Simple French Inspired Christmas Entryway
Hi everyone! I’m joining some blogging friends today for a small blog hop sharing Christmas inspiration. I actually intended to share my Christmas entryway as part of my Front Porch Tour last week, but I hadn’t finished the garland and just couldn’t swing it that early. Then I had several cloudy days which made taking pictures impossible, so it just worked out to share it now.
My Simple French Inspired Christmas Entryway is reflective of the way I’m feeling right now. As it gets closer to the holiday, I’m really craving some simplicity amidst all of the craziness. At this point, I’m starting to get overwhelmed with all that needs to be done and all I want is some decor that gives the house a cozy, Christmas-y vibe, yet doesn’t involve too much work. The last thing I want to do is drive all over town getting supplies, or spend hours decorating when I’ve still got cards, shopping, and wrapping to do! So if you’re feeling the same way, yet still want to add some holiday cheer, this post might just inspire you!
Welcome to my entryway! This is the view you see when you first walk in the door, so of course I wanted it to have some Christmas decor, but as I said, it’s already later in the season and I definitely didn’t want to go all out only to take it down two weeks from now! A simple fresh garland on the stair railing, a wreath on the mirror, and my paperwhites are enough to add some holiday spirit!
The mirror, urn, sconces, art and baskets are all vintage. The candlesticks are from Pottery Barn and the console table is from Wisteria.
If you read my French Inspired Family Room Tour, you would know that this is my first year ever growing paperwhites and I’m loving them!
They are so low fuss, no muss!! You don’t even need dirt to plant them! Just gravel and water and they sprout on their own. They are seriously low-maintenance and boy, have they grown quickly! I tend to have a bit of a black thumb when it comes to indoor plants, so believe me, if I can grow these, anyone can! And I love how they look in my vintage French urn.
My collection of vintage and reproduction Belsnickle Santas sits on another entryway table. These I already own and I usually bring them out every year. There’s something about them that just makes me happy!
It’s amazing how anything can be made Christmas-y just by adding some greens! Here I tied some of the extra greens which were left over from the tree to the top of this painting in the entry.
The garland is real pine garland that I purchased at my local Trader Joe’s. I also added some eucalyptus to add a little dimension to it and I love it! I simply shoved it in here and there and it really makes it more interesting than the pine alone.
With the ribbon, I actually wanted a different color, or even to mix two, but we were going for low fuss here so I simply used ribbon I already had.
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I know sometimes it can seem like we need to do more to celebrate the holidays; more decorations, more lights, more spending. It’s easy to get caught up in that. But I really think it’s the opposite. We sometimes miss the meaning of the holiday during all that rushing around. So take time to slow down. Savor the moments with family and friends. Treasure the good feelings that the season brings. It truly does feel different this time of year, and for me, this is one of the best things about the season.
I decorate to create a warm and welcoming home, but the true meaning of the season lies in the people I share this home with, not in how it looks. Years from now I know my children will remember the family game nights, trips to look at neighborhood lights, and tree trimming, much more than any of the decorations.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season. One that is full of warmth, and laughter, and love.
Sheila
xo
Your entry is so pretty! Just the perfect amount of seasonal touches. I love the green velvet ribbon around the paperwhites! Such a pretty way to keep them upright.
Thanks so much Susan! I used faux paper whites this year and still used the ribbon 😉
Happy holidays to you!
Sheila
xo
Hi Sheila! Your simple approach to the holidays appeals to me and has got me thinking about Christmas decor. Last year I decided to not have a tree and I liked the feel of just a few simple things to bring the season alive. Your decor is just lovely. Hugs, Pat @ Bringing French Country Home
Thanks so much for your kind words Pat, I truly appreciate it!
And thank you for stopping by:)
Sheila
Sheila What a classic elegant entry! I always love how you make even the littlest thing look so chic and I’m obsessed with paper whites, especially in a french urn! Always a show stopper! So fun hopping with you again my friend!
xoxo
Kim & Lacey
Thanks so much Kim! I think I’m obsessed with them too:)
Love hopping with you too – Merry Christmas!
Sheila
xo
Sheila I love your gorgeous entry! So sophisticated and elegant! I just love your style and your home this Christmas is so beautiful! C’est vraiment chic, mon ami! xox
Sheila, this is so elegant and sophisticated! I love your style so much! Your entry is the perfectly styled, so simple and chic et vraiment Francaise!! xo
Aww that is SO kind Tamara – thank you so much!
Love you sweet friend:) and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Sheila
xo
I love your simple styling and your perspective on the holidays! I gotta get me some paper whites!
Thank you Jen! And you should get some – they are the easiest (and prettiest) thing I’ve grown that requires absolutely no ability at all!
Hope you have a Merry Christmas my friend!
Sheila
xo
Sheila,
How beautiful your entry is!! I think you really hit the sweet spot of just enough holiday cheer yet still understated and elegant. I love your vintage pieces, especially the sconces. I guessed wrong on the console table – I thought it was Eloquence, but it’s stunning in any case… 🙂 What a beautiful welcome to come home to!
Aww thank you Lory! That’s always the challenge isn’t it? To do enough, but to know when enough is enough, too:)
And I wish my table WAS Eloquence! Wisteria is like the knock off Eloquence, haha!
Happy Holidays to you my friend!
Sheila
xo
Sheila! This entry is just gorgeous!!! I can’t believe how much your paper whites have grown! They look beautiful, my friend. Loving all your gorgeous greens this year! Merry Christmas!!!! xoxo
Can you believe it? They grow sooo fast! I will definitely do them again now that I know how easy they are!
And thank you my friend! Merry Christmas to you as well:)
Sheila
xo
Those baskets you got at my sale look lovely there.
Thanks Marcy!
Sheila
Sheila, your entryway and the touches you shared today are spot-on perfect.
I absolutely adore your style. It’s classic, classy, elegant, warm, inviting and gorgeous.
Well done, ma’am.
I need to get my pics posted before Christmas is over, haha. There are a million reasons why I haven’t,
wish there were more hours in a day.
Oh yes, more hours in the day would be wonderful wouldn’t it?! Maybe I could wish for that for Christmas, haha!
Thank you so much for your comment – it is so sweet! You truly made my day Michele, and I thank you for stopping by!
Happy Holidays to you!
Sheila
Your entry looks so pretty! I loved your note about how the holidays are about who you spend them with. It is so true!
Aww thank you Ashley. The season is really about people isn’t it? Wishing you a wonderful one with your sweet family:)
Sheila
xo
Your entry way is beautiful Sheila!! I agree that sometimes less is way more 🙂
Aww thank you so much Tanya! I’m so glad you agree. And thank you for taking the time to stop by and to comment!
Happy Holidays to you!
Sheila
Beautiful my friend…I love the paperwhites and it’s funny but this is my first year NOT growing them! Happy holidays…xo, Janet
Really? Gosh I love them!! I have a feeling I’ll be doing it every year from now on!
And thanks for your kind words Janet – your support means so much:)
Happy Holidays to you sweet friend!
Sheila
xo