SMILING’S MY FAVORITE — okay, now that I’ve got that out of the way, here’s our holiday house tour. This year we focused on simpler, more intentional decorating: festive but uncluttered, and easy to put up and take down. That meant the living room centers on the tree and the mantel while other areas get smaller, thoughtful touches.
sofa / side tables / chairs / round marble table / blinds / ottoman / similar lamps & TV table
Our tree is an artificial one we’ve used for more than five years. It has realistic branches, but most of the original lights have finally given out, so we replaced them with warm-toned LED strands from Target that better match the tree’s original glow. We tested a few options to avoid the too-blue LEDs and kept some extra boxes so we’ll have spares later. The ornaments are a sentimental mix of family keepsakes and homemade pieces, and this year the kids enjoyed decorating more than ever—less “don’t touch that” and more proud helpers.
Christmas tree / similar rug / similar tree skirts / similar stocking / garland / similar mirror
This year the mantel is calmer than in past seasons. Sherry leaned into green garlands—she used a faux magnolia garland and added battery-operated fairy lights and ceramic white house ornaments to brighten the arrangement. The result is a refined mantel that still feels cozy and festive without being overdone.
faux magnolia garland / similar stockings / battery powered lights / similar ceramic houses / similar mirror
We added subtle holiday touches to the living room bookcases, too—small figurines, a holiday “terrarium” from a past DIY project, and a few playful pieces the kids love. Some of these are family hand-me-downs with special meaning, so they stay in rotation even after the holidays.
In the kitchen we kept decor minimal. The wooden house advent calendar from Target sits under the floating shelves; instead of following one particular countdown method, we flipped each house around to hide the numbers and reveal them daily. Sherry also sprinkled a few ornaments and greenery around the counters and added a letterboard for seasonal messages—an easy way to add personality and a rotating focal point.
advent calendar / paper flowers / green candle / gold frame / shelf brackets
The foyer follows the same “keep it simple” approach—white-on-white textures already create a cozy winter feeling, so Sherry added a single evergreen branch and a white feather tree to hint at the season without changing the room’s calm aesthetic. This vignette can easily stay up through winter, which is convenient and low-effort.
similar baskets / similar acrylic table / similar white feather tree / large glass vase / similar mirror
In the office, we embraced color with a cluster of Sherry’s bottle brush trees. Their bright, playful vibe suits the busier room and adds a nostalgic, vintage touch that the kids enjoy.
similar bottle brush trees // round mirror /parsons desk / bookcase
Upstairs we kept things simple with a few small trees. One favorite is the bonus room tree that glows down the hall and is visible from the driveway at night. Because we packed the tree, ornaments, and cord together last year, setting it up this season was quick and easy.
similar rug / vintage rocker / similar tree / sofa / globe
Our daughter has her own small tree, placed in a painted woven basket that adds extra cheer. This child-sized setup is practical and fun—easy for her to decorate and enjoy.
similar lidded basket / similar tree / quote art / door color: BM Cinco De Mayo
New this year is our son’s tree: an $8 green tinsel tree he chose himself, upgraded with a string of colored LED lights. He proudly added a knitted wreath ornament he calls his “Christmas Donut” plus shatterproof balls—perfect for a toddler’s tree and full of personality.
dragon & gorilla baskets /similar woven baskets / similar rug / tree / lights / bookcase
We’ve intentionally pared back decorations that feel like extra work and focused on the pieces that bring the most joy—primarily the trees. Sherry’s favorite holiday pun, “boots with the fir,” made an appearance on the porch along with a large wreath she made with the girls. Those personal touches are what make the season special for our family.
similar wreath /red boots / welcome mat / fake trees in those black pots (yes they’re fake!) / door color: BM Blue Lake
I also decorated my little shed with colorful LEDs and roof clips for an easy backyard display that the kids love. It’s a simple way to add cheer away from the main house and embrace the kids’ current obsession with rainbow lights.
Next year we plan to add an artificial tree to the beach house so it’s ready for future visits—likely a tall one to fit the higher ceilings. For now, we’re enjoying a holiday season that balances festive spirit with simplicity and family time.
Below is a “Get The Look” mood board Sherry assembled with comparable items. It’s not exhaustive—many of our pieces are older—but it should help inspire a similar, approachable holiday style.
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 /7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18
Wishing you happy holidays and easy, meaningful decorating this season.
Psst — want more ideas? Check our holiday and entertaining posts for past inspiration.
*This post contains affiliate links*