Boldly saturated reds and greens with multicolored Christmas lights have their place and thrill children, but red light has yet to charm this lover of white. Gentle Moments of White Christmas Photos shares glimpses of inspiration that whisper and feel like home to me. Once you experience the gentle quiet grandeur of a few lit candles (real, not remote controlled), it’s easy to relax a little about any ‘go big or go home’ holiday decorating pressures!
White Christmas Photos With Gentle Interiors
Oh the glory of a Pamela Pierce Christmas fireplace! The designer (and founding editor of Milieu) keeps a fire going in the living room and drapes the French period carved stone mantel with mixed garland and olive branches gathered from trees in her yard.
Notice those ripe brown pears…don’t you want to add this pretty embellishment immediately?
A pair of early Song dynasty jars anchor the scene, and,of course, Pam’s white roses are always part of any season’s décor.
White Christmas Inspiration: French Inspired Holiday Decor
Son of a nutcracker if I am not nutty for everything designer Madame Lincoln-Cutler touches with her magic Frenchy wand.
Her restraint and artful touch proves we can keep the palette hushed and pale yet festive.
If you have a wooden dough bowl, it’s perfect for pillar candles and greenery on a table.
Is it a doll house or is it real!?! THIS HOUSE with interiors by Jenny Martin is incredible inside!
Deep sigh! Don’t you love the simplicity of a simple sprig of greenery, a frosted cookie, and a white napkin for a lovely holiday place setting?
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Simple & Scandinavian Understated Christmas Decorating
Little trees in burlap or linen sacks can be sweet even without twinkling light strings.
Have a hook rack somewhere at home which could use a little cheer?
Green and white feel like best friends at Christmas when a variety of textures and layering joins the mix.
I find my fresh wreaths at the grocery store or Home Depot and simply subtract the awful red bow that is typically attached.
Metallics Are White’s Best Friend
Don’t you love mercury glass for holiday decor!?!
So many ways to use Christmas bulbs away from the tree. They can be massed in a bowl, tucked into vintage English stoneware…
Ever trimmed the tree in white only? It has been a few years since I brought out the tulle…
Hygge Factor & Cozy Christmas Vibes
I love a mix of textures like wooly soft goodness with European pink silk and a peely, distressed wood box.
Have you noticed how many bloggers/decorators/stylists use non-working fireplaces in their holiday vignettes?
My favorite gentle white Christmas moments are the understated, classic ones:
Elegant White Holiday Table Decor
White roses tucked into a little stoneware receptacle are timeless and so elegant.
Little natural ornaments can also be sweet at each setting on the table.
French Inspired Christmas Kitchen
If your family spends lots of time in the kitchen, it’s well worth it to accent with subtle gestures that feel natural…
Swedish Candelabra & Fresh Frasier Fir Wild Wreath
I like candles at the window whether they are real or electric flames.
I’m drawn to the minimal look of these:
And gold-toned candle holders never fall from favor.
Sometimes red DOES show up at my house…
Ideas for Decorating With a Natural Palette
White, Gold and Green Holiday Decor
If you have a collection of French earthenware or old pots, the holidays are such a perfect opportunity to show them off.
Aged urns also work so well for little Christmas trees:
and I often tuck fresh greenery in old zinc planter pots.
Have I convinced you that a few twinkly white lights and candlelight are powerful elements when you’re after an understated French country look for the holidays?
Pre-lit Bare Branches
Quiet Christmas Beauty
Tour a Sweet Holiday Decorated Home
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Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Love, Love, Love it all!! The sweet pine cone gift tags remind me of a creative thing I like to do and that is make Christmas gift tags out of all the lovely Christmas cards we receive each year. I hate just chunking them all into the trash after Christmas, so now I cut out the parts of the prettiest ones that can be recycled and use them as gift tags. I love to repurpose and this way the card gets enjoyed twice. Pretty gift tags add so much to me and it’s an easy way to satisfy my creative spirit! You can do the same with birthday or greeting cards of any sort.
Author
We all need to be doing that – it should be a requirement to recycle them that way! I have quite the stash hidden away, and that’s a great idea 🙂
I’m a lover of white and of candles – the more the better. I add white in candlesticks, wreaths, garland, stockings, flowers, and even a birdhouse filled with gold & white balls and the fine filament white lights. I also add a few gold deer here & there and some gold trees for that little bit of richness.
My favourite CD At Christmas is Bing. Old fashioned – yes, but it just makes me happy. And, it’s not Christmas till I watch the Grinch. The Who people singing around the giant tree ever so loudly and happily because Christmas does not come from a store. I know! Others will find that strange but it makes me feel happy and peaceful as one should at Christmas. And, who wouldn’t love little Cindy Who?
P.S. White Christmas is a favourite too. See! Not so weird.
Author
Not weird at all! Can you even believe how the mere sound of Bing’s voice can soothe and warm the spirit? What a gift. The Grinch brings back so many memories of childhood Christmases – it was always a very hectic time of year for us kids since it was the busiest season for our parents. I think I vowed to have less frenzied holidays after all that overwhelm and have mostly stuck to it. Receiving gifts is not my love language, but oh, it is for so many folks, yes?
Michele I love traditional Christmas colors, but I adore all white, serene winter-inspired holiday decor too. In our previous cottage I had all white woodwork and white walls so I could pull off the dreamy Nordic look there for Christmas. In our home now we have wonderful old, dark woodwork which is perfect for cozy traditional tartans and plaids for Christmas. I still try to embrace the serene and calming whites in a few areas of our home for the holidays, and as soon as Christmas is over I keep out any of my white holiday decorations and greenery for the winter months.
This post gave me all the French Christmas feels. SWOON!
Author
Thanks so much for reading and so happy this delivered the feels! There seems to be a wide range of Christmas decor palettes these days since I’m seeing black Christmas trees pop up everywhere, and I have seen gorgeous royal purple schemes as well. Haven’t done a thing here yet and for any live greenery from the yard, it’s too early unless I want needles everywhere! 🙂
Thank you for sharing at #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too!
Author
I’ll be there and appreciate the support – thanks, Marilyn. 🙂
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Author
Thanks so much, Marilyn. See you over at TFT and hope you are recovering nicely! 🙂
I’m in LOVE!! Featuring you at the TFT party this week. Thanks for all the beauty and inspiration, Michele!
Peace to you, sweet friend
Theresa
Author
Thanks, Theresa – you’re such a bright light in blogland. xox
Thoroughly enjoyed the two House & Home videos! So many great ideas…I’m getting inspired…especially love the first one with all the natural holiday decor! Wish I could get her to decorate my home for the holidays too!
Author
Just what I was thinking about that natural look – I want her to come deck my halls too. We are definitely kindred! xox
so beautiful table settings…white/silver/green is so elegant and you can never go wrong. Thank you for sharing
these many pics and the stimulus I have got. Many joy for you dearest Michele
Author
I so agree – the elegant simplicity will always look classic! Happy you are inspired – bon weekend, friend!