Hanging pine garland on bed canopy

December 04, 2009

This is one of my most favorite Christmas decorations I’ve ever done. And it’s somewhere you would never guess – our bed!

It all started with this photo I saw in the Pottery Barn catalog a couple months ago:

Christmas bedroom decor

I don’t know why, but I fell absolutely head over heels in love with the idea of greenery draped over the canopy rails and the little ornaments hanging down. How dreamy. For weeks I’ve been planning how I could do the same.

I thought I would just use some greenery I already had, but when all was said and done this week, I had little left to use. All I had was the skimpy dollar store garland, and I tried to beef it up by weaving some together, but it just wasn’t right. So because I wanted to do this so bad, I took another trip to Big Lots for the natural looking greenery from our mantel.

But then…THEN…during a quick stop to Lowes, I found IT. Real white pine greenery – in all it’s fabulous, silky fluffiness. It was gorg. I kept petting it and loving on it and putting it in and out of my cart. I’ve never bought real greenery for decor – I use cuttings from our tree and that’s it. So spending money on something that was going to dry up in a few weeks was like pulling my teeth.

BUT it was just $7 for 20 feet. And it was so soft and droopy and I was in lurve. I took it home. I started by halving the greenery, then draping it around the rails. I secured it here and there with floral wire:

I knew from the very start what I would use instead of the ornaments – my dollar spot lanterns from Target! 

I took them right out of the outdoor storage bench, and even kept the sand in them:

 

I used my little LED lights so there’s no danger of fire! (That’s the important part.) I can easily access them to turn them off, but they have so many hours of power, I may just leave them on.

I just tied up the lanterns with floral wire as well, and varied the lengths:

Oh my goodness gracious holy canoly shut the front door. I. love. it.

pine and candles hanging from bed canopy

This is how it looks with the lights down low:

The tag says to mist the greenery with water to keep it fresh longer. I really hope it holds up – anyone know how long it will last?

real pine greenery on bed canopy

Hubby loved it so much, he asked “Can we just leave it up all year?” Serious as a heart attack. Be still my heart, I love that man.

I’ve done a few other little things in our bedroom I’ll show you soon, but one last thing for tonight is the red “pillow” on the bed:

pine greenery on canopy bed

Please ignore the massive divots in the mattress. Those showed up pretty much immediately and they drive me mad! Taking pics of our bed gives me hives because of them. The poor red pillow is sinking into an abyss.

I wanted just a pop of red on the bed, and thought about buying a red pillow, but then remembered something I had seen somewhere in blogland – a pillow made out of a towel!:

044

I just took a towel, rolled it up, then rolled it up in the red silk (that I already had). To secure it, I stuck the fabric into the each end:

rolled up towel bed pillow

This is temporary, of course. But it has my mind going – with some batting to make it more substantial, and a bit more work, this could be a “real” pillow!

Our bedroom is one of our favorite rooms in the house – we just love being in there. So last year I started decorating just a bit for Christmas and it’s just dreamy. Hanging the greenery took very little time and total cost was $7. Totally worth it to sleep under twinkling lights. ;)

Email subscription form header
Your email:*
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

Comments

  1. I am seriously in love! With the whole freaking thing! BTW - your bedding is gorgeous! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, that is just stunning! Love the pillow idea too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Absolutely dreamy, I LOVE it! God's blessings on your starry slumber, Sarah :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've had real wreaths and sprayed them with water and they have lasted well past Christmas. I think you'd be good as long as you are spritzing on a regular basis. You'll just have to worry about needles dropping. That might not make for peaceful sleep. The bedroom is gorg! thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sarah,
    As usual it looks fab! I'd love to try it, but 1)don't have a canopy, 2)our allergies would be in full force and 3)ummmm...I'll have to think on that one! LOL I am a huge fan of PB, but like you try to find ways to do it on the cheap. I so need to check out our local Big Lots and Dollar Store!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. As my four year old would say, "Holy Crap-a-moly". You are amazing!! I want a canapy bed just to do that. I love Christmas and deck out my whole house, but have never spread it to the bedroom. You have just opened my eyes to new possibilities, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Gah! You are way too talented girl. Oh to have just one finger of your talent....The bedroom is delicious! Congratulations for making it all come together on a dime.

    Di
    The Blue Ridge Gal
    Just Vignettes

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh I SOOOOOO hear you on the making the bed thing. We have a king and it's not like any other bed where you can just reach across, it's such a process. Those little lanterns are a-mazing with the greenery. I have always wanted a canopy bed since I was a little girl, this is just one more reason added to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This looks SO dreamy! If it wasn't for the fact that we use our canopy frame to hang wet laundry ;) I would totally do this! Thank you for the heads up on Lowe's having the greenery for sale - I've been wanting some for my mantel to give our living room the REAL evergreen smell - the Bath and Body spritz spray isn't cutting it! LOVE IT!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Enchanting! I make the bed everyday. It makes me feel like I'm organized and that I at least accomplished one thing before I even hit the kitchen. I had no choice as a child, so it has stuck w/me for ever :-)

    Thanks for sharing your pics. They're beau-tiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oooh, I love it! It is so pretty! And oh my, I am in awe of that towel idea. How smart!! Then you can take any old towel you don't want anymore, and make it into something fabulous!

    I decorated my room this year too, and I love it! I have a skinny tree in our room. It's so pretty. Go check it out. I did a Pottery Barn inspired advent just for me. It's super pretty, if I do say so myself!!

    And I do! :)

    I may be stealing this idea for my room next year bc I love the smell of fresh greenery. And how nice would it be in your room??

    ReplyDelete
  13. WHOA that looks fab. I'm pretty sure you've been visited by the Ghost of Christmas Awesome! (I'm reading A Christmas Carol and it's on the brain!)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love it!! And LOVE the easy, cheap pillow trick too! How much money does that save?!

    I've never commented before, but I stalk your blog...all the time. Tomorrow I'm making your centerpiece. I've been lusting after it for a while now, and just HAVE to have one for my Christmas decor. I'll let you know when I finish, and I'll post pics on my blog.

    Thanks for all of your fantastic ideas. I heart your blog!

    Shannon
    www.carolinacarters.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. That is so gorgeous! Totally wish I had a bed I could do that to!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful Sarah!! I'm with you, I hate to make my bed and usually don't... ahahaha.. the secret's out now!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. That is amazing. Those little lanterns are the cutest. I would want to leave them up year-round too!

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is magical! I want to completely copy this. What a fun atmosphere you created.

    ReplyDelete
  19. The garland and lanterns are so dreamy! I'm jealous!

    Love the red "pillow" too. One of the easiest pillows I've ever made used a roll of batting that was intended for a baby quilt. Just roll it up, wrap it in fabric, tie the end with pretty ribbon and you're done. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is beautiful and so welcoming.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is beautiful! Your remake is perfect. Good job! I think I need to make a trip to Big Lots - it's obviously been too long since I've been there.

    ReplyDelete
  22. i'm dying over how beautiful that is!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. That is beautiful! One comfy looking bed...I think you should have a sleepover (and invite me!).

    ReplyDelete
  24. AMAZING! $7? NO WAY! Dreaming, cozy and oh so romantic too!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I saw that bed too and swooned...I think yours is even better, now I am swooning all over again! Thanks for the daily inspiration!

    Best wishes,
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love that idea! The use of the lanterns with the led candles is a fabulous idea too.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have never even met you and I love you. Your posts bring a smile to my face and excitement to my life every time I read one!! You are a creative genius. THANK YOU for taking the time to blog!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love it!!! Simply beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love it! I would imagine it smells divine in your room all of the time too, if that greenery has a scent!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love, Love, Love your bedroom! Love the towel pillow! Love your lanterns! Love it all!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Looks beautiful!

    I have the same feeling about my mattress. We spent $2000 and hated it about 3 months after we got it...of course right after "you can take it back period" ended.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love it!! So much so, I think I just have to copy it!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I just have to say.....WOW!!!!
    That looks stunning.
    You did a great job!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love this makeover! I wonder if you could use a humidifier to during in your room to keep them fresher longer????

    Angie

    ReplyDelete
  35. gorg! and yes, what is UP with those divots?! we are on our 4th or 5th mattress set in 14 yrs of marriage--the current one is a semi upper end line from beauty rest and had the divots within several months--not a comfy feeling, waaaah.

    ReplyDelete
  36. That looks Fab.u.lous!!! I love it! Looks like your bed belongs in a chauteau among some snowy alps somewhere. I don't normally decorate my master but I did add a few little things that say Christmas this year.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I saw this picture and did the same thing to our bed upstairs, but I used a 9ft strand of lighted garland. Yours definitely looks more like the picture than mine does! I haven't blogged about it because I don't like to make our bed, either!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. I would NEVER get out of bed.....at least until the day AFTER Christmas.... I MAYBE would get up to refill my water spritzer bottle. HUGS,

    ReplyDelete
  39. I LOVE it! I bet it smells wonderful! I love the lanterns too - I think they look better than PB's version!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I LOVE it! The greenery looks amazing! Now, I want a canopy so I can copy. :) I love the smell of fresh evergreen for Christmas too.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I just love it! I hope that the greenery lasts thought the Christmas season for you! I bet it smells wonderful when you're drifting off to sleep as well!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oh my goodness. The green swags look absolutely gorgeous over your bed. And, so romantic. Kinda like sleeping in the forest.

    ReplyDelete
  43. You should be really proud of yourself! This could be pictured in a catalog!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Well darn girl..u beat me to this post! lol i love this! it looks great! when i get mine done i will invite ya over! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!! I sooo wish I had a canopy so I could do that. You did an awesome job!!!!
    Love the pillow idea too!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi thrifty girl,
    You just crack me up! love that your husband was as serious as a heart attack! who wouldn't love a hubby to say that! so cute!
    You did an outstanding job as always, just delightful and so different, and love the red pillow idea. I just took a pillow and tie ribbon around it to look like a Christmas package cause I put a throw over the sofa and had
    nothing to match it! Necessity is the mother of all invention, isn't creativity such a God given thing.
    Hope you are doing well hon,
    Blessings, Nellie

    ReplyDelete
  47. How dreamy your bedroom is. I have no idea how long that greenery will last, but I know the two of you will enjoy it while you have it. The lanterns are so gorgeous! What a stupendous idea you had to use those! In a previous post you told us where you got your bedding - I remember going and checking, but sadly, they had no more. I think it was on e-bay, right? I adore your bedding. You were sooo lucky to get it, and if I remember, you got it at an awesome price, too.

    Love your blog, and you are the.very.first.one I check when I sign on each day.

    dmj53(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  48. You are so funny! I love how you write! You're just my favorite blogger ever! Hope the consultations are going wonderfully! I just wish you were my neighbor because I've got so many things to ask and so much i need advice on!

    Oh yeah - And the. bedroom. is. GORG!!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Absolutely love the greenery and candles over the bed...at first I thought they were real candles and I was getting ready to call the fire department for you...but now that I know they are LED candles I feel better. Anyway, it is beautitful and I love the pillow too!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Just gorgeous! I don't know how long the greenery will last, but this I know: it looks amazing!

    Come over and join in my Christmas giveaway, ok? You can bring all your friends!

    ReplyDelete
  51. This makes me want to buy a canopy bed! I love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Wow! I really love this! :) Your lanterns are waaaaay better than Pottery Barn's ornaments. So romantic! :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. The bed decorated looks great and I bet the garland smells delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  54. How fun! I bet it smells festive too!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. The garland is GORGE, as are the green $1 candleholders!

    ReplyDelete
  56. It looks just beautiful and I bet it smells so good too!

    ReplyDelete
  57. When I saw "Sleeping Under the Stars" I thought this would be a post about camping and I was all "meh." But I LOVE your bed. That is as close to camping as I will get right now. ;) Beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  58. What a great idea. I love the candles, how romantic. No wonder hubby wants to leave it up all year round:) Let us know how long it stays alive.

    ReplyDelete
  59. GORGEOUS!!!! What a romantic look ... it must be lovely to lay in bed with the candles on, smelling the white pine.... mmmm calls for a late morning!

    ReplyDelete
  60. stunning, romantic, festive.. OK I could have just typed 1 word. PERFECT ~!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Whoa-ho-ho! You've done it again, chica!

    I'm thinking it will last about 3 weeks or so -- depending on how much you'll be heating your home. The heat toward the ceiling of the room will dry it out, so just keep spritzing with water. You'll know it's life is ebbing when the needles start falling into your eyes. Hee-hee.

    Is it wrong to say I want to get into your bed?

    ReplyDelete
  62. Where sis you get your bedding? I have been searching high and low for that same type, white with the square inlet. Please let me know.
    karyncj@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. Brilliantly done, Sarah! I'm inspired to do the same in my newly done master bedroom. The canopy bed awaits!!

    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  64. Hi Sarah! I love the way the greenery and candles look! I have a question, where do you get your LED tea lights? I've been seeing them a lot lately but the ones I see are not LED and I would like to find some that are. Thanks!

    Tiffany

    ReplyDelete
  65. LOVE it!!!! and I thought I was the only weird one who says "Holy Canoly"! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  66. What a great idea! I don't have a poster bed, but my headboard does have a shelf, guess that could work!

    ReplyDelete
  67. Oh my goodness...that is too pretty to be real! It looks like a faerie land bed. I just love love LOVE it!!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Its perfect! I bedding, the garland, swoon!

    ReplyDelete
  69. That's so gorgeous!! I just hope you don't get pine needles rained down upon you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  70. THIS IS AWESOME! So glad you went for the real greenery, I do it every year and never regret it:) What a treat to get into this bed every night. I've wanted a canopy bed for awhile now and you've got me really thinking of doing it!!! Thanks:)

    ReplyDelete
  71. That is so magical Sarah. How beautiful! Love it!

    XOXO
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  72. It's so pretty! Also love the touch of red from the pillow(towel) - way to improvise!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Haha...now I want to come sleep in your bed! Do you think there's room?

    ReplyDelete
  74. You would think it would be weird, but it works GREAT! Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Can I ask where you got your bedding set? I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  76. am i a year behind on this post? anyway, just saw it.I'm waiting for my new PB bedding to inspire 'fresh look." I am hooked on real garland and I kep thinking hubs would not be psyched about candles and garland and then I saw your note about the little led candles. already planning for next year. thanks for the post in 2009 or 2010?? laura

    ReplyDelete

If you have a specific question I will do my best to answer you back here!

You can find our paint colors and links to items at the "Our Home" tab at the top of my site.

THANKS so much for reading!