I loved my Christmas decorating so much last year that I don't want to change anything this year. Which means I'm satisfied. Which is disconcerting.
Last year's Christmas decorating looked like Downton Abbey's upstairs crashed into the downstairs. It was (for me anyway) a perfect mix of Lady Mary and Daisy.
Everything. I loved it all. I loved the pedestal of cedar and oranges in the living room. I loved the train on the dining room table. I LOVED the long tailed satin bows on the tree, pale blue and red. Everything.
Yet, I know myself and the thickness of my head. So I know I might change it up.
In which case, I figured I'd better show you last year's Christmas decorating right now because I really don't think I'm ever going to do better than this and there could be a few bits of inspiration in it for your own Christmas decorating this year.
And here it is, the Christmas House Tour of 2022.
Welcome to my annual Christmas House Tour. I've fallen deep into the wrinkles of Victorian gramma house vibes.
Typically my house tours don't have a ton of writing to them. It's mainly photos of the house at Christmas and not much needs to be said.
This year there are just a couple of new things but for some reason the house, the decorations, everything looks entirely different.
A big part of that is due to the fact that I've been able to move my tree from my foyer into my living room.
There's a case to be had for having the tree in the foyer - it's what I get to look at from my seat on the sofa every night.
The way the tree is now, in the living room, it's behind where my head is so I never really get to see it. That sentence will make more sense to you when you see the photo.
So let's go down the hall, and through the doors into the dining room, where my second tree is, shall we?
New this year: red balls and blue satin ribbon bows hanging off the tree to match the gifts underneath. Otherwise, the decorations on this tree are the same as they've been for the past decade.
Also new this year ... a train set. I'd prefer the look of an antique one buttttttt this one does something fun. Plus it uses a rechargeable battery.
It lights up and has train sounds. It has a red headlight and the cabin lights are warm white.
But that's not the best part. This is.
It has actual steam.
Thank you for joining me in the happiest moment of my life.
Buy the steam engine train on Amazon US.
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Buy the steam engine train on Amazon Canada.
Also I decided that my beautiful wrapping needed some random gift wrap around them. It was too matchy matchy. Perfect is poison. So I wrapped a few in unexpected paper.
Let's do a U-turn and head back into the foyer.
Nothing here is new this year. Same old stuff arranged in a different way.
Except for the ceramic Christmas tree on the bench above. That's new. I had to. It's a classic.
Check out the velvet curtains on Amazon US.
Check out the velvet curtains on Amazon Canada.
Just a bunch of trees.
If you'd be so kind as to turn around and face the opposite direction, you will be ready to walk into the living room.
Welcome.
Ta DA. Tree in the living room. Any of the design hawk eyes among you probably noticed the random bright yellow present. Perfect is poison.
I just made that up so I'm going to use it a lot.
New this year are the blue velvet curtains and the red and blue silk ribbon bows on the tree. All the other decorations are the same. Antique glass ornaments, and dried orange slices. I also shoved a Santa sitting in chair decoration into the tree.
Yup. My whole life changed when I threw half of that sofa out.
Here's a funny end to the story. I took these photos yesterday - and I've already moved things around.
At the moment the train tracks on the dining room table are bigger and more rectangular. In the centre are all the trees from the marble foyer table. I've moved the ceramic tree into ...
You know what? If I haven't changed it back again in the next couple of days, I'll just take more photos and do another Christmas House Tour.
But I think I'm going to change it back so don't start looking forward to it or anything. In fact push that idea right out of your mind because at the rate I change things up I'd be doing a new Christmas House Tour post every day until January 3rd or 4th.
Erin
L❤️VING this post and I am here for it ALL!! I want to be just like you when I grow up… whenever that is. Fingers crossed for me. HA!
You are forever an inspiration! And heck yes, perfect IS poison. My daughter’s violin teacher always tells her “Practice makes better “ and I love that! Have a beautiful holiday season!
Karen
Thanks Erin! ` karen!
JennieLou
My favorite Christmas decoration of yours is the artfully placed poodle. I think I'll copy with mine, although I'll probably place it on our bed, where it always goes!
Karen
Poodles are naturally artful. It's their thing. :) ~ karen!
Susan Stowell
“Lip” is the perfect decoration!
Lynn
😀 fantastic Karen. As for random yellow present I believe it gives a spot to reflect on everything around it.
One thing that’s always half hidden in our tree each year is 3 hand made mice a sleep in their beds . A friend made them almost 34 years ago.
To make it’s simple
half a walnut shell ( will be his bed)
Full hazelnut shell (it will be the head of mouse)that will fit in walnut shell
2 pieces of felt about size of your index fingernail (for the ears)
About 1/4 to 1/2 cotton ball ( this will be for his blanket)
Little over a square inch of small printed cotton Christmas fabric (to use as his blanket)
About 4 inches of Either ribbon or Christmas coloured yarn ( this will be loop to hang him plus his tail hanging out from bottom of blanket.)
Hot glue to hold everything in place.
Fine tip black marker face on hazelnut ( 2 eyes closed, a nose… pointy point on hazelnut will be his mouth. Oh an don’t forget to put lines for whiskers.
I would give picture , though this year we are not going to be home so decorations are not getting unpacked.
Karen
Cute! Nutty really. ~ karen!
susang
could you please give more nformation about the dining rom doors love the idea
Karen
Hi Susan. They're antique doors that I found at a flea market 2 years ago. I bought them not knowing where they would go, so I put them where they would fit. As it happens they fit between my foyer and dining room perfectly. They're just 2 small double doors but I love 'em. ~ karen!
Christine Robinson
Hi Karen,
I saw this post last year and was entranced with with all your Christmas decor, but especially the train. I am thinking of getting it for my daughter and son-in-law this year. Are you still happy with it? I am looking forward to this years Christmas decorations but I don't know how you will top last years!
Karen
I don't know either, lol. I don't want to change anything, it was GREAT. And yes I still love the train. :) ~ karen!
Jan Goodman-Willits
I have always enjoyed your blog and LOVE your sense of humor. This is the first video I've seen - it was AWESOME to see (and hear) you in person. How the hell do you look so good when you're sick??? Hope you feel better soon. Thanks for all you do!!
Karen
Hi Jan! Thanks so much. Not to worry, that was from last year! I'm not sick now. I remember rewatching the live video at the time thinking ... wow, I don't look as sick as I feel, lol. ~ karen!
Catherine Powers
ITS POSITIVELY DREAMY! The tree looks magical in its new spot! I’m inspired every time I see a new post! Thank you so much!
Karen
Thanks Catherine! That's why I'm so conflicted about changing the decorating this year. It looked so good! ~ karen
Marilyn Meagher
Looks beautiful but I would expect nothing less.
Mary W
I will always think my best Christmas wrapping was done the year you showed the presents with little trucks driving through snow and trees glued onto the tops of your packages. I copied the best I could and added my own touches; a small dog next to a yellow spot on the snow under the tree, and charcoalish speckled boot prints leading through the faux snow to a tiny cabin. It was a well loved and remembered Christmas morning when everyone arrived to find their own special present but no one wanted to take the wrapping off. I thank you, your highness of Christmas, for one wonderful, family filled, old fashioned Christmas - bless you!
Karen
I LOVED that wrapping too. Entire scenes on top of Christmas presents!
Kim Arrowsmith Mohr
Well, aren't you über-organized – although I admit that I am a bit suspicious that your shopping is done and all wrapped up for this year. ;)
That train looks like something that would be a fun addition. Clicking on your amazon.ca link (I'm in ON too) to the train, then further down in your post seeing your general amazon.ca link made me realize that it appears that it's not just the direct links, like to the train, to Amazon purchases that enable you to earn a bit of $$ on what a reader buys, but that you have a link we can use to buy *anything* on Amazon and you earn a bit of money with each of our purchases. Is that right? If so, I will bookmark it for future Amazon purchases as it seems a small, easy, and at-no-extra-cost-to-me way (and to other readers who shop Amazon) to say thank you for what you do to enlighten and entertain us.
Karen
Hi Kim! Well, this is last year so no, everything isn't bought and wrapped yet, lol. It's just me ruminating that I did it right last year. In my mind anyway. And thanks for your attention to my income! If you're a subscriber to my posts, every email has a link to my Amazon link at the bottom of it. You can drag it right to your desktop and use it whenever you want to buy anything from Amazon. Anytime you use that link to buy anything - I get credit. :) ~ karen!
Auntiepatch
I hate to tell you what your tree would look like after my male cat, Crash, got through with it! He seems to think that the Christmas tree is his personal gift. I put bells on it to let me know when he is about to strip the tree. We have had a number of cats in the last 50 years, male & female, and they either ignore it or think it's a play toy. When I was 9 months PG, my kitten Purrl, took it down twice, smashing ALL of my antique ornaments. I finally tied it INSIDE the playpen. She could still climb it, but I didn't have to redress it again!
Randy P
Apologies, but my aged geezer brain refuses to even acknowledge the existence of Christmas until my aged geezer digestive system has finished with my Thanksgiving feast. I recognize and appreciate that you good folks up there have already enjoyed your turkey day, which through some sort of space-time vortex happened before Halloween candy? I am SO confused.
Karen
I know. Due to these circumstances Canadians are able to enjoy each holiday and the calories they offer to the fullest degree. ~ karen!
Randy P
Hah! In some ways Canada is the jewel of North America, not in all ways perhaps, but doubtless some. Down here it feels like the Christmas decoration items come out in the stores right after the 4th of July BBQs - lol I try to keep the proper separation of holidays, if nowhere else in my mind. And yes I recognize the near herculean efforts you exert to make your home seasonally splendid.
marlana
Merry Christmas
Look for a package on the 29th.I put everything you sent me on the shipping label, p o box and street address both, I hope that's right, the fedx kid was as clueless as I am.
Karen
That is right! I'll keep an eye out. So exciting! ~ karen
Marlana Kemphues
Your blue velvet curtains were the push I needed to hit the buy now button on 5 pair of golden brown velvet drapes I'd been lusting after. I'm swanning around my living room in a vintage kimono like some smoldering Latin lover is pouring the wine by firelight....nope it's just the cat and an overdose of eggnog and imagination. But the curtains are a start
Karen
THAT'S what I'm missing! A vintage kimono! ~ karen
marlana Kemphues
Send me an address
marlana Kemphues
I did some overseas shopping at 3:00 a.m. last Christmas and somehow ended up with nine vintage kimonos. Send me an address and one of them is yours. It would make me very happy to have someone who would enjoy wearing it
Karen
No! You're kidding! How did you get 9 vintage kimonos?? Where do you even buy vintage kimonos from? I'm not even going to pretend to be coy. Yes, I'd love a vintage kimono. But I won't hold you to it because I know that packing something up and taking it to the post office is a pain.
The Art of Doing Stuff
P.O. Box 65518,
133 King Street West
Dundas, Ontario, ON L9H 1Y6
Canada
marlana Kemphues
Hi, did you get the kimono? It was supposed to arrive on 12/29. Isent it to the address you posted
Karen
Marlana! It did! But there was some confusion with the driver and the address for some reason so it came a day or so late. It's beautiful, I love it! All the hand stitching. I'm fully prepared to elegantly roam my house in the wee hours now. Thank you so much. ~ karen!
Pat
Karen, Your home looks beautiful as always. You had my dream tree in your foyer in 2021. It was tall, slender and lots of hanging room to see the ornaments. I suppose some would call it sparse. Please tell me what it was. Thanks!
Karen
I loved that tree as well! My sister thought it was hilarious and pathetic. 😆 ~ karen!
Carol
Looks beautiful. Love the way you placed everything. So homey.
TucsonPatty
Just beautiful as usual, Karen. I love the long-tailed ribbons. 😊 I get hives thinking about having to put everything away, after the holidays, so I stopped putting out inside the house. I don’t have my Christmas wreath on the front door, yet, and I’ll string lights around my “poles in a pyramid/tree shape” in the front yard. I also hang a “wad-o-lights” from the mesquite tree. (One year I came home to see the neighbors frantically trying to put lights up on the roofline, on Christmas Eve. They had the biggest mess of lights, and the idea was born. I think it is very funny, and I think my daughter gets the joke, but everyone else is probably out there, just wondering.
Your house is gorgeous, as usual, and two trees make it awesome. You’re the best, Karen!
Maria
Just lovely. I adore the curtains. I’ve done nothing save the Spode in the China cabinet inside, but the neighbor kid after Halloween said, you really do it up for Halloween, but not so much for Christmas. Well, that was a throw down! The outside of my house looks like a Christmas miracle, but the inside isn’t going to make it up this year.
Karen
LOL. It's hard to be really good at both, it takes energy! Although if you're feeling the Spode is too much, just ship it along to me and I'll make sure it's displayed every year. ;) ~ karen!
Laura O
TucsonPatty: Did I read your comment correctly?! You “stopped putting out in the house”??!!! Brilliant! That’s one good way to get a partner to get that outdoor building turned into a she-shed PDQ! 😂
TucsonPatty
😂😂😂😂
I really should proofread better, eh?!
Thanks for the laugh!