Decorate with Crafts

The Country Sampler stylists employ nature-inspired items and rustic holiday decor to lend a home the air of an enchanted forest.

The Country Sampler stylists put together groupings with a woodland holiday flair.

Transformation

is part of the magic of Christmas. It’s a chance to bring out cherished items and new acquisitions, to convert your home into a place of wonder and delight by incorporating a special theme that enhances your home and reflects your interests or a favorite setting.

Some themes are based around a color palette or a beloved collection, while others are inspired by a time or place. Country Sampler stylists René Haines and Carolynn Geesaman brought a woodland Christmas theme to life in the Fort Recovery, Ohio, home of Tammy and Tony Overton, drawing on the rustic appeal of their furnishings, many of them rescued and repurposed.

Since moving in three years ago, Tammy, who works as a painter and decorator, has spruced up many of the surfaces in the early-1900s home, from walls to furniture. She loves to refashion old items, especially architectural elements such as shutters, windows and doors. “We’ve made them into shelves, benches, headboards, and picture frames,” she says.

One of her favorite pieces—an old chalkboard—was salvaged from the home’s basement. It now hangs on the kitchen wall, where René used it as a backdrop for a cheerful, nature-infused vignette. “It’s warm, inviting and earthy,” René says of the appeal of a woodsy motif.

To see how René and Carolynn carried the look throughout other rooms in Tammy’s home, read on for 18 inventive holiday decorating ideas.