It all started with some gorgeous, wide chalkboard ribbon. Throw in a some vintage Christmas decorations, greenery and ample pops of red, and the result is a gorgeous front porch decorated for Christmas. Who wouldn’t want to spend time relaxing in this beautiful space? It’s so welcoming and festive!
Welcome friends to our holiday home.
I’m very excited to be showing off our front porch, bedecked with lots of vintage Christmas decorations, chalkboard elements, greenery and bold pops of red, as part of the Welcome Home Tour with a talented group of bloggers. You’ll find links to their home tours at the end of this post.
It might be my favorite space to decorate because I can go crazy with rustic and vintage elements.
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Although this year, I went a little bit different route, focusing on a limited color scheme — red, white, black (with a touch of green) — all inspired by the black buffet I painted this summer and this gorgeous chalkboard ribbon I found LAST CHRISTMAS!
I had plans of using it on the porch last year. I even had a friend make me a bow, but it didn’t really work with last year’s Christmas porch decorating scheme. So, I waited and formulated a plan and shopped clearance sales and crafted and collected chalkboards all year long…
Because decorating is a long game…
Believe you me.
Enough with the chatter, let’s get on with the tour.
This summer, I finally bought a custom black cushion for my vintage bench after trying to find an off-the-shelf one for the past seven years. Old metal benches seats do not come in standard sizes. I totally wish I’d bought this cushion sooner. (And so does Felix, the cat, who likes to nap there and leave his hair behind. Which is why I dragged the vacuum cleaner to the porch earlier this week, neighbors. I don’t normally vacuum my porch!)
I added a cozy buffalo check throw from Target and some inexpensive throw pillows from At Home to create a cozy space to relax and sip a cup of coffee.
As I’m looking at these photos, I’m realizing how well the black buffet works with my chalkboard theme. (Or, as my friend April calls it, vintage schoolhouse!)
The white scrollwork looks like chalk doodles. (If anyone asks, I totally planned it that way!)
And check out that little snowman Jackson and Bruce gave me last year for my birthday.
His little mittens look like tiny chalkboards. Totally planned it!
Ok, but I did totally plan this. How could I pass up these Christmas chalkboard mugs at World Market?
And I used chalk markers to freehand festive sayings on black shatterproof Christmas ornaments in another nod to the chalkboard theme.
Since I love piling on the designer details when I’m decorating, I had to raid my stash of vintage items to finish up the porch. Most of these I’ve collected at yard sales, flea markets, antique sales and through begging, borrowing and stealing (with permission) from my mama.
I’ve ice skated one time in time life — in college — and that was enough. But I own three pair of ice skates because they’re just so darn decorative and photogenic.
Especially when you hang them from a vintage sled or lace then with ticking ribbon.
My Park Hill lanterns aren’t vintage, but they certainly have that look.
It’s always fun to figure out how to fill them and decorate them for the seasons.
I love hanging our red family monogram letter from the largest lantern.
A rusty olive bucket is a great storage bin for faux snowballs. (Jackson and his friends love them; we have had so much fun playing with these plush snowballs. I highly recommend them if you have kids!)
Now that I see the porch all pulled together and can take the time to enjoy it, I am really proud of how it turned out.
Because I’ve been nervous that it wouldn’t measure up to last year’s Christmas porch.
The one that helped me realize a dream I’ve harbored since I started blogging.
I’ve always dreamed of having a space I decorated featured in a magazine.
And that porch was, right there on page 14 of the holiday issue of Cottages & Bungalows magazine. (And it’s going to be featured on a HGTV’s website soon, too!)
Squeal!
Clearly, my porch is having its 15 minutes of fame. So this year’s space has a lot to live up to.
I don’t know what the magazine editors will think, but I love the space and I think it will serve as a nice welcome to guests who visit us during the Christmas season.
Thanks for stopping by. Don’t miss the rest of the Welcome Home Tour participants.
Thursday
Wednesday
Jen with A Girl in the Garage
Julie with Lilacs and Longhorns
Therese with Fresh Idea Studio
Sonya with At Home with the Barkers
Angie with Postcards from the Ridge
Anne with White Lace Cottage
Tuesday
Tammy One More Time Events
Meegan with What Meegan Makes
Pamela with From My Front Porch to Yours
Paula with Sweet Pea
KerryAnne with Shabby Art Boutique
Shanna with Restoration Redoux
[…] 2015 Schoolhouse Inspired Christmas Porch Tour […]