The week before Christmas always feels busy, but I’ve found a few quiet moments to do my favorite thing: puttering. Small, thoughtful changes around the house are my way of easing into the season without feeling overwhelmed.
I prefer to decorate in phases—starting with subtle winter touches, a bit of greenery and soft lights—and then building slowly as inspiration strikes. That approach keeps the process peaceful and enjoyable rather than stressful.
Too much change at once drains me, so I let the season unfold at my pace. Maintaining a sense of calm at home is more important than staging a perfect show; our home is our sanctuary and how it feels matters deeply to me.
I’m a true homebody and enjoy making small tweaks that fit our everyday life while honoring the season. Today I’m sharing a few recent touches I added for Christmas; I’ll post a fuller Christmas tour next week and our annual holiday video after the holidays when family moments are included.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed this season, I recorded a short pre-Christmas pep talk for fellow Homebodies titled “Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should.” It’s a reminder to choose what brings you peace rather than trying to do everything. The talk includes a few snapshots of my home this week and may be helpful if you need permission to simplify.
I’d love for you to consider joining The HomeBody House for our virtual Wintering for Homebodies retreat and the new Room Recipe Workshop starting in January. More details will be shared soon.
By the way—still finishing up gift shopping? I have a few gifts left to buy myself. For quick ideas, I keep a list of last-minute suggestions I know our family uses and loves.
I had already styled this area for Christmas, and recently added an antique winter creamer I’ve kept for years. Small, familiar pieces can make seasonal styling feel personal and warm.
Sources: Dish set on rack // Green floral plates and bowls // Similar white houses // Oval cabbage platter // Blue and white teapot.
I set out our blue and white nativity scene—the reason for the season—placing it where it feels like the heart of our holiday decor.
More sources include paper trees and a pleated lampshade used nearby for soft, layered light.
Last week I added a few sprigs of red berries to the chandelier, which was already dressed with cedar garland and plaid ribbon I put up before Thanksgiving. A few bright accents like berries lift the whole look without overdoing it.
We recently hung garland on the porch using real evergreens and added lightweight stars that sway in the breeze. They catch the light and bring a quiet kind of magic to the entry.
I shared more of the porch and front door styling in a recent post, where I walked through the elements I used and how I layered them for a welcoming look.
The staircase garland is up with black-and-white striped ribbon and a gold star garland. It’s a simple, charming combination that feels festive without being fussy.
On the mantel I grouped a brass bunny and fox bowls, and added copper string lights for a warm glow. Our blue velvet stockings are hung, and this year they’ve stayed untouched by the dogs—so far! I also brought out needlepoint Santa stockings we’ve kept for years and hung painted shells alongside them for a coastal touch.
Velvet stockings sold out recently where I found them; similar needlepoint Santa stockings are available from other sources.
I use flameless votive candles on a timer so they come on automatically as dusk falls. Turning on a few string lights in the morning has also become a cozy ritual that brightens early starts.
If you missed it, I shared more mantel details in a separate post that shows the florals and greenery I layered for our coastal cottage Christmas mantel.
I’ll share more photos and ideas next week during our Christmas tour. For now, thank you for stopping by to peek at my Christmas puttering. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by for my Christmas Puttering! 🙂
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