Christmas Tour: Holiday Basement Bar & Media Room
Over the weekend, I wrapped up decorating our home for the holidays and began photographing each room to share with you. Per usual, I got carried away and captured far too many images. Therefore, I’m going to share a Christmas tour of each space. I’ll actually be sharing a lot more in the coming weeks, so check back daily for festive tours and fun holiday posts! We’re kicking off the seasonal tour with the lowest level of our house… the basement- which includes the media room, fireplace area, and basement bar. If you’re looking for simple and classic holiday decorating inspiration that takes minimal effort, this area encompasses exactly that!
I’ll be honest, Emmett & I have spent way too much down time here the past two weeks. I’m struggling to recover from pneumonia, and after a trip to the doctor yesterday- Emmett also has it. We’ve been in rest, recovery, and lounge mode over here, desperately trying to recuperate before our holiday company arrives. This room is our comfort space- it’s cozy, comfortable, and the ultimate zone for relaxing. Though my energy levels are running low at the moment, I did manage to style some greenery and string up some ribbon for a festive touch. Did you see last week’s post on 20 ways to decorate with ribbon this holiday season?
Basement Media Room
Let’s start with the seating area and media room side of the space. This room actually feels pretty wintery year round because of my artwork selection. Living in Utah (as a skier), I adore my vintage ski prints. Check out this post for where to find vintage ski prints & winter artwork. I decided to keep things simple with plain greenery… a few wreaths for my galleries and garland.
I tucked some real touch garland behind our soundbar on the credenza, wrapping it around the table lamps and television for a classic pop of seasonal green texture.
I kept the ribbon monochromatic, using a lighter blue shade to complement my coveted navy wall color (Naval by Sherwin-Williams) and the dyed drapery panels. I still can’t believe I got those to perfectly match.
Basement Bar
Decorating a basement bar for the holidays can be tricky. Again, my mentality was less is more. Leaning into my vintage blue & white pieces, I tied a French blue ribbon around my rosemary topiary for a festive touch. I also swapped my soap & lotion set at the sink for something seasonally appropriate- this citrus & birch duo is my new favorite… and it’s marked down for Black Friday!
I also bookmarked some of my favorite seasonal cocktails for easy access while hosting. You could even prop the recipes on an easel as functional decor. I think a bar feels festive, in general… a place to celebrate and converse. Lean into pretty vintage glassware, add a little greenery (I used another piece of the real touch garland), style some ribbon, and call it good.
Basement Fireplace
Across from the kitchen or bar, our electric fireplace has been getting a good workout. We had three inches of snow on Sunday, and that wasn’t even our first storm of the season. This thing has been the most cozy addition to the space, and I’m seriously impressed with how well it heats our basement! Not to mention… it has been the most fun to style- holiday decorations, included. Again, I tied a couple bows from the metal shade brass sconces, and kept the garland minimal and simple. I also pulled out my traditional glass hurricanes.
FAQ
Absolutely! Try to use what you already have… candles, heavier winter textiles (wool, faux fur, etc), simple greenery, books, and repurposed ribbon go a long way. These things also have longevity- meaning they work well (visually) all winter long. I try to create a cozy look we can enjoy past the holiday season- especially in these minimal areas that need warmth, like a basement.
We are! It could use a good cleaning (on my to-do list), but it’s really comfortable. Check out my Homebody reclining sectional review here for all the details!
Of course! My exact preserved boxwood wreaths were from the Tuesday Made shop a couple years ago, but here is a similar version (the same size & texture). This is my exact French blue velvet ribbon.
Thank you! It’s viola marble. You can see more of it in this post- how to choose a marble slab for your renovation. This one might also be helpful… how to select different countertop edge profiles.
Related
If you’re curious about the projects we’ve tackled in the basement, are looking for sources, or similar posts- I’ll link some related ones for you below!
- Basement Media Room Reveal
- 20 Ways to Decorate with Ribbon This Holiday Season
- Homebody Reclining Sectional Review
- Basement Bar Reveal
- How to Replace & Upgrade Your Cabinet Doors
- The Best Faux Fur Throw Blankets for Styling This Winter
- Vintage Hutch Transformation… Our Built-In Bar Cabinet
- Classic Glassware from Tuesday Made
- How to Source & Style the Most Realistic Electric Fireplace
- The Best Apartment Size Refrigerators and Organization Tips
- How to Deep Clean a Fabric Lampshade
I hope you enjoyed this peek at the basement decorated for the holidays this year! This is our first time decorating it for Christmas post renovation. While it is understated, it’s making me very happy. It feels quite cozy down here.
Check back tomorrow for a holiday dining room tour! I decided to share our Thanksgiving table, since I set it up over the weekend. I’m crossing my fingers everyone in our household is feeling well enough to have dinner as planned. Fingers crossed… we haven’t been this sick in quite a while. I hope everyone is staying healthy this season! While I’m still feeling behind with low energy levels, I am excited for the week ahead. Is everyone feeling ready to officially kick off the holidays as we enter December?
