Christmas House Tour
This post shares a tour of my Christmas-decorated home from 2011. Much has changed since then, but I still love revisiting these memories.
You can find my 2013 Christmas House Tour in a later post and photos of the whole house in a separate tour.
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Welcome — I’m so glad you stopped by!
I don’t go overboard with Christmas decorating, but I like to add thoughtful touches that feel festive while keeping the style and character of our home intact.
Here’s the family room mantel. I’m especially fond of the book-page wreath I got from a friend’s Etsy shop — the pages even came from a tattered Star Wars book, which amused my husband.
The word JOY on the mantel holds special meaning for me.
I love the mix of the mossy green plant and the silver ornament for a simple, natural look.
Last year we skipped a big tree and my son was disappointed, so we returned to our tradition of cutting down our own tree. A fresh tree smells divine and brings so much joy and warmth to the home.
We’ve been working on the entry recently and are in the middle of installing a mantel. For now, we’ve hung fresh garland along the lower part of the stairs — I love the scent of real greenery when I walk in the door.
The antique Chinoiserie cabinet my grandparents brought back from Thailand sits in the entry. I adore its gold-painted ships. After having it in the living room for a while, we moved it back to the entry where it creates a strong focal point, especially against our newly painted striped wall.
A simple pitcher with a sprig of evergreen and a lantern filled with seashells and ornaments combine coastal elements with holiday cheer. I love the way the sea and Christmas blend — the sound of waves and wind outside while we’re cozy inside by the fire feels like the holidays to me.
We repurposed some dead branches from the yard to hang ornaments and snowflakes in the front window — a simple, organic display that felt whimsical once everything was hung.
An old iron pot became a base for a mini tree decorated with my grandmother’s gold jewelry and tiny jingle bells.
I removed the white slipcover after our dog Jack made a mess of it, and I’m enjoying the cozy feel of the original upholstery for the season.
Under the stair wall in the living room I created a small reading nook — I’m a big fan of piles of books and cozy corners.
Beyond the living room is our dining area, which I’ve dressed with red-and-white polka dot napkins to give the table a cheerful, festive look.
My love of the sea comes from growing up with a sailboat and spending many holidays at our family beach house. That coastal influence shows up in little touches throughout the home, such as a sailboat mixed with Christmas greenery.
I keep small sentimental items on display, like antique Santa and Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers from my childhood. These pieces connect past and present and always make me smile.
My son made an adorable gingerbread house this year — a sweet reminder of how holidays are really about small, happy moments.
Bowls of ornaments are an easy and attractive way to use extras that don’t fit on the tree.
I offered cookies when you came in — store-bought with love. They’re a simple, welcoming treat.
Winston, our nearly 17-year-old Westie, wandered through to say hello. For his age he still has occasional bursts of energy, which is a delight to see.
Looking from the kitchen into the family room, you can see how the spaces flow and how holiday accents are scattered throughout.
These jumbo handmade candy canes were a fun find and add a playful touch to the holiday decor.
Jack, our dog, was less enthused about posing but wanted to say hello — and perhaps sneak a taste of the ornaments.
Our main tree mixes starfish, letters, snowflakes, crosses and white balls alongside more traditional ornaments. Each child is also allowed a small tree in their room to decorate however they like, which keeps the main tree meaningful and curated.
Stockings are hung from a jute string with clothespins and cinnamon sticks for a casual, homey feel. The string is attached with removable hooks so we can easily adjust it when the fireplace is in use.
We tried to get Jack to wear reindeer ears for a party, but he preferred to chew them instead.
One more room received a makeover this year; I’ll share the full reveal after the holidays. For now it, like most rooms, simply gets a seasonal accent.
I’d love to show the bedrooms someday, but they’ll stay closed for this tour — maybe next year.
Enjoy the holiday tours from other years for more inspiration and seasonal ideas.
For a laugh after the tour, check out a lighthearted post about holiday unraveling and the realities after decorating.
Click the banner below to visit the seasonal and holiday gallery in my archives.
