Transforming Your Abode into a Fantastical Frost-Filled Fairyland in 4 Simple Steps
Christmas excitement begins early in the abode of Sarah Thompson, a home content blogger and social media influencer. "Once I became an adult and moved out of my mom's place, I was like, 'November 1—that's when I'm decorating for Christmas. I don't care what others say.'"
For the winter months, Thompson's home transforms from a simple dwelling into a magical winter landscape, thanks to garlands, DIY accents, gentle pastel shades, and twinkling lights. The lively aesthetic pays tribute to both maximalism and country-style motifs. It reflects the homeowner's personality and feels warm and inviting rather than cold and overly perfect.
Discover how Thompson introduces a magical feel to her home during the Christmas season and learn how to do the same in yours.
1. Bring Playfulness with DIY Projects
The enchanting charm of whimsical Christmas decor lies in its emphasis on creativity over precision. For Thompson, this means incorporating DIY projects into her home decor. "I love to DIY ornaments and dried oranges," she shares. These low-effort projects contribute to the comfortable, handmade sensation in Thompson's home.
On her TikTok page, Thompson shares numerous DIY decor projects, like paper chains, dried orange slice garlands, and yarn ornaments. She highlights that various fashionable Christmas decor items, such as velvet bow ornaments, garlands, and stockings, are straightforward to create yourself and often budget-friendly.
2. Display a Variety of Garlands
Flocked, evergreen, dried, and felt garlands fill Thompson's home during the holiday season. Mixing garlands creates a comfortable and inviting space that embodies the core principles of the whimsical style. Thompson layers different textures—such as an evergreen garland combined with a decorative gold one—and loosely wraps twinkling lights around the garlands.
3. Incorporate Celestial Themes
One of the key differences between whimsical Christmas decor and other holiday styles is the inclusion of out-of-this-world elements. Introduce celestial themes like stars, glitter, and golden accents to your decor. For her tree, Thompson uses gold star ornaments and finishes it off with a celestial tree topper.
A simple, inexpensive way to add celestial touches to your decor is with twinkling star-shaped lights. You'll find these star lights in almost every room of Thompson's home, where she uses them to brighten up spaces year-round. In her kitchen, star lights line the shelves holding glasses with metallic stars.
4. Spruce up Common Spaces
To create a whimsical winter wonderland, decorate every inch of your home. If you're unsure where to begin, try embellishing a frequently used, less-adorned area. For example, add Santa-themed mugs to your coffee bar or miniature wreaths to your kitchen cabinets.
Thompson adds playful bottlebrush trees and snowflake-pattern cutting boards to shelves in her kitchen. In her bedroom, she adorns her canopy bed frame with garlands and uses a gingerbread man throw pillow. Small additions can turn your entire house into a whimsical winter wonderland.
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- In the spirit of holidays entertaining, Sarah Thompson often incorporates 'BHG' (Better Homes and Gardens) inspired ideas into her Christmas decor, ensuring a mix of traditional and contemporary elements.
- Transforming her space for Christmas, Thompson uses a variety of garlands, including felt, flocked, and evergreen, creating a cozy and whimsical atmosphere, reminiscent of 'Holidays Entertaining' magazine covers.
