This is a home decor confession safe haven, right? I can confess all the holiday home decor feely feelings to y’all, and not feel guilty or feel horrible about the things swirling in my head? Ok, confession: I have thought of backing out of this home tour because I worry my decorations aren’t good enough, green enough, perfect enough. These home tour envy feelings of comparison are horribly horrible. The home tours of my dreams are simply stunning and perfect and everything my house looks like… in my mind.
You can be sure these perfect home tours with the most pristine magazine worthy photos have a heap of laundry in the closet hiding. They have a carpet stain hidden underneath a beautifully stunning area rug. Just out of that perfect Instagram square frame, real life is happening. There’s Photoshop and Lightroom and PicMonkey and filters a plenty.
When you get lost in the comparison game, you really do find yourself miserable, defeated, scared, and feeling less-than. I’ve told myself so many times to remember that no matter how perfect looking a photo may be, there is always something happening outside the frame we don’t get to see. Even though I know these secret secrets, it doesn’t matter. Even though I’m a blogger too, and I edit some of my photos to be brighter so you can actually see the subject of my post for the horrible lighting, or hide my laundry out of the frame because you’d cringe at the height of the piles, I still am plagued by the comparison bug.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” Teddy Roosevelt certainly knew what he was talking about. I wanted to bail on this tour, wallow in not having the things I love about all these big stunning home tours. I was bitten by the comparison bug, and it stole my joy.
But here’s the thing about decorating… your home is your home. There’s a reason why your home is decorated the way it is… it’s yours.
In the spirit of this farmhouse Christmas decor home tour, my friends and I have teamed up to bring you a Super Simple Holiday Home Tour! We let you in our homes to see decorations we’ve made, displayed, and shared to inspire you to love all your home for the holidays.
The Playroom
If you’re a white light person, you might find yourself with tons of colored lights on a short little tree in their playroom because that’s what your kids begged you for… and it actually looks pretty adorable. There are tons of kid-made glittery ornaments on their tree because they all hold a special place for you and your family.
Family Room
You were dying for a beautiful flocked tree, but didn’t realize the flocking wasn’t available on Amazon Prime (what!?) and that no where on God’s green Earth is this stuff available in a brick-and-mortar because you waited SO LONG TO GET IT, so you break all the rules and lightly sprayed the tree tips with the snow spray that clearly states to not.
The tree is lopsided with ornaments not in perfect locations because the kids put them on where they wanted, and used the bead garland as a tug-o-war rope and broke it. The closest thing you have to a mantle is the top of your Kallax cubbie unit from Ikea, so you add garland, leave the vintage spools, add candles and call it a day. On the mid century modern piece of TV table glory, lies some greens underneath the birch log Advent wreath your husband made. The purple and rose candles are traditional and your husband went hunting specifically for those on a crazy trip to Jo-Anns. Each time you look at it, you know she’s there. Those generic pillows needed covers, so while you were hot glueing the curtains (you’ll see those below) you hot glued a few pillow covers because the thought of non-matching pillows was just too much to bear.
Hallway
There are mini stockings from the Target dollar spot hung on the short railing because there is no mantle, and the stockings you made 5 years ago to match the ruffle tree skirt, are somehow missing.
Kitchen
The blue plaid curtains you made don’t flow with the Christmas decor, so you hot glue some white fabric with red pom pom trim, added a bunting and called it done. After of course, you wrote on it in your fanciest handwriting fancy font.
Porch & Dining Room
The porch and dining room are about the only places where you have full control over what goes where, which must have something to do with all the coffee consumed in those places.
The handmade sign you made looks amazing, with all the cuttings from the trees, juniper and boxwood in the burlap wreath and boots, and the garland isn’t as fluffy in real life as it is in your mind, but it looks adorable anyway. You still imagine there are the burlap bows on the railings, but you have to stop somewhere. The dining room is where the coffee happens, so it’s only appropriate the fruit in the antique scale your children eat, gets the boot for cinnamon pinecones.
It’s crazy, isn’t it? All the things you think aren’t good enough, are actually just perfect. All of these gorgeous home tours are just simply perfect. Sometimes you just have to commit to your own decor and remember there’s someone out there envious of your decor, and the stories behind it. Holiday decorating is so personal, don’t ever let yourself feel like your home or decorations are less than. They aren’t, because they’re everything, and they’re yours. Have a blessed holiday season with your family and friends!
Get inspired to keep it real, and enjoy my friends’ homes in our Super Simple Holiday Home Tour!
Girlfriend, I just can’t even with this post. And your lovely home!!! It’s so perfectly cozy and comfy and I just want to sit and chat there with you for hours!!!!!! I. Absolutely. Love. It. Xoxo!!!
Oh, my, lanta! I don’t even know where to start with all the holiday goodness. I have stocking envy, that Advent candle holder is fantastical, and I love your usage of oranges.
Of course, your front porch always has me swooning!
Kim your house is fantastical!!! I am so glad you didn’t back out!! The kids little tree is so cute!! The touches of Christmas are just perfect and so you!! I love everything about this 🙂 And that porch!!! Have a very Merry Christmas!!!
Amen sista! I’m in shock that you would even consider not participating! Your home is simply beautiful! So much love and beauty there! Thanks for sharing my own sentiments on comparison. So funny but true!
Your home looks beautiful and the story of your lopsided tree cracks me up. Real life! I love those little Target stockings and they look beautiful hanging on your stairs. Have a Merry Christmas!
I love your tour from beginning to end. I’d love to come and sit on that big, beautiful porch and rock in that sweet rocker, drink coffee, listen for the marvelous sounds of farming, and chat. Especially just chat. Your house has a wonderful spirit of hospitality that permeates every photo and encourages with every word. How sad for all the perfect homes that for all their perfection…seem vacant of this lovely gift. In comparison, You, my dear, are the big winner. But, I pray you will not let that be the joy —let Him remain your joy…. Bless you for joining the tour. I’m so proud of you and your courage. I know how nerve wrecking it can be. Merry Christmas XOXO Susie from The Chelsea Project
Oh Kim, aren’t the comparisons we allow to enter our brains the worst? Everyone has their own taste and style and I wish we could help others know what we know, the real story happens behind the camera. Not that what we create and share is fake, it’s just tidier than in real life.
Your home, my friend is so very lovely! The beautiful tree in the playroom is perfect, I have a tongue depressor and Popsicle stick ornaments on my tree too ? I love all he greenery you’ve added and the cullendar on the coffee table, the sweet railing and that porch. I’ve always wanted a porch…..like yours ?
Kim, I’m also glad that you decided to face the fear and do it anyway!!! Your front porch is gorgeous and I love your lopsided tree. Your home has personality and charm that can not be staged!!! Happy Holiday’s and BTW the kids tree with colored light is so cute!!!
Such cute touches! I love your “Oh Holy Night” sign and the stockings on your railing! I think next year we will hang our there since we don’t have a mantel either! Oh! and I have the same chalkboard sign but it’s blank because I couldn’t think of a 6 letter word! Off to add Jingle to mine!
Girlfriend, I just can’t even with this post. And your lovely home!!! It’s so perfectly cozy and comfy and I just want to sit and chat there with you for hours!!!!!! I. Absolutely. Love. It. Xoxo!!!
Oh, my, lanta! I don’t even know where to start with all the holiday goodness. I have stocking envy, that Advent candle holder is fantastical, and I love your usage of oranges.
Of course, your front porch always has me swooning!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Girlfriend!
XOXO
Kim your house is fantastical!!! I am so glad you didn’t back out!! The kids little tree is so cute!! The touches of Christmas are just perfect and so you!! I love everything about this 🙂 And that porch!!! Have a very Merry Christmas!!!
I’m so glad you joined in on the tour Kim! Your home is gorgeous, and I am majorly envious of your porch!
Amen sista! I’m in shock that you would even consider not participating! Your home is simply beautiful! So much love and beauty there! Thanks for sharing my own sentiments on comparison. So funny but true!
Your home looks beautiful and the story of your lopsided tree cracks me up. Real life! I love those little Target stockings and they look beautiful hanging on your stairs. Have a Merry Christmas!
I love your tour from beginning to end. I’d love to come and sit on that big, beautiful porch and rock in that sweet rocker, drink coffee, listen for the marvelous sounds of farming, and chat. Especially just chat. Your house has a wonderful spirit of hospitality that permeates every photo and encourages with every word. How sad for all the perfect homes that for all their perfection…seem vacant of this lovely gift. In comparison, You, my dear, are the big winner. But, I pray you will not let that be the joy —let Him remain your joy…. Bless you for joining the tour. I’m so proud of you and your courage. I know how nerve wrecking it can be. Merry Christmas XOXO Susie from The Chelsea Project
Omg…Kim…your home is spectacular and PERFECT in every way. Thanks for all your inspiration and for keeping it real.
Oh Kim, aren’t the comparisons we allow to enter our brains the worst? Everyone has their own taste and style and I wish we could help others know what we know, the real story happens behind the camera. Not that what we create and share is fake, it’s just tidier than in real life.
Your home, my friend is so very lovely! The beautiful tree in the playroom is perfect, I have a tongue depressor and Popsicle stick ornaments on my tree too ? I love all he greenery you’ve added and the cullendar on the coffee table, the sweet railing and that porch. I’ve always wanted a porch…..like yours ?
Kim, I’m also glad that you decided to face the fear and do it anyway!!! Your front porch is gorgeous and I love your lopsided tree. Your home has personality and charm that can not be staged!!! Happy Holiday’s and BTW the kids tree with colored light is so cute!!!
Such cute touches! I love your “Oh Holy Night” sign and the stockings on your railing! I think next year we will hang our there since we don’t have a mantel either! Oh! and I have the same chalkboard sign but it’s blank because I couldn’t think of a 6 letter word! Off to add Jingle to mine!