November 11, 2015

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.#BIGSeason #BigLots #CollectiveBias

Can you believe that it is almost time to get ready for Christmas?! Where did this year go? Usually I am so thrilled for Christmas, but this year I am even more excited. My sweet little King will be one just nine days before Christmas! This means that I had to get an early start on my Christmas decorating so I can focus on a first birthday party too. Planning and decorating early also can mean less stress and more time for the things that matter most.

Do you guys ever get tired of the Christmas decor that you have and you are ready for something fresh and new? My Christmas decor has always been gold the classic right? This year I was so ready for a change, and a big one. I decided to change all my Christmas decor to be bright colors and I must say I am obsessed. The cheerfulness and happiness it brings into our home is like nothing else. I wanted to be able to still use some of the decor that I had previously and not start completely over, but add a lot of new pieces to give my house something new and fresh. I headed to Big Lots so I could find amazing quality decor for an affordable price and I was absolutely amazed at the huge selection they had for Christmas/Holiday decor. I was in heaven you guys!! There was the most beautiful and fun pieces and I just wanted every single one of them. I am so excited to share my front room and porch with you. I am participating in National Decorate Your Home for the Holidays week by decorating my living room with high quality decor that I found at Big Lots! (Styles and assortment vary by store.)

When you walk in my front door this display is the first thing that you see so I really wanted it to be over the top. I had bought some of these snowflakes and have had a few hanging in previous years, but Big Lots had these amazing marquee snowflakes that I knew would take it over the top. I also love that they can sit on tables, and that putting one on my entry table really tied the snowflakes all together. They are battery operated so no cords! Think about how amazing these would be hanging on a porch! The Charlie Brown tree as Zach calls it is one of my most favorite decorations for Christmas. I wanted some ornaments that would be classy on it to make the tree more elegant. Oh my heart when I saw these amazing white ornaments! If I could have bought a million of them I would have, I may have bought everything my local Big Lots had. Zach couldn’t figure out why I was screaming for him to come look at these when I yelled at him through the store. They are the most stunning ornaments and really add a bit of class to this display.

To create your own bright colored winter wonderland in your home you will need the following:
Lights
Snowflakes (Big Lots)
Tree
Ornaments
Bright colored decor

When I think of a winter wonderland, the first thing that comes to my mind is lights. First, decide where you are wanting lights. I wanted to do something more unexpected so I hung the marquee snowflakes from my ceiling with lights on them. I love how it brings a little twinkle where you wouldn’t normally expect it. You can hang snowflakes, stars, or anything else by putting round hooks in the ceiling and using fishing line. I leave the fishing line on anything I hang so it is quick to hang next time I need it.

Next comes the tree! Big Lots had the biggest selection of amazing Christmas trees that I have ever seen. It made me sad that I had already purchased my tree last year and I tried to think of every single place that I could put another tree so I could have some of their goodness of Christmas trees in my home. As for my tree, I wanted bright colors like I said, but I still wanted it classy. Oh Big Lots had my heart with their ornament packs. They were exactly what I was looking for. I bought a few big packs of bright colored mixed ornaments, some more of the white ornaments that I used on my Charlie Brown tree in silver also and that was all it needed. I love the mixture of different ornaments on my white tree and how the bright colors really pop.

To create your bright winter wonderland tree, you will need the following:
Ornaments of different sizes (Big Lots)
Sprays or things that will “stick out” of your tree
Lights

Start out by wrapping your tree in lights. There is nothing better than a twinkling Christmas tree! Decorate with two different sizes of ornaments. The variation in size will add more visually then ornaments of the same size. Add in your added pieces that will stick out of your tree. You can also add a garland if you choose to.

They even had wrapping paper to match my decor so how can you not purchase that especially with silver glittered snowflakes?? UMM AMAZING! Also, when it’s your little boys first Christmas that he will be able to open presents you snag some amazing toys down the toy aisle and let him have a practice run. I mean, how could I not?


Now to my porch. I think that a porch really reflects a lot about you from the outside of your home. I wanted something bright and happy, but also not too much. I found these Edison Light Bulbs and my heart burst. I mean, aren’t they amazing? Even Zach fell in love with them. I trimmed my door in them and put them on my little tree to pull it together. Next, I took the ornaments that I used on my tree inside (dual purpose, what is better than that??) and decorated my tree. I also tied some ribbon around the branches to add a little something else and unexpected. Big Lots also had this amazing wreath that I am so excited to leave out all winter. I put ornaments on it to tie it in to my tree for Christmas and then after Christmas I will take them off and leave it with the pretty red berries.

To create your own porch that makes for a winter wonderland you will need:
Lights (Big Lots)
Ornaments (Big Lots)
Wreath (Big Lots)
Ribbon
Tree

Start by deciding where you would like your lights, do you want them around garland? just around your door like I did? in your wreath? on your tree? After you have decided where you want your lights, figure out how many strings of lights you will need. I used 3 packages of Edison Bulbs from Big Lots. Next, buy extra ornaments that you are decorating your tree with and a wreath. Hang your lights, decorate your tree, and your wreath. For the tree, I added ribbon tied to the tree just in case the wind blows and I need to take the ornaments off, my tree will still be decorated. Perfect right? String your lights around your garland or doorway, decorate your tree, and enjoy!

So the moral of this post is that I am absolutely in love with all of my new Christmas decor from Big Lots. They had everything to decorate not only in my home for the holiday season, but my porch as well! One stop shopping which I love! Big Lots also has declared November 16th – 22nd National Decorate your Home for the Holidays Week! How fun is that? You can join in on National Decorate your Home for the holidays week and transform your home into a winter wonderland. I would absolutely love to see what you do so please tag me on Instagram! (@danimariekrum). You can also visit here to see Big Lots Christmas catalog where they share some tips, ideas, and inspiration to get your home ready for the holidays.