White Christmas

Living in the NW I don't get a white Christmas very often (though they are predicting snow for next week--and I am not sure if I want to cross my fingers for snow, or for no snow. I do have to do some Thanksgiving traveling), so I decided this year I am going to make my Christmas decor a little more "white".   For years my Christmas decorating has focused on red, white, silver and glass with a loose snowflake theme.  And while I still love all that stuff and will likely use a lot of it in my living room, I am going to go a little more soft and natural in my family room, where all my decor is soft and natural.  Here is a peek at last year's decor. . .

All this getting ready for Christmas and making ornaments in October has given me the bug to decorate a little early.  And if my blog browsing is any indication, I am not alone.  I have gotten ideas here and there and two days ago inspiration for my banister struck.  A quick sketch and a little effort (including a trip to my yard to clips some greenery) and my banister came to life:

I seriously love all the creams and whites in contrast with the greenery and the black stair rail and picture frames.

I have recently seen a lot of various paper garlands and was excited to try my own. . .

And I am sure she is not the only one making these, but Christa, of Chloe Rose, is selling the prettiest little rag ornaments that inspired mine.  I spied them at Camas Antiques.  I LOVE her stuff.

What I really like about this style is how well it goes with my furniture and decor. . . and my dog! (who needs a bath and a hair cut).

 I don't think I will get sick of it as quickly as the traditional style Christmas decor. . .

Which is a good thing since I am starting early.  Although, with Thanksgiving next week it's not that early. . .

And since I have only done the banister and planted my paperwhites, I still have a lot of decorating to do.  Speaking of paperwhites. . .

(Do you like my new table? I just need to make slipcovers for the chairs now--paperwhites are planted in the pitchers and chamber pot)

I plant them every year in early November so they will bloom over Christmas.  I love the extra added something that fresh flowers give and their crisp whiteness adds so much to all my other decorations.

I ordered them online this year, in October, to get a better deal so I could plant more.  I also ordered two snowball amaryllis that I can't wait to see bloom.

You might have noticed my swag didn't actually reach the entire length of the banister.  It's close, but I want to decorate the rail along the hall upstairs also, so I better get back to work.  Especially if I want to make extras to put in the shop!

What is your Christmas style?