Thursday, December 11

Holiday DIY: Let There Be Lights!

I have this real problem with Christmas decor colors. I'm sorry, but due to my OCD (I'm serious!), the usual red & green decorations just clash with my apartment too much and I just can't go there! I know it's silly, but to get around this dire issue (as I do enjoy holiday decorating), I use a lot of silver, gold, and lots of white candles. My silly tree is one of those faux metallic silver ones, too.

My big holiday trick is that I spray paint the the little fairy lights gold and it diffuses the light very nicely...silver spray paint works well too. It makes the lights look a lit bit more festive, and no more ugly green or white cords. This year, I wrapped the little golden lights around my chalkboard and I quite like the outcome.





37 comments:

K and/or K said...

Very elegant, warm, and inviting!

Micaela said...

GORGEOUS!!!!! thanks for the tip xo

Tina { Luphia Loves... } said...

so warm & cosy, your home is beautiful! love the little silver trees & candles too!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I really love it. I like it so much more than red and green!

Janis said...

I prefer your "colors" for the holidays, much more inviting :)

Holly said...

oh my god! i loove what you did around the chalkboard :)

Ana Herda said...

You should keep those lights on the chalkboard up year round!

kickpleat said...

i love that you painted the fairy lights gold. we have a silver tree and i hate seeing those green wires!! definitely something to try for next year. lovely.

Anonymous said...

what did you cover the lightbulbs with when you spray painted the cords?

Jaimee McClellan said...

I just love twinkle lights!!!

sfgirlbybay said...

thanks!!

wahlee - i spray the bulbs, too - that's what makes the light so nice and diffused. :)

Anonymous said...

I love the lights around your chalkboard. Your wood dining table with the modern chairs is one of my favorite looks too!

Britt said...

Wow, the bit about spray painting the lights just blew my mind. I didn't even realize you could safely do that. First thing I thought was isn't that a fire hazard? Lol but I agree silver looks so much better than the green and I think the diffused light would look wonderful!

Keyse said...

Thats awesome! I am going to do some spray painting very soon.

Anonymous said...

I'm not a big fan of the red and green either. We have a purple Christmas at our house every year!

Anonymous said...

I agree: you should leave the lights around the chalk board all year round!

I see you have the same "problem I do: I am madly in love with white. My living room is white, beech and blacks, I have a 1927 deco black with cream vinyl seats in the dining room (I loooooove that!) and my kitchen is black and white with red accents.

What I love about using white is that it's year round! And, fortunately when I started buying candle sticks, they were all glass and match beautifully!

Shazam!

Brandi said...

Victoria, beautiful post.

I was wondering if you could tell me something. I believe you have the Ektorp sofa from Ikea? I was wondering if you find it to be comfortable? I am thinking of purchasing this in the next month or so, along with a side chair, but not sure of its comfort. Please advise if you have time. Thank you.

Also, I love the lights idea. I may try that.

sfgirlbybay said...

brandi - no, i have the room & board Modern sofa, so I'm not familiar with the comfort of the Ektorp. it looks relaly cute, though! :)

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful, I just can't get into decorating for Christmas this year. My tree has been up since Sunday and there are no lights or decorations on it. Somehow I will have to get the nerve to just decorate it.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for inspiring me to actually face my boxes of Christmas decorations and do something with my twinkle lights. Christmas has snuck up on me and I wasn't going to bother this year, but now I think I'll get out some candles and lights after all. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Dont you use LED lights? They are better for the environment, Victoria. You can recycle them at places like Home Depot and get a price reduction on your new energy efficient lights!
Saving the world starts with each one of us...

sfgirlbybay said...

well, I've had these around for a few years now, so rather than buying new, I just keep reusing them until they die.

Stephanie said...

I totally get it! I decorated my house with vases full of clementines, green apples, cranberries and chestnuts, just so they would go with my colors!

Anonymous said...

you really should be using led lights- you can recycle your old fairy lights. led is best for the earth as they use less energy. and you know we are all energy hoarders! get rid of them (ps where's my last comment?). where did you get ur chalkboard. love it.

Anonymous said...

Love this! I'm also not a fan of the red and green decorating at this time of year, so it's great to see some inspiring alternatives. Your place looks great!

RachelDenbow said...

spray painting your lights! That is the best idea I've heard this season.

We bought about four boxes of white lights with green cords when I was looking for white on white cords. NOW, I don't have to take them back or take the hit.

Your holiday decor is magical. I love it.

Ashley said...

yeah, no red + green. and i might have to try the spray painting.

I saw this really cute idea in the display window at some little shop — I think in Hayes Valley — that I hope to use out on my new patio... they had "buried" the cord on the floor under rocks and let the little lights pop up through them. Wish I had snapped a photo to share. Maybe would also work well for a holiday table centerpiece!

Unknown said...

I love your Christmas decorations!

Laurel said...

Just lovely! Thanks for sharing- I am a huge fairy lights fan -some are up all year inside-:) I will try painting also and the chalkboard is the coolest.

Anonymous said...

I agree about the energy-efficient lights -- should all be using them. I suppose it's just a matter of time before that happens, in the meantime savour the magic of your fairy lights. Does spraying them present anything along the lines of a fire hazard? Anyone? And how exactly did you spray them? What did you use? Love the idea. (what else do you spray paint? heehee)

Anonymous said...

I just read all your comments. I will mention that the energy saving light-emitting diode Christmas lights and outdoor solar lights are **huge** up here in Canada. Maybe us Canadians are "light years" ahead of the Americans in terms of eco-friendliness (pardon the pun!). I bet it's all Canadians who are pestering you, Victoria, about your outdated eco-wasteful twinkle lights (I have found the new little warm white LED bulbs are still a twinkling delight).
I have witnessed neighbours lecture other neighbours about energy eco-sense as they put up their outdoor light decorations (it is amazing though that they do use 95% less electricity than their inefficient predecessors -- all those "green" commercials and ads drilled into my head! "Your energy use affects all of us!").
C'est la vie! Greenpeace is Canadian afterall. Save the earth. C'est magnifique!!
Mais your lovely...

Mr. Bluehaunt said...

I love the idea of painting the lights !

mansionmogul said...

Gorgeous! Love that you got me thinking outside the box of usual christmas decs on this one!

Anonymous said...

SO how did you do it Victoria? Type of paint et cetera...

sfgirlbybay said...

It's just one strand of lights I've had for over five years, so I'm not going to cash 'em in yet. I sit in the dark every night with just candles, so I save energy in that way and many others.

It's just regular old metallic spray paint, and so far...no fires! ;)

Uncle Beefy said...

I know I am SOOOOOOOOOO late on this one, V. !!! But just had to say how lovely this all looks. So elegant but cozy! And thanks for the tip on the lights! Great idea!

(I've been around in reader...just on the fly. But you've still been inspiring me everyday, m'dear!)

bella said...

I love this idea. Twinle lights and all!