Do you love Southern style decorating? This full tour of the Southern Living Idea House is full of gorgeous rooms you’ll want to recreate in your home!

The Southern Living Idea House is full of fabulous ideas for your home. See 20 ideas from the tour.

Please tell me you have an extra ten minutes today.

I know you’re busy.

I know it’s Monday.

I know your to-do list is long and it’s cold and the day is already full of holiday cheer and merriment—but seriously…..

…I had to share.

I’ve been writing this blog for a long time. I’ve photographed more houses than I can count—especially at the holidays. But of all the houses in all the world, this house that I photographed back in 2014 is my very favorite. It was the Southern Living Holiday Idea House from 2014.

Yep.

10 years ago I stood on this front porch and knocked on the door and entered the living room and fell in love.

But in sad news? I had kind of forgotten about it because it was TEN YEARS AGO.

And then?

A pin popped up on Pinterest of the front door (one of my most popular pins EVER) and I went back and took the tour all over again and I knew that I had to share. Even though it’s been 10 years, the decor is timeless and brings me so much happiness even today. So I reedited the photos and wrote out how we could DIY so many of the ideas and now it’s all refreshed and ready for you.

So grab a cuppa and come virtually take a tour.

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Remember when I told you I knocked on the door?

It was this door.

Look at those swags on the lanterns.

And the wreath.

And we haven’t even discussed the actual front door. Have you ever seen anything like that before?

On the amazing scale—if 1 is the perfect chocolate chip cookie and 100 is finding a yard sale where all the milk glass marked $1.00….

….it’s a 250.

*sigh*

It’s classic and farmhouse and timeless and new and barn wood and burlap and visionary all rolled into one.

Let’s open the door together and tour the house and I put together a list of 20 decorating ideas from the house to make all of our holidays a little merrier.

20 Decorating Ideas from the Southern Living Idea House

Idea #1: magnolia wreaths

Let’s start with the ideas on the outside before we head to the interior of the house.

This is the back porch. They didn’t go overboard here with the decor—but every little detail makes a statement.

Look at the transoms over the back door—aren’t they amazing?

And the magnolia wreaths on the exterior windows are hung from a ribbon (I think it’s velvet which you could only do on a porch) attached above the molding.

Idea #2: wrap jute rope on a porch swing

The porch is so pretty and wraps around the entire house, with tons of different sitting areas.

It’s kind of hard to see and I wish I would have taken a better pic, but the porch swing in the back has jute wound around through the chains on the porch swing.

Then they tied off the rope at the very top.

Idea #3: easy centerpiece

I love the juxtaposition of the texture of the old farmhouse table with wicker chairs.

And look how easy that centerpiece is.

They just took a simple magnolia garland and added pomegranates and artichokes.

Idea #4: make an outdoor sculpture with magnolia leaves

Look at these incredible magnolia crosses on either side of the front door.

These would be easy to DIY with a wood base and then glue faux magnolia leaves to the wood.

And add a burlap ribbon to the center.

Idea #5: mixing patterns

I love the mix of stripes and patterns in neutral gray with fresh greenery.

This still looks so fresh to me 10 years later.

Pattern mixing works for the holidays and throughout the year.

Idea #6: decorating french doors and adding curtains

The wreaths on either side of the french doors is the perfect way to add a little holiday to connect the inside to the outside.

And look at those curtains on the porch. It’s the same fabric as the upholstery.

Curtains like that are such a great way to make a porch into more of a room.

Idea #7: matching topiaries tied with ribbons

I think the kitchen is so overlooked when it comes to decorating.

The symmetry of the topiaries on the kitchen island is so pretty.

And I love the idea of tying a ribbon around the base of the topiaries is an easy way to add a little holiday to any plant.

Idea #8: simple centerpiece

This is the prettiest centerpiece on the dining table.

There are layers of cedar mixed with magnolia and eucalyptus.

You could add faux candles to the hurricanes, too.

Idea #9: wrap plants in burlap and tie a ribbon

Look at the plant on the side table.

Isn’t that the cutest idea?

It’s wrapped in burlap and then tied with red ribbon. It’s such an easy idea to holidayfy a houseplant.

Idea #10: add dried hydrangeas to the tree

I loved this simple idea.

I’ve been drying my hydrangeas for years.

What a fun idea to add dried hydrangea tucked into the Christmas tree.

Idea #11: add branches to the tree for texture

And then? 

Did you see?

There are branches tucked into the tree for a rustic look.

I also loved how there are two different types of ribbons swagged together and tucked around the tree.

Idea #12: create a rustic mantel swag

My favorite thing about this mantel greenery?

It can take you all the way from now through winter (maybe even fall).

It’s the colors and the choices in greenery—perfect way to celebrate Christmas if you like neutrals.

Idea #13: add hydrangeas to a garland

This is another brilliant idea.

To match the tree, this garland has dried hydrangeas added with cedar, pinecones and boxwood.

Then layer in ribbons and burlap to finish the garland.

Idea #14: add swags on either side of the door

This was one of my favorite ideas from the house.

And my one of my most pinned pins.

Look at the layers with these swags—the pinecones, the ribbons, the pine branches and the twig branches all layered together.

Absolute Christmas perfection.

Idea #15: add a eucalyptus swag instead of a wreath

And then?

Look at the eucalyptus swag on the door.

It starts with the eucalyptus bundle and then there are layers of burlap and twigs and pinecones, too.

Idea #16:  ottomans

This bedroom is so sweet.

I love the hint of blue and white.

But my favorite thing about the room is the two tufted ottomans to the end of the bed for storage.

I think they would look so cute with a Christmas pillow on top of each one.

Idea #17:  built-in bench

This was one of my favorite rooms in the house.

The bathroom/closet area was designed so beautifully.

I also love the idea of installing a bench in between two cabinets in the closet area.

(total aside:  I would be happy with just one of the cabinets and that flooring).

Idea #18: add touches of green with green bottles

This laundry room is so full of natural light.

There’s a countertop for the washer and dryer with built-ins and baskets on the side.

I love the idea of the subtle nod to the holidays with the green bottles.

Idea #19: miniature topiaries

These miniature topiaries add a pop of greenery to the laundry room.

Add crocks like these or clay pots and group the plants in odd numbers.

You could also add small cedar trees or even a winter herb garden.

Idea #20: pack your suitcase

And the best idea I had from this idea house.

To move in. 

Who’s with me? 🙂

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.