disclosure: this post is sponsored by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart.
Each year I work on the outside of my house for Christmas.
Just between you and I?
It’s a little challenging.
I’ve been looking at this house and all it’s Christmas decorations for 40 years.
I can see the way my mother decorated it and my heart wants to recreate it.
Except.
Except I never could get it exactly right. I tried so hard. I added this and took away this and tried to put more of this.
I was soooo close, but it never really looked like the Christmas house of my childhood.
Until.
Until now. This is the year. I FINALLY got it right.
And the best part? If I squint and click my heels together?
I’m back in high school again.
Here’s the front of the house this year.
The secret?
What I finally figured out?
IT’S the RED.
In a world where people use teal and purple and blue and sequins to decorate for Christmas, I went all old school with the Christmas color of all Christmas colors.
RED.
I added red bows everywhere.
And not just any red bows.
Red bows with tails.
I tied them on wreaths.
I hung them on the greenery.
I swagged them on the door.
I added them to lanterns like this lantern and this lantern and this lantern.
And then I placed buckets and planters full of these poinsettias around the house.
They are a little bit of work.
We have to bring them in at night when it freezes, but they are so full and they add the perfect pop of red.
But my favorite new addition to the porch?
These benches from Better Homes and Gardens at Walmart.
I just ordered two of them because our other benches needed to be replaced and Y’ALL. Aren’t they beautiful? They were so affordable (under $100 each) and the color matches the other black on the porch perfectly.
I added one bench under each window and then added a little more red with these Ho Ho Ho pillows and these wire baskets.
The benches are so sturdy and made out of powder coated steel.
They are the perfect addition to my Christmas porch.
I cannot even begin to explain to you how much I adore this house.
All the memories. All the joy. All the Christmas.
If you live in my neighborhood or you are visiting McKinney and you drive by my house, don’t be surprised if you see me sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee.
Or working on my homework.
I’m back in high school after all. 🙂
PS I wanted to give you a sneek peak at a post for next week.
This is my mother’s FAMOUS Mississippi Mud Cake.
I’ve been eating it in this house my whole life.
And now?
This cutie is too. 🙂
I am so happy and honored to be part of the BHG Live Better Influencer Network at Walmart.
All opinions are my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
Affiliate links are also used in this post.
AWESOME! SOOOO FESTIVE! Now THAT is Christmas! And the merriest of all Christmases to you and your sweet family! 😁❤
Looks Fabulous and Festive! Just like I remember it from the past.
Your home is beautiful and O so Christmas 🎄!
The red is the perfect touch! I love a little red in every house, makes my heart happy....Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Everything is so festive and beautiful! I love the red all over the house! I love all your decorations inside as well!
Your house is beautiful just like you and your family! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
Your house is truly outstanding!!!! GREAT job!
Your 'HOME' is so very festive and cheery ... just as the season should be ! Merry CHRISTmas and all the best for the upcoming new year. Keep well. Jayne
It looks beautiful. I took red out of my decor because I had it for many years with the Tuscan red green gold. I swore no more red. Till this year. That’s why I feel my house looks better then I before. Merry Christmas Debra
That looks so fantastic! Your post just brightened my day. Thank you ❤️
It’s just perfect!!! It reminds me of my childhood two story darling house I grew up in. I needed this today because last night I through my trash in the dumpster, along with.....all my keys. I now have ptsd and am consuming massive amounts of hot tea and cranberry muffins. Seeing your house brought back the excitement of Santa and the new baby doll he was bringing. And of my mom, and my grandmother smothered in flour and smelling like vanilla. Thank you K.! You’re just precious with your front porch matching your red lipstick! ❤️
Absolutely perfect indeed! My favorite look ever - you did nail it. You could repeat it every year and I would never tire of it my friend!
This is too funny. We went the same route. Wreaths on every window and don't forget the red bows. All these years I've been trying something new design wise but never being pleased. I guess I'm a traditionalist at heart.
I use to have Poinsettias outside for Christmas when I lived in South Florida. Here in Tennessee they have to be kept indoors. I miss having them in my outdoor display. I tried faux, but it is not the same
Your house is gorgeous, I love all those stunning wreaths on the windows. So classic.
Love it! To my mind, Christmas is always all about red and green. I don’t mind some other colors thrown into the mix, and I don’t mind a dark red and green, but those two colors have to be there! Your home and your heart are beautiful!
KariAnne, I look forward to your blog posts every day! I wish we were next door neighbors! Your house looks wonderful, inside and out, and your groom IS a cutie! Nancy
It's the Christmas House! Perfect and timeless. Understand it is some work moving the poinsettias in and out (having the same issue here in southern California this year). I love what you have created!
Love, love, LOVE it!!! I’ve got to have red for Christmas!! You did a great job - it’s beautiful!!
Oh, your house looks lovely and we will drive by for sure. Please feel free to dive over to Tucker Hill. Some of our neighbors really “decked the halls” this year! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I also think I must be a traditionalist at heart. There is just something so friendly and festive about red and green. My outside decorations are, you guessed it, red and green. But I can tell you live in the south. Poinsettias would freeze here in Michigan during the night AND the day. I can't have real ones indoors due to cute but dumb cat who eats everything.
YAY RED!!! 😊 You don't have to use it any other time of the year, but at Christmas it belongs. Skipping it looks too "trying too hard to be 'current'" a lot of the time! I'm in awe of the REAL poinsettias outside! Wow, so lovely! But then.. Michigan... not going to happen here/forgot other places can do that, haha! Even if we're getting an indecently warm winter here again, we're still not poinsettia-proof! Your house looks amazing!
So pretty and it does look like it probably once did, my parents had a big house like that and that's how they decorated theirs.. I thought i saw your house smile it certainly looks happy.
Karianne! This is sure a traffic stopper! So pretty and I do love traditional Xmas colours too. Seems so pricey though to pull it altogether. My house is set so far back from the road, I'm not sure anyone would even see it or care..haha! No poinsettia's outdoors here either.....Way too cold! It’s been lightly snowing here all day.
It looks GREAT! Funny - I never use red and I did here and there this year, too. Interesting. Looks fabulous. Big time snowed yesterday - so we need to use faux poinsettias around these freezin parts.
Kari! Kristmas! When I look at your home.. the one you grew up in and restored to perfection.. I think..when someone passes by or pulls up to your home...the feel JOY.....I sure do! It's just so well done! Red and Green....All you need is a real snowman in Texas! Hugs & love to all <3 ~ leelee
Well I LOVE it! It’s Christmas perfection! Enjoy and Merry!!!
WOW! Really stunning!
KariAnne, this is so festive...it's just stunning! I'll bet people are driving by to see the beautiful home everyone is talking about!
It looks so festive! How wonderful to get it "just right." I am sure that your mom loves it as well.
That is a happy house KariAnne! Love it! You nailed it GF! Happy Christmas hugs to you & “the cutie”!!! Katy down in Haslet 🏡
Like you added your favorite red lipstick to the exterior of your house, so pretty!
Love, love, love it KariAnne! Those red bows remind me of my childhood as well. My mother just turned 90 last month and is.of good health and a sound mind. She still decorates the whole house, inside and out. Red bows are not only on the garland outside, but on the dusty miller plants in her front garden. May you and your family have a wonderful holiday and remember the true joy you feel is not only in the decorations,but in the love of family that you and your husband have created, that's what your parents gave you.
Your home is beautiful! I love the red bows and I can't wait for the mud cake recipe!
Now you have nailed it!!!
Perfection!! Your blog is like a treat every time it pops up in my mailbox. Your joy is infectious! The red is just the best !!
KariAnne, of course you nailed it with decorating the outside of your house! Amazing, just amazing your house is truly a Christmas card!
Red is my favorite color SO this is just perfect!! Your house looks so beautiful.
It is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! So classic & stunning. Love, love, love it!!! My favorite Christmas house this season. Won't you be my neighbor?!
The red is perfect and I love all you've done! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
It’s not Christmas decor without red in my humble opinion! I LOVE it!❤️
You have a beautiful home and the red really makes it pop! Yum, Mississippi Mud Cake!!
Absolutely stunning as usual ! You have such incredible vision ! Gorgeous, I could look at that all day ! It gives me such a sense of yesteryear! Merry Christmas!!!
YES! I cannot get away from the greenery with red bows either. I try. But I always start back at the familiar. Love it, friend! And that cake has been my husband’s favorite since we were dating. ❤️
I love all the red and how it pops against the white. Your outdoor holiday decor reminds me of all the traditional southern homes I love driving by this time of year. Happy Holidays.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the red!!!🎄🎁 How are you staying so thin and baking this cake!
KariAnne! I so wish I could drive by your house and join you on the porch! It is beautiful! Christmas is all about the red and green for me and I absolutely LOVE the porch/house decorations! Enjoy your porch and weather. We've already had some snow here in Northern KY, so enjoy and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Wow, wow, wow, lady in RED! Love, love!! Merry Christmas KariAnne!!! xoxo
LOVE, your Christmas look, your house is cute an perfect for all those wreaths. Simple, but elegant. Thanks fir sharing. Live to watch you and read you fun stories. You look great. Hugs and Blessings, Denise J MERRY CHRISTMAS
Isn't it the best when your decorating makes you so happy!? And it makes me happy too! :) Happy Holidays to you KariAnne. You've made my blogging year so much better!
Christmas perfection!
Beautiful. Red is the answer!!!!
The outside of your home is just so beautiful! Just love the wreaths on each window with their red bows. You have done a wonderful job of your outside decor! KariAnne, your home is just gorgeous -- outside and inside! I bet your decor brings back a lot of memories for your dear Mom! Bless you all!