Our Cozy Christmas Home Tour

When the neighborhood lights start appearing, our two-year-old always announces from the back seat, “It’s Christmastime!”—and we cheer every single time. This year the decorating bug hit hard and fast, and our house went from “holding back” to delightfully over-the-top in a few days. Here’s a quick tour of what the house looks like now that it’s fully decked out for the holidays.

Living Room and Tree

The living room tree is my favorite view, especially from the kitchen now that we opened up the space during our remodel. The tree is an eclectic mix of handmade school ornaments, childhood keepsakes, and bits and pieces we’ve collected over the years—popsicle-stick reindeer sit beside vintage baubles and quirky finds like tiny chihuahuas and a ceramic hamburger. A few ornaments are DIY projects from our early days in our first house, which brings so much nostalgia.

Open Kitchen View

Standing at the kitchen island and looking into the living room makes me grin like a goof. The open plan—thanks to removing that old wall and wet bar—lets the tree glow into the kitchen, which is hands-down my favorite sight during the season.

Cozy Seating and Built-ins

When the tree claims its corner, we simply shift the armchair in front of the built-ins for a cozy reading nook. The built-in shelves have become home to tiny holiday miniatures—glass boxes filled with “snow,” little ceramic animals, and fragile angel figurines from my childhood. Placing those small, sentimental pieces up high lets us enjoy them without constant worry.

Personal Touches

Our tree is far from themed—its charm is the randomness. Homemade silhouette ornaments with our kids’ initials, handprint ornaments, and even a few grown-up craft projects live alongside store-bought decorations. That mix tells our family’s story, and it’s a tiny tradition I love.

Fireplace and Mantel Details

Next to the fireplace I placed a thrifted birdcage filled with faux presents for fun—an odd little joke that makes us laugh. Stockings remain simple this year: one for each child and a big treat bag for our dog. Small strands of elephant garland were cut and repurposed as ornaments, and mini trees and ceramic village houses add a quaint touch to the mantel.

Kitchen Shelves and Counters

On the kitchen shelves I added a few white ceramic houses, a bowl of old ornaments, and a framed page I tore from a magazine—simple touches that add holiday cheer without clutter. The stove area hosts a couple of wooden trees and bottle brush trees, and a red bottle brush tree on the counter felt necessary, because there’s never too many.

Foyer and Stairs

The foyer is intentionally simple: a favorite white feather tree and red rubber boots filled with faux evergreen sprigs. The boots make me chuckle every time—“BOOTS WITH THE FIR!”—and the garland down the railing gives a festive welcome as you come up the stairs. I always debate skipping the garland because of the little cable ties it takes to secure it, but every year I’m glad I didn’t.

Kids’ Rooms and Bonus Room

We gave our daughter a small tree of her own, placed in a hand-painted basket, and let her choose a few felt ornaments. The bonus room also got a mini tree this year, and it looks especially sweet glowing in front of the window and homemade shelves. I love how the bonus-room tree is visible from the driveway—an extra little bit of cheer when we pull in.

Outdoor Decorations

Outside we kept things restrained and warm: red lanterns filled with lights, some glowing garland, window candles, and magnolia wreaths. Instead of hanging wreaths on every window this year, we rely on landscape lighting and candles to create nighttime ambiance. On the back porch we hung Moravian star lights—one of my favorite decorations for their timeless, slightly special look.

Final Thoughts

Decorating felt like the perfect excuse to slow down and enjoy small traditions. The house is fully dressed for the season, and we’re absolutely thrilled—Elf-level excited, in fact. Happy holidays and enjoy whatever rituals make your home feel most festive!

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