Christmas House Tour
The photos below are from my 2011 Christmas house tour. Much has changed since then, but I still love sharing these holiday moments.
You can find my 2013 Christmas House Tour here (sneak peek above) and photos of the whole house in other posts.
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Welcome — I’m so glad you stopped by!
I don’t overload the house with holiday decorations, but I like adding small, meaningful touches that feel festive while keeping the home’s character intact.
This is the family room mantel. The book-page wreath was made by my friend Kat and the pages, amusingly, come from an old, tattered Star Wars book — a detail my husband appreciated.
The word JOY on the mantel is meaningful to me and I like how it anchors the display.
I paired a mossy plant with a silver ornament for a natural, simple look.
Last year we skipped a big tree and my son was disappointed, so this season we returned to our tradition of cutting our own. It made him so happy, and a fresh tree smells and looks glorious.
We’ve been updating the entry recently. At the moment we were hanging a mantel that leans in the photos, and I’ll share a progress post once it’s finished. For now, we added fresh garland along the stairs so the doorway greets you with the scent of greenery.
The antique Chinoiserie cabinet in the entry was brought home by my grandparents many years ago. I love its painted ships and the way it anchors the striped wall we recently repainted. It makes a strong, welcoming statement.
A pitcher with a sprig of evergreen and a lantern filled with seashells and ornaments blends coastal charm with holiday cheer — a combination that feels authentic to how we celebrate winter by the sea.
We repurposed a few dead branches from the yard to hang ornaments and paper snowflakes in the front window. They create a whimsical, slightly rustic display.
An old iron pot holds a tiny tree decorated with my grandmother’s gold jewelry and little bells — a sentimental, sparkly accent.
I removed a white slipcover after our dog had an accident and, for now, I’m enjoying the cozy look of the original upholstery during the holidays.
Under the stairs I created a small reading nook with stacks of books — a cozy corner that fits the season.
Beyond the living room is our dining area, which I keep simple and festive.
Growing up near the water and spending holidays at our family beach house shaped my aesthetic. Incorporating seaside elements alongside greenery makes the decor feel personal and meaningful.
Red-and-white polka dot napkins add a playful, festive touch to the table.
Antique Santa and Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers from my childhood are small keepsakes that always make me smile.
My son’s gingerbread house and his proud smile are both adorable and heartwarming.
Baskets and bowls of ornaments are an easy way to display extras and add seasonal color around the house.
There are always cookies on hand—this year they came from Trader Joe’s and were offered with love.
Winston, our nearly 17-year-old Westie, wandered through to say hello. He’s still spry for his age and enjoys the holiday company.
From the kitchen you can peek into the family room and see how the tree and decorations tie the spaces together.
These oversized handmade candy canes were a fun find and add a whimsical touch.
Jack, our goldendoodle, wasn’t thrilled about posing but wanted to say hello — and inspect the ornaments, of course.
Our main tree mixes starfish, letters, snowflakes, crosses, white balls and other collected items. The kids each have small trees in their rooms for personal collections and creative decorating.
Stockings hang from a jute string attached with clothespins and accented with cinnamon sticks. The string is mounted on Command hooks so we can remove the stockings when we use the fireplace if needed.
We tried to get Jack to wear reindeer ears for a party, but he preferred chewing them instead of wearing them.
One more room received a makeover this year; I’ll share the reveal in January. For now, each room gets a small seasonal touch that feels right for our family.
I didn’t include bedrooms in this tour — they’re quiet and unadorned for now, so I’m keeping those doors closed.
Come back to see more tours from other years and seasonal inspiration in future posts.
Want a holiday laugh?: The Unraveling. After the Christmas Tour.
Click on the banner below to view the seasonal and holiday gallery.
