A very global Christmas home tour with renter friendly holiday decorating ideas and DIYs for small spaces in eclectic style.
Hi there! I’m so excited to be joining Carrie from Lovely Etc. in A Very Merry Christmas Home Tour. 30 creative bloggers will be sharing their Christmas home tours all week AND we are giving away $300 via paypal! Scroll down to enter.
A Chic and Global Christmas Home Tour
Today is also the kickoff for A Very Global Christmas series with my friend Stephanie from Casa Watkins Living where we are sharing 12 days of globally influenced Christmas decor ideas and DIYs. You’ll want to check in every day this week for more creative Christmas home tours and to see what Steph and I are sharing for global inspiration. You can find all updated posts on A Very Global Christmas page.
Today I’m sharing with you our global Christmas living room. You can find Casa Watkins Living’s Simple Boho Christmas Living Room here. We live in a small Japanese rental so I was a little nervous about using all of our 7 feet tall Christmas tree. Last year I just used the top two-thirds but this year I went all out!
Amazingly it fit! We had to push my baby grand piano all the way over to the garden window but it really created quite a bit of extra space. You can see how it looked last year here.
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You still pay the same price but I receive a small commission. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
I really wanted to use this star light pendant as the tree topper and I’m so glad it worked out. Even though it’s wedged between the tree and ceiling it looks beautiful and at night you can really see the star glowing.
I kept the holiday decor pretty minimal due to space but still managed to get in a few lovely vignettes. I used the same color inspiration that I had with our Fall decor. The color palette came from my Eddie Ross inspired tablescape.
Our coffee table Japanese ceramic bowl decor went from being filled velvet pumpkins to mercury ornaments and faux air plants.
A faux sheepskin rug adds a wintery touch to a modern advent wreath. (The quickest DIY ever!)
I just updated my West Elm inspired modern nutcrackers for this year on Thanksgiving morning while my husband was cooking in the kitchen (we both usually prepare holiday meals!). I’ll share the DIY later on this week but I’m tickled at how cute they turned out!
I recently found some metallic ceramic pinecones at the 100 yen store (Japanese dollar store!). Seriously, my favorite store hands down.
They add a festive touch to our tv corner with my bird cage we picked up in Hong Kong earlier this year. The other wall is the entrance to the living room. A cute wood french door greets you as you walk in from the foyer. For a small rental, this home has a lot of charm. 😉
And then the wall that was the biggest challenge as a renter. It has an intercom/doorbell system smack in the middle with the cord trailing up to almost the ceiling hence the large threshing basket and leaning art pieces to cover the eyesores.
The faux mantel and room heater/stove create a nice focal point for the living room and is super cozy with the twinkling lights and “flames”.
This small living area serves as our main hang out room, my piano studio, and office. With two kids and two pets it can easily get crowded and messy but we are enjoying our adventures of living in Japan! The trade off is definitely worth it.
Next week I’ll be sharing our foyer, dining room, and master bedroom holiday decor!
In the meantime, good luck with the giveaway and enjoy the rest of the home tours!
Casa Watkins Living * Lovely Etc. * Designing Vibes * Oh Everything Handmade * The Turquoise Home
Lehman Lane * Our House Now a Home * The Striped House * My Creative Days * Newly Woodwards
All Things With Purpose * House by Hoff * The Happy Housie * A House Full of Sunshine * Thrifty and Chic
This is Our Bliss * Boxy Colonial * Little Red Brick House * Green with Decor * Blue I Style
Sincerely Marie Designs * Up to Date Interiors * Southern State of Mind * A Fresh Squeezed Life * Meegan Makes
Wife in Progress * Place of My Taste * Restless Arrow * Bigger Than The Three of Us
Randi says
Your tree is gorgeous! The colors you chose to decorate with are perfection!
Kathy says
Thanks Randi!! After going with neutrals in our other Japanese rental I was ready for some bolder choices. 🙂
erica says
Kathy,
I absolutely adore your take on Christmas. That mantel is rocking my socks for sure.
Much love,
Erica
Kathy says
Thanks Erica! The mantel was a little challenging but I’m super pleased with how it turned out. The gorgeous shibori fabric sure helps!
cassie bustamante says
beautiful as always, kathy! love that tree and the topper!
Kathy says
Thanks Cassie! 🙂
Jen | The Striped House says
I’m so glad you used the full tree – it looks soooo great in your living room! And your tree trimmings are always so gorgeous, especially that topper! Merry Christmas friend 🙂
Kathy says
Thanks Jen! The tree is definitely the show stopper in this little space. lol I’m glad I used all of it!
SARAH LEMP says
Beautiful home! I love the colors and I love your TV stand!!
Kathy says
Thanks Sarah! I can’t believe that white chest hasn’t fallen apart yet. I cram it full of music books!
Laura says
Kathy, your home is so lovely and chic! I love your tree and all your vignettes! So glamorous and warm for the season all in one!
Kathy says
Thank you so much Laura!
Carrie says
Beautiful! I love the rich, gorgeous colors you used! And I love that huge star on the tree!
Kathy says
Thank you Carrie!
[email protected] says
Your home is beautiful – and the tree is really stunning. It’s quite a showstopper with that star on top.
Kathy says
Thank you Kim!! I’m so glad I got it to fit! lol
Lindsay Eidahl says
The colors and textures in your tour are AMAZING!!! Love it!
Kathy says
Thank you Lindsay! 🙂
Amanda says
This is beautiful, Cathy! I love the color palette you chose and those three adorable nutcrackers!
Kathy says
Thank you so much Amanda! xoxo
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins Living says
Absolutely gorgeous Kathy! I am in love with the global touches. Your fireplace looks amazing!!
Kathy says
Thanks Steph! One day I hope to have a real fireplace to decorate again. lol
Karen @ a house full of sunshine says
I’m in awe of what you’ve achieved in a small rental space! That tree is simply stunning – kudos for getting everything to fit!
Kathy says
lol Thank you!! It is a small space but everything makes such a big impact. I guess it’s easy to decorate in that sense. 🙂
Meegan Fast says
Kathy, Your home is lovely and your Christmas color palette is stunning. Thanks for inspiring me!
Kathy says
Aw! Thank you for the sweet comment Meegan!
[email protected] says
Love love love how you decorated your mantle!!!
Kathy says
Thank you Ashley! I wasn’t sure how it would go but I love that I didn’t have to buy anything for it. lol
Tara @ Lehman lane says
Beautiful Christmas tour Kathy! Your tree is gorgeous and those modern nutcrackers are really fun.
Kathy says
Thanks Tara!