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Simple Christmas Decor ~ Rustic Farmhouse Style

After our Thanksgiving events each year, it has become our family tradition to decorate for Christmas. It mainly stemmed from the fact that this is the only weekend my husband, JC, gets an extra day off. And I figure since I take it down the day after, why not start a bit early. My main goal is for simple Christmas decor and this quilt I found at a garage sale is the key my whole scheme this year.

Worn out Handmade Quilt becomes Upcycled Christmas Decor | Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

When I saw it at a garage sale I got excited. I love old handmade quilts! However, I wasn’t to excited when I saw how worn it was with holes everywhere, even burns. I felt the history it had and bought it anyway knowing I could use it for some other purpose. While my original intent was to make things for my shop, I decided to cut it up to make stockings for my gang of 8. It wasn’t until I found these three oil paintings at the thrift store that made up my mind they would make the perfect soothing Christmas mantel decor.

Rustic Fireplace Mantel with Thrifted Artwork and Handmade Quilt Stockings by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

While last year I went with traditional reds and greens, this year I wanted to have decor that I could leave up after Christmas that had a winter theme. I love the cozy feel this has and my whole family enjoys it too.

Simple Christmas Decor from Upcycled and Thrifted Finds by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

Upcycled Christmas Winter Mantel by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

Each year I have made my bird tree toppers that fly out of my shop, but decided to take a break this year. This is the one I kept for me after 3 years of making them. Isn’t he cute?

Repurposed Barn Beam Peg and Bed Spring Bird Tree Topper by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

THE TREE

Our tree is a hand-me-down and I use cut up thrifted tablecloths to make garland. Almost all the ornaments are handmade, and I even use thrifted lace tablecloths for my tree skirt.

Below is my childhood rocking chair with the lapghan I made my oldest son. Everything in my simple Christmas decor is not perfect, and that’s the way I like it. I really don’t understand the drive of some for magazine-worthy decor. It’s fun, but I like lived-in, loved-on, stuff.

Simple Christmas Vignette for a Rustic Style by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

This rusty buck was at the bottom of a thrift store bin. (love me some #trashure!) I bought all the little woodland type decor on clearance after Christmas last year.

Rustic Farmhouse Style Christmas Decor by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com

Up to the right on my bookshelf, I created a little village of barn wood scraps from our kitchen remodel. These are actually the ends of hand-hewn posts that we’re using to build our peninsula. I can’t tell you how excited I am to get that silly kitchen done!

Barn Wood Christmas Village by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

To the right of this is my Buck – my firewood and railroad spike dude. I have the tutorial on how to make him HERE. He’s so cute he had to come back this year.

DIY Repurposed Log Reindeer by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

I had intended to make more for my shop again this year, but my ol’ shoulder ain’t havin’ it currently. I am doing much better, but playing it smart.

DINING

Now, if you do an about-face, you’ll see our dining area.

Farmhouse Style Christmas Decor ~ Keeping it Simple | Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

Here is the hub of our home where meals happen, but also homeschooling, and just simple fun times. I’ve shared how I made our repurposed lighting with those farmhouse clamps and how I made our window treatments too. It’s a fun read on both accounts.

Repurposed Farmhouse Clamp for Industrial Lighting by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

Oh, and don’t forget how I came about that antique pew. (I got it for FREE! You have to read the story.) The afghan, pillow, baskets, and crocks all came from the thrift store. All except the smaller crock that was my mothers.

Antique Farmhouse Pew with Rustic Christmas Decor by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

CENTERPIECE

My table was going to have a different look, but since I’m taking it easy, I pulled out my barn wood (aka weathered pallets) centerpiece with my canning jars and candles again. It’s so nice to have a stash!

Rustic Christmas Dining Table by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

Reclaimed Wood Centerpiece for Simple Christmas Decor by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

I just took a piece of scrap (cheapie) garland and wrapped around, took a few cuts of my pine and holly bushes and we’re done. Nothing smells better than my beeswax candles.

Simple Christmas Centerpiece with Pine and Holly, and Beeswax Candles in a Reclaimed Wood Trough by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

The room I never really show you is our living room. That’s because it’s my furniture storage place for now and is always a wreck. It is on the list of to-dos, but my oldest daughter always loves to decorate our piano with our favorite simple Christmas decor.

Top of Antique Piano Decorated for Christmas by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

The tiny houses are paper and have flameless votives behind them and look so pretty at night. Those velour trees I made last year and share the tutorial in this post. The mirror was my mother’s and the lamp was a hand-me-down from a neighbor.

Funny story about the mantel scarf. I bought my mother this exact one a few years ago and she has used it every year. She is known for updating all the time, so when I found this scarf at Goodwill I thought for sure she had donated it. ha! Turns out I found another just like it and now we each have one. Fun!

PEACE

For me, Christmas is about the birth of our Savior and what I tell my children is this…if his mother, Mary (or Jesus himself), were to peek in our window, would she be happy with the way we are celebrating her son’s birth? Are we focused on things or on His coming. While it’s easy to get caught up in the season with it being thrown in our faces at every moment, I try to keep it focused on simple.

Do I think highly decorated homes lack Christ? Not at all. Simplicity is what does it for me and my family. God created us all unique and it is the flavor of variety that makes life fun. My greatest prayer and hope for all of you is to find Peace.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Peace on Earth Embroidered on a Thrifted Sweater in an Embroidery Hoop by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

I hope you have enjoyed this mini tour of our home as we prepare for this special season. Do pin and share to encourage others that their home doesn’t have to be magazine-worthy, just full of people and things they love.

Keep it Simple This Christmas and Focus on What's Important ~ A Rustic Farmhouse Christmas by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodiglapieces.com In the meantime, be sure to sign up for my newsletter because I’ll be sharing later this week how this dresser got a new look. HEAD HERE.

Queen Anne Dresser Before Makeover by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

Have a blessed week!

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Also, more simple Christmas decor tutorials for you:

Create a faux barn wood wall quilt using laminate flooring with this easy DIY tutorial by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.comAn Art Deco waterfall chest of drawers makes the perfect Volkswagen Bus. This time around it's all about that RED by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

Comments

  1. Debrashoppeno5 says

    I think your Christmas decorations are absolutely charming. I tend to decorate like you do and bring out the handcrafted, collected and gifted items year after year. It all adds personality and meaning.

  2. Susan says

    I like how you ask the children to imagine a scenario where Mary peeks in their window, and then asking if she would like how we made our home ready to celebrate her Son’s birthday. It’s a nice way to help them (and us) focus on the reason for the season.

    • Larissa says

      They like that idea too and we discuss our home. It certainly isn’t perfect, but it works for us. Thank you!

  3. Cheryl says

    Very beautiful!! Love the idea of a lace tablecloth for your Christmas tree, as a ribbon and a tree skirt. Great idea!!

    • Larissa says

      It was much cheaper than buying lace spools and I love the idea of reusing. Thanks!

  4. melinda says

    May God bless you and your family this Christmas season; I so enjoy your blog. What a wonderful way to use an old quilt that had seen it’s time!

    • Larissa says

      Thank you so much, Melinda. The more that life throws my way, the more I ache for simple.

  5. Becky says

    Lovely simplicity! That was a GREAT use for a tired quilt! And yep, it’s all about Christ and family here too. : )

    • Larissa says

      Good for you, Becky! If it weren’t that the quilt was falling apart as it sat, I would have kept it, even for picnics. But, now it should last much longer in this form.

  6. Marie from The Interior Frugalista says

    You know how much I admire your talent for turning junk into treasures. There is no exception in the way you do it for the holidays as well. Love the rustic, warm, simplicity and charm! Everything in your home has a story – what’s not to love about that. Beautiful decorating – beautiful message, Larissa. Pinning and sharing 🙂
    P.S. Glad to hear your shoulder is mending.

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Marie. I don’t want to sound snooty, but I just can’t stand box store decorations. I want it to be our home decor made by me and those I love. Yes, shoulder is almost up to par, so I’m giving it a workout on that dresser and so far so good!

  7. Karen Baumgardner says

    Hello,
    I love your simple decor and am ready to do the same this year. No more craziness and being so tired from decorating and making everything “perfect” that I don’t enjoy the holidays myself! I think your home is charming and worthy of a magazine. As for your blog, it is one of 3 I look forward to each day. Wonderful makeovers on all the furniture and repurposed items.

    • Larissa says

      I had a revelation one year that I was so in to making it cozy that I was missing out on life. No more for me. Just simple and lots of loving on those that matter most to me. Thank you!

  8. Darlene says

    Love all of your decorating and refinishing jobs. Have always loved to fix and reuse items that no one else wanted.

  9. Sandy Koenig says

    You are a lovely lady, and even though we do not know each other I love your spirit and creativity. You inspire me and I want to thank you for sharing with all of us. God Bless you and your family.

    • Larissa says

      That is very sweet of you to say, Sandy. It’s my absolute pleasure and blessing that I can share. Thank you!

  10. Sandy from California says

    You are a lovely lady, and even though we do not know each other I love your spirit and creativity. You inspire me and I want to thank you for sharing with all of us. God Bless you and your family.

    • Larissa says

      You have made my day, Sandy, as you are seeing what I’m trying to share. Thank you so much.

  11. Katrina says

    Love what you share….spent many summers in Loundonville, OH..love Ashland and Mansfield too!! Keep up the great work..glad your shoulder is healing nicely.

  12. Cheryl B. says

    Your Owl,winter paintings,seed pillows,candle holder on your table I adore this.Such great holiday decor.Your owl wants to live with me,my grams had owl lamps my whole life.They were great I love owls.

    • Larissa says

      aww…she is a gal after my own heart. We are avid bird lovers here and your grandma would fit right in!

  13. Cecilia says

    Thank you, Larissa. I’ve been struggling with the my home doesn’t look like a magazine layout. As much as I try not to get caught up in the perfection on blogland, it still haunts me at times. Your home is so warm and cozy looking. I love all the sweet meaningful touches. The stockings look great – what a perfect use for an old worn quilt! Now it gets to live on, still loved. (Happy sigh)

  14. Cathy Klose says

    Love your home decorated for the holidays. I love the fact that you use hand made and/or have re-purposed items throughout your house. Your idea of using tablecloths for garland, brilliant! I also love the fact that your things are not perfect but they have meaning to you. That’s what I try to do throughout our home. When my daughter comes home for the holidays, she loves to go around and see what I have done different this year or she looks for the things that there every year such as her baby shoes on the tree.
    Happy Holidays to you and your family.

    • Larissa says

      That is such a sweet sentiment, Cathy. I’m sure those will be memories she cherishes forever. Thank you for stopping by!

  15. Karen Ploransky says

    I Love you tree topper! You home looks yummy and cozy and welcoming. Handmade, recycled and upcycled decorations are the best!! K

    • Larissa says

      They are, for me, my family’s story being told over and over again. Thank you, Karen.

  16. Mary-the boondocks blog says

    Larissa that was such a smart idea to use the quilt to make stockings for the whole family. I love a good repurpose. I hope that you and your family have a blessed Christmas.

    • Larissa says

      It was kinda something I wanted to do, but wasn’t brave enough to cut. Oh, I had so many thoughts going through my head about the people who not only lovingly put that quilt together, but who is was given to and used by. So much love.

  17. Laura stewart says

    I have to pick just ONE?! I love it all but I think that centerpiece has my heart! It all looks so wonderful!

    • Larissa says

      You are so sweet to stop by, Laura. Thank you so much and I wish you the merriest of Christmases!

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