Welcome! I’m so glad you stopped by for the annual Christmas tour of our home here in the Pacific Northwest. This is part one of a two-part house tour. I keep things simple during the holidays, adding just a touch more greenery and festivity to create a cozy, magical space for my family without adding stress. Come on in and take a look around.
Our little home sits between forest and sea, which inspired this year’s holiday decor. I don’t usually plan strict themes, but the forest-and-sea idea came together naturally and felt right for our space.
We’ve lived here nearly six years, and each season we feel more settled. I’ll share more photos and the second half of the tour later in the week, so be sure to stop back for part two.
As I prepared to take pictures, Jack and Lily kept peeking out the door, curious to see who was visiting. They love company, so I snapped a quick photo of them waiting to greet you.
I mentioned in my last post that I try to keep holiday decorating low-maintenance. For example, my white and gray rug that looked so pretty in summer doesn’t come out in winter because I’d rather avoid constant cleaning. Instead I use a washable rug that’s easy to swap in and out—practical for our rainy Northwest weather.
Before you step inside, here’s my door “wreath”: a hanging basket filled with a mix of fresh and faux greenery. It’s pretty and will hold up through the season, which I love—easy, long-lasting door decor.
Come on in! I love using fresh greenery, which is easy to source nearby, but when neighborhood trees are too wet I buy cedar boughs from a local nursery. They’re affordable and replaceable, and they avoid the mess of dried garland when we use the fireplace often.
This year I tried something different on the stairway: rope tied around the newel posts with cedar boughs and a simple ribbon bow. It was easy and charming—I don’t think I’ll go back to full garland.
I’ll let you wander and look around—I’ll add a few notes as we go, and I’ll share more in a future post. Feel free to ask questions if you’d like details about anything you see.
I found a vintage sled at the flea market that felt right for the entry. It’s a wintery touch I love, and maybe we’ll get to use it if we get a little snow this year.
I love to use fresh boxwood and evergreen sprigs from the garden or nearby to add simple touches to the table. Natural greenery brings texture and scent that makes holiday gatherings feel warm.
That teapot on the counter was a thoughtful anniversary gift from my husband. It’s one of those small treasures I bring out at the holidays because it feels festive and special.
Instead of a mug tree, I set up a hot chocolate station with a tiered stand and a nutcracker watching over the marshmallows. A wooden “peace” banner I made last year is back up because I love it—and because I tend to keep crafts in rotation for years once I make them.
Charlie Brown Christmas tunes playing in the background always add to the festive mood.
I used downloadable chalkboard art for the hallway because I’m not talented at lettering. It brightens the space and always makes me smile as I walk by.
I made simple Mason Jar snow globes—an easy craft that adds a homemade touch to the decorations.
In the family room we have a freshly cut Christmas tree. We cut a fresh tree every year for that classic evergreen scent throughout the house. This year’s ornaments reflect our forest-and-sea theme, a quirky collection of animals that make us smile.
Most items in our home carry a memory or represent a special time—gifts, market finds, and keepsakes that remind us of family, coast trips, and seasons past. Even without heavy traditional decor, the pieces we choose have meaning and bring warmth to the season.
We decorated the tree with animal ornaments from both forest and sea—playful and full of character. Many pieces have been collected over the years and continue to make us laugh, fitting perfectly with our home’s personality.
The felt sea turtle ornament is one of my favorites, picked up at a coastal shop during a family trip. Small mementos like that bring back happy memories each year.
That wraps up the first half of our Christmas tour. I have plenty more photos for part two, so I hope you’ll return to see the rest of the house. Thanks so much for visiting—happy holidays from our home to yours!
PART TWO of this Christmas House Tour is available.
Thanks so much for coming!
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born… he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
See last year’s Christmas House Tour for more inspiration.
