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Holiday Fluffing

by | Nov 10, 2007 | Decorating Inspiration

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Holiday Fluffing

Hey all you Pillow Fluffers! If you are getting ready to fluff up your nest for the holidays (and who among us, may I ask, isn’t considering a little timely fluffing?), it is time to do a quick once-over on your home decor before you bring out the Christmas decorations! If you are like me, you work best on a deadline. Just knowing all the friends and relatives are heading over makes me jump into action. Somehow I can manage to finish a room in record time if guests are on their way. Decisions become much clearer when you don’t have all the time in the world to think about them. Corners become much easier to clean when I just have to grab and stash in a hurry. Yep, deadlines work wonders for my productivity.

I had to laugh about a fellow design blogger’s opportunity to be featured in a magazine with only a few days of warning. I wasn’t laughing about the opportunity, but about the few days warning. Joni from Cote de Texas and I suffer from the same disease I call Magazine Cover-itis, which basically means your artistic eye WISHES your house looked like the cover of a magazine, but you just can’t keep it looking that way in real life. No one can! It is unbelievable what you can do to get that magazine cover look if a cameraman is headed over, never mind the relatives!

Check out Cote de Texas Joni’s blog to see her beautiful home (I brought over a sneak peek photo, above, to whet your appetite! And look at those dogs! They are posing for sure!). Be sure to congratulate her on the magazine, and read her account of how it all went down! I was drooling, she has a wonderful home (and I know it was absolutely beautiful even before her mad dash to fluff it up)!

Well, the time has come for us procrastinators to start fluffing! We need to whip together our homes in a hurry. If you are wanting to give your room some quick updates, check out HGTV’s top 25 decorating mistakes. Most of them seem reasonable to me, what do you think? They may have missed a thing or two, but it is a helpful resource to apply to your own home, just to make sure you haven’t unknowingly committed any deadly decorating sins.

Holiday Fluffing

photo from HGTV online

The other thing I do right before holiday decorating is a take a box and go room by room to gather up excess stuff that I can put away until after the holidays. I don’t have a lot of knick knacks, but if I have random things smaller than an artichoke, or unnecessary clutter, I might stash them away in a box so my holiday decorations can take center stage. Then, let the holiday decorating begin!

I’ll give you my pared down holiday decorating ideas and what I do in a separate post. Meanwhile, start fluffing!

PS. The photo here from HGTV shows great ideas for updating your mantle. The website shows additional ideas, but I really like this one and have used it before for clients. Most people hang pictures or mirrors above the fireplace, but oftentimes simply setting your pictures on the shelf and leaning them back gives a much more updated and stylish look! Notice the layering going on there. Very chic!

Oh, and one last PS. I got a wonderful package from Pat at Back Porch Musings. I won her giveaway and everything is perfect for me! I am so excited! I have to tell you, the sachet she included is DIVINE! The company that makes it is called Hill House Naturals. I went to their website to find it for you and while I couldn’t find the exact item, I did find the scent (Fresh Pumpkin) in other products. Check it out! You can order online and I guarantee you the scent is scrumptious! I wish I had smell-a-blog so you could experience it! Thanks Pat, I love it all!

36 Comments

  1. Veronica

    I don’t know about this one Melissa….don’t you think it almost falls into their own category of “too many photos”? … that mirror in the insert area seems to be the one mirror too many in my mind. It detracts from the so-called “modern” look of the leaned back and layered look pics and mirrors … your eye is not drawn to any particular area as the focal point…. then the reflection of the tuffet skirt is the next thing we notice… mmmm… something just all wrong about it for moi

    Reply
  2. Natasha Burns

    I love your first pic, is that a cavalier king charles spaniel tri-colour I spot at the back???!!! (I have one!)

    Reply
  3. Joni Webb

    Hi!!! Yes, that IS a cavalier King Charles on the chair. Actually that is two pictures. We could never get the two dogs to sit together still just like that. So the photographer took the picture usin a tripod of just one dog in the chair and then got the other dog to sit on the floor next to it and he spliced the two pictures together, on top of each other like a vector. oh well, they tried so hard that day, they just couldn’t be perfect!!!!

    thanks Melissa for the shout out! I can’t wait until it’s YOUR day and you get to be just like me running around like a crazy person!!!!! Cover-itis to the MAX!!!!!

    Reply
  4. Pat

    You’re quite welcome, Melissa! I put my sachet packet in one of the Lenox bowls sitting on the china cabinet in the dining room. It’s next to the foyer and smells lovely when entering the house. I’ll have to check the site.

    I was at Joni’s yesterday and read her fabulous account of the photo shoot. Enjoyed it so much!

    Now, I’m going to grab a cuppa and visit HGTV, for a look at those ideas. I’ve begun fluffing a bit, here.

    Pat

    Reply
  5. Wanda

    Whew! I was a little worried about the 25 Decorating Mistakes, but so far, I only *maybe* have knicknack overload.

    I’ve begun thinking about getting the house holiday ready, too and actually started on the computer area the other day. Worked about two hours and cleaned off about three square feet of the top surface. Of course, that stuff went to piles on the floor. Sigh. Guess I should devote a couple of days just to finishing this task. But I sure am looking forward to holiday decorating!

    Reply
  6. Julie

    Now my house will never be featured on a magazine cover and that’s ok by me. It’s enough of a stress-inducer knowing that anyone can drop by unannounced.

    Stop over Melissa, I have an award for you!!

    Love,
    Julie

    Reply
  7. kari and kijsa

    We are headed over to check out cote de texas….love your post today…we are fluffing away getting ready for Turkey Day!

    Have a blessed weekend!
    kari and kijsa

    Reply
  8. the feathered nest

    Well that pic has wetted my appetite to see more of her house! Headed over to check her out now.

    Looking forward to your post about your pared down decorating tips!

    Manuela

    Reply
  9. Melissa

    Veronica, it is more the IDEA of leaning photos that I am referring to rather than the specifics of their choices! I didn’t really examine what they had on the mantle. That photo is not really my style either! But then again, it is all personal preference! :-)

    Reply
  10. janet

    I love the Hillhouse scents; they are so real smelling.
    Unfortunately they seem to be hard to find here, perhaps I should go to the city (I was trying to sound stuffy)!
    Fluffing is starting here for Turkey day and I have a lot of smaller paint jobs to do (new closet doors for guest room and lots of window trim I have been procrastinating about) for Christmas.
    Janet
    PS. Going to Texas right now to check it out.

    Reply
  11. Lynn

    I am definitely a fluffer! The more time I have the more I procrastinate. LOL….

    Reply
  12. Vee

    Ohhhh! The rabbit trails that you have sent me to follow today!! Thanks, I really need the diversion. One other thing, does everyone know about Alison’s Puttery Challenge at Brocante Home? It would tie in beautifully with your concept today.

    Reply
  13. Robin

    I had to read back a few post because I have missed a few! I LOVE the HGTV decorating mistakes…I am GUILTY of having silk hydrangeas….LOL…but they are so pretty I cannot part with them!!

    Reply
  14. rochambeau

    I agree the the twenty-five list. Fake flowers draw the life and energy out of a room. Thank you for stopping by. You brightened my day!

    Constance

    Reply
  15. Cre8Tiva

    i wil check it out…please stop by my blog for another giveaway today…blessings, rebecca

    Reply
  16. Penny, Mosaic Artist

    Hi Melissa,
    What a wonderful post to get me in the mood to start fluffing! I am off to see Joni’s now….
    Hugs,
    Penny

    p.s. it is my 100th post on my blog and I am having a mosaic giveaway:-). come check it out!

    Reply
  17. jean

    I just finished “fluffing” for Thanksgiving. Around here, we don’t dare put Christmas decos out until the day AFTER Thanksgiving. Got to give that holiday it’s day!!!
    Those 10 tops from HGTV are good..I need to do especially the no. 1…fake flowers. Oh, dear, can I live without them? They’ve been around so long…being the point, I know. LOL
    bj

    Reply
  18. Paris Parfait

    Thanks for the link, Melissa. That was a very funny account of getting ready for the photo shoot. As for procrastinating – I have guests arriving Friday, so am in a mad purge of hiding things away to make space (and stuffing the excess in the cave/wine cellar). :) Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  19. rosieswhimsy

    hehe…..I want to coordinate my pets with my decor! Perhaps I could ask for that bit of “fluff” for Christmas :-)

    Reply
  20. Rhoda

    Congrats on winning from Pat, I’m sure she had a great package to send out! And I’ve checked up on Joni’s blog too…gorgeous, gorgeous home she has.

    Thanks for stopping by to see me,
    Rhoda

    Reply
  21. Cottage Contessa

    Yep, I’m psyching myself up for the major holiday fluff too! Now, I’m off to waffle a little more, and hum & har over some important decorating decisions…….to fluff or too much fluff, that be the question?! lol
    Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

    Reply
  22. Adla

    You are so organized :) Inspiration to get me in the modd to fluff up my place. The links were great. Catch up with you again,
    Ta, Adla

    Reply
  23. all the best

    Both Joni’s home and her blog are fab!!!

    Reply
  24. Liberty Post

    What a wonderful tribute to our friend Joni at Cote de Texas. Isn’t it just amazing…and she was all shy and didn’t want any publicity! Wow!

    Reply
  25. Esther Sunday

    Dragging my feet about fluffing, but I’ll get there! Thanks for all the good info! Love, Esther

    Reply
  26. Jen

    Thanks for the link to her blog. Such a beautiful house. Thank you also for the great advice about clearing out before the holidays. I usually do it at the same time but I like your way much better.

    Reply
  27. Elzie

    I wish I had a home like that!!! I enjoyed the picture so much. How come some women are able to tell their husbands it’s absolutely the best with white sofas?!?! Well, I don’t know what to do with my DH as he doesn’t listen to that at all LOL.
    Hope you’re having a wonderful Monday evening.
    Love Elzie

    Reply
  28. Rhonda

    Melissa, this is soo me. I do my best work under pressure. My husband once made the comment that he wished we had company everyday. Bless him, he is so tolerant:)

    Rhonda

    Reply
  29. Christine

    Thanks for sharing your ideas! Joni’s house is soo pretty! yup…I’m droolin’
    I’ll have to head on over and visit.
    hugs

    Reply
  30. JO

    Beautiful room examples you have here… I agree everyone has such a different sense style…. I have always laid the pic on the mantle instead of hanging it above (could be that I just didnt want to hang it at all)…but its nice to know I can do something half right …I need to go back and read the 25 mistakes… I am sure I have a few of those up my sleeve too..as for knick knacks… watch out …. I am a dust bunny magnet waiting to happen… I need a seperate room just for my collection of hummingbirds and all my moms treasures that I inherited…

    Thanks for the great tips Melissa… will be back for more

    Reply
  31. cityfarmer

    I was just over at Cote de Texas and had to zip over here to see what the buzz was…now I know….

    I’ve been meaning to stop here and I am happy to meet you….we might have alot in common.

    Reply
  32. Anna

    I’m hearing you – this sounds just like me too!! Great post!
    XO
    Anna

    Reply
  33. Things that Inspire

    What a timely post…I have spent my whole morning fluffing my downstairs in preparation for….my daughter’s birthday party! Yes, even though her friends are all four years old, I have been getting everything perfect. Will they notice? No (although, I once had a party for a house full of six year olds, and one kind and wonderful child complemented me on my decor and said that my house has a happy feel to it…I will never forget that child’s complements, and how wonderful they made me feel).

    Reply
  34. Joni Webb

    Melissa, one more time to thank you for showcasing my blog. I met so many of your friends and readers and they were, each and every one, so nice, friendly, complimentary, and polite. Such a wonderful readership you have! Cherish it, it’s not something to take for granted.

    Joni

    Reply

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