year I was able to decorate a home that we designed which is pretty freakin cool!! Not to mention, I may have gone a little balls to the wall this year as we are also hosting Christmas this year … in fact, we will have 26 people in our home on Christmas day, so, needless to say, I wanted it to be special and have all of the little details in place!!

While I know it’s a bit late for me to be sharing this blog, as most of you have probably already decorated your homes, I still wanted to share a few photos and details with you so you could see what I did … and guess what?? If you see some Christmas decor in here that you like … chances are it’s now on sale so you can snag it for next year!! Also, make sure to check out my dedicated Christmas Decor shop page too as some of my fave items might start coming on sale soon!! LOL!!!! We actually ended up shooting my decorating on the same day it dumped snow this week here in Kelowna so it was perfect for the shots … YAY for winter blizzards!!

On the outside of the house, Justin hung all of our Christmas lights (thanks, babe!!), while I’m a sucker for the old school lights, Justin actually convinced me to go with the NOMA LED lights from Canadian Tire as he wanted to make sure our new house had as low of a footprint as possible, so I caved! LOL!! Also, the wreaths hanging on the windows are from Vintage Meadow Florals and the team at Better Earth and Garden Centre here in Kelowna made me some live garland for the porch and inside above the kitchen sink and for the fireplace mantle, plus the wreaths on the doors! We also got a real Christmas tree this year too which I’m super excited about, if you missed my blog on our Christmas tree hunt, check it out here! When it came to decorating our Christmas tree, I knew I wanted something blue so I bought some ribbon and was going to weave it throughout the tree but I ended up switching things up and doing little blue bows on the tree instead, along with our lights and ornaments but I felt like it was still missing something. And then BOOM, it hit me … this tree needed some old school TINSEL!! LOL!! I love tinsel and Justin hates it but I think he just doesn’t get it because he’s too young! LOLLL!!!

Jillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas DecorJillianHarrisChristmasDecor-83Jillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas Decor

Rocking Chairs | Pineapple Light | Outdoor Sconces | Merry Christmas Glitter Garland | Candle Holders | Cutlery | Garland | Pendant Light | Dining Room Chairs | Hello Doormat | Pitcher | Champagne Coupe | Red Velvet Pillow | Buffalo Check Pillow | Dining Room Chandelier | Kitchen Pendant Lights 

I decorated Leo’s room … the guest rooms … our front porch, you name it, it’s been blasted with Christmas spirit! LOL! Most of you know that I am allergic to colour and generally when it came to decorating for Christmas I would stick to neutrals, whites and creams for my decor … but not this year!! This year I boldly stepped outside of my colour comfort zone and introduced RED into our home … and guess what?? I LOVE IT!! It’s actually kind of fun adding pops of colour into each room, I easily did this with my throws, pillows, the Christmas bedding I got from Pottery Barn … and the slipcovers for my IKEA chairs in the dining room, which were made by a local seamstress in Lake Country!!

I also love decorating with those battery powered mini lights as you don’t need to plug them in, so you can literally put they ANYWHERE … the only downside to my mini lights though is the fact that they need 3 D batteries … which seems a bit excessive! LOL!! So I would suggest looking for some that don’t require such big bulky batteries!! I used clear 3M hooks to hang our stockings, this year I decided to change things up and hang our stockings from the bookshelf in our living room considering there were going to be so many of us on Christmas morning … and it looks really damn cute having so many, plus I also love the fact that the stockings aren’t too matchy-matchy!! LOL!! You’ll also notice that I used lots of faux fur throughout our home and I finally got to bust out some Christmas wreaths in the mix too … you all know my addiction for wreaths!!

Jillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas DecorJillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas Decor Jillian Harris Christmas Decor

photo credit

Giraffe | Pink Bed | Ladder | Plaid Bed Sheets | Christmas Bed Sheets | Garland | Bedroom Chandelier | Bench | Night Stands | Bedding | Table Lamp | Wreath on Stand | Wreath 

Welp!! That’s a quick overview of how the house looks!! Actually, before I go, I just wanted to mention something here … the other day I came across a comment on Instagram that made me a bit sad and I wanted to quickly share it with you along with my thoughts. It came from a lady who said they were feeling the stress of the holidays this year and that they felt hesitant to post a photo of their decorating on Instagram because they felt as though it didn’t live up to someone else’s life … this made my heart hurt. In reading this I just wanted to say that while some photos look perfect, it’s just a photo. Even in the photos, I’m sharing with you today, I had all three girls helping me decorate, stage, and clean up … I had a professional photographer, I was sick, Leo was sick, there were tissues everywhere, the couch had to be remade, it took all of us basically the whole day to make everything perfect and by the time you read this post, my house will be chaos again!! LOL!!! So keep that in mind when you see photos like this … it takes a team and my house isn’t always perfect, my intentions behind these posts are not to get you to buy more decor, or decorate more, or change your home … but to simply inspire you! So please, share your photos of your decorating, whether you have good lighting or not, whether your house is clean, or filled with snotty rags!! LOL!! Christmas is about what makes your heart skip a beat, it’s about the joy and laughter shared with your loved ones. Just keep that in mind!!

XOXOXO

Jilly


Leave a Reply

  1. Merry Christmas!
    I enjoy all your insta-stories daily and just really look forward to your to day activities you post!
    Enjoy your family the house looks beautiful!

  2. Love love love! The best thing I love is that you decorate every room for Christmas – totally inspired by decorating the guest room ?Merry Christmas to you and your family !

    Patricia
    the printed bow

  3. Where are your guest room lamps from? (in the last couple photos) they are so classic and lovely. Merry Christmas Sanata Jilly and family, thanks for keeping us inspired all year!!!

  4. Thanks for that lovely little tidbit at the end Jill. Your house looks beautiful and I hope you have a very special Christmas holiday with your family ❤

  5. You are seriously Amazing! Love all the Christmas Spirit that comes alive through yourwords and photos-im totally inspired!!!

  6. It’s all so beautiful!! Love that you are so real and share the behind the scenes real life. You definitely inspire me! ❤️

    1. Dear Jackie-Always remember the magic of Christmas and the magic of positive thinking! It sounds like you’re doing so, and I wish you the happiest of holidays!

      Jillian, thank you for that last comment. It’s too easy to get sucked into being perfect vs being real! Maybe once in a while you could do a “gag reel” sort of post showing “before “ and “after” shots.

      Keep up the great attitude and Happy Holidays!,

  7. Your comment at the end also saddens me. As they say, “live life to the fullest”. I recently found out I have cancer and could possibly be my last Christmas…but guess what…my tree is up, my pillows are stuffed and I’m 61 and still no stocking! Lol! Everyone has to believe in the magic of Christmas. Bless you, Justin, Leo, Nacho and your team! MERRY CHRISTMAS !

  8. I loved your last paragraph. You are so right! Your home is beautiful and you definitely inspire me. I would love your opinion on new flooring in my home and a few other things. Keep being real and feel better for Christmas.

  9. Gawwdd reading your blogs just puts a smile on my face every time, especially after a very long day at work and being a Mommy/Wifey so I thank you for that:)

  10. Jill!
    I don’t normally leave comments or say anything- I’m pretty passive that way.but I had to fan girl you.
    I am from grande prairie Alberta- close to peace river. I never watched bachelor or bachelorette. I Really had no idea who you were until your cousin Dustin put up a poster in our office a few years back you were supporting something…. and then I watched love it or list it. I only started “following” you in this last year and a half.
    I had a baby just a few months after you had Leo as well.
    I just wanted to say how much I LOVE following you. Your Instagram stories are so real. You don’t make yourself up before going on camera and I love it because guess what. Mom life is hard. And you take on so much more than just being a mom! And to boot you are an amazing mother! I cry when you cry on your stories because it hits home with me too.
    I love your design inspiration! (Although I don’t love white as much as you! Lol) at the end of this post it hit me when you were saying how much of a village it takes to make your life so picturesque and you fully embrace that. You have an amazing team!
    I love how you can mix expensive home items with affordable (IKEA!) and make it look so effortless. (I’m a huge IKEA fan and so is my budget)
    Just wanted to say keep doing what your doing, I’m sure when you get flack for something stupid I get how hard it must hit. Your an inspiration and if I ever see you in person I WILL slightly fan girl you lol.
    Merry Christmas! Wish you and your whole fam the best!

  11. Beautiful, I used to go to your moms store at Christmas time – she served a hot drink and was so welcoming! I lived in Falher at the time. Merry Christmas!

  12. Absolutely beautiful!!!
    Jillian, you truly should check out my friends business in Calgary, Gemstone lights.com they are lights you keep up all year. Can change the colour for any season or holiday, Easter, valentines, favourite hockey team , and they are so reasonably priced .. go talk to Tate!
    You also might want to check out his brother @ charmedplayhouses ( they have a show on TLC and are local too )
    And I don’t even work for them haha
    Merry Christmas x

  13. You are an such a wise and beautiful woman. You inspire me and others to love life as it comes. Blessings to you and your family this Christmas season

  14. SO beautifully said Jillian! Social media is so often our life’s ‘highlight reel’ – there is so much more not shown from the ‘editing room’ of our lives that add up to the whole person we really are. Thanks for keeping it real!

  15. Beautiful home and decor! Thanks for sharing! But more importantly, just wanted to say how lovely and inspiring you are, especially for taking the time to write the last part of your post. You are not afraid of being real and that’s why we love you!! Thank you for this and enjoy the holidays! Merry Christmas!! Xo

  16. Jilly! Where do you buy all your cute ribbon from for those gorgeous gifts? Also, where is your gold mirror above your fireplace from? Merry Christmas to you and your family!

  17. Jillian your final words in your house decorating blog are so thoughtful. With three golden retrievers I lust after a neutral decor but feel defeated. I noticed that you take off the covers on your couch in your everyday shots (when Leo was sick) and I thought… she’s just like us. You are amazing. Wishing you and your wonderful family a Very Merry Christmas

    1. Jillian where did you get the mini frosted xmas trees from? (the ones with burlap bottoms on the cutting board in your kitchen) Hope you are enjoying the holidays!

  18. Wow, very very beautiful and thank you for being real! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018 to you, your family and your friends…

  19. Hey Jillian & team! Sorry if I am repeating a previous question from someone else but I am in love with your fireplace and am going to get the same one from Dreamcast. I am wondering if they did your insert as well or if that is supplied elsewhere as it looks like Dreamcast just does the fireplace surrounds and not the inserts. Thank you in advance! Thank you for posting such inspiring content and beautiful photography! I love following along 😀

  20. Could not find a comment anywhere about where your toy soldier is from , at the front door can you share?

      1. Hi Jilly

        You are so sweet and so grounded.

        I love being on your mailing list and just love the story you told about the “lost lady of photos” who thought her photos were not perfect enough for Christmas. Your response was so gracious and real life. Love you for that.

        You are so honest and that is a beautiful quality to have – as you explained the behind the scenes – illness etc – the real deal.

        Look after yourself and each other and never stop being you – with the grounded focus on life and the constant balance. It is truly all good – and your words to others to not be so hard on themselves – is so helpful.

        I first found your site when I was focusing more on Plant Based eating. You are very creative and love your spirit in ALL you do. Take care each and every day.

        I am almost 70 and retired from teaching after 45 years. Love life and look forward to turning 70 with many many new adventures with my husband our grown daughter and son and partners and the LOVES of my LIFE – our grandsons.

        Take care
        xo Wilma

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