It feels like the first Christmas in our home, but it’s really our second. Last year, we spent December living in a hotel while the big parts of our renovation were underway–replacing windows and walls and flooring. We moved back in on December 23rd and threw up a tree and some garland on the framed-in fireplace and bare drywall and made the most of our first Christmas in this home. A true Don’t Wait moment.

This year, I started finding a spot for all of our Christmas decor that we’ve collected over the years. It took time–I started 2 weeks ago–but there’s something about seeing sentimental things that you’ve celebrated with over the years, in a new place that really makes it feel like home. Like all things, I’m sure it will evolve over time. Next year, maybe we’ll expand the decor upstairs–Christmas sheets have always been the dream for me. Like, I have it so together, I’m changing the sheets for a holiday!

The Exterior

But onto to the christmas tour! Let’s start outside. We hired our lights out (and rented the lights even, so I’m not sure what exactly they are), but it’s like a Hallmark movie every time we pull in.

This week, we hung wreaths on all the windows with tartan ribbon and it’s so rewarding to see the way they pop against our new exterior.

By the front door, we put two small 4′ trees in baskets (and I couldn’t find my holiday doormat soooooo)

In the entry

I hung a very wispy strand of pine garland with velvet ochre ribbon going up the staircase. At first I was a little bummed with how thin it looked, but then it grew on me so much it feels charming! We kept the entry table simple with a wreath and bells on the mirror, Willow branches for our sweet dog who recently passed and a beautiful nativity I purchased last summer in Cancun!

The Living Room is our main hangout area so we definitely wanted it to feel festive, but we also really wanted it to be livable. We just found a seating arrangement that works well for our room, so we tucked the tree into a corner (where the olive tree usually lives.) This year, we fluffed the tree and wouldn’t you know it, it made a big difference. Haha. We lost a lot of ornaments in the fire, but I was pleasantly surprised with how many we still had–and luckily the ones we’ve collected through our travels weren’t at the cabin. I placed a large white bowl on the coffee table to collect Christmas cards this year, as opposed to hanging them on a wall, so we can look through them while we’re lounging.

I went asymmetrical with the garland this year to balance the tree on the other side of the room and I just love the playfulness. Besides some greenery and bells, textiles are a great way to add coziness to your space all winter long! So I focused on adding a few throws throughout the room.

Christmas Tree

The Kitchen/Breakfast Nook

This area is open to the living room, so I didn’t feel like I needed more decor to feel the holiday spirit, but I always love to refresh the china cabinet seasonally. I layered in some ceramic houses and candlesticks and hung some bells on the door. In the breakfast nook, I hung a wreath on the two large windows, with some ribbon bows at the bottom and nothing feels more like Christmas than a bowl full of oranges, right?!

The Dining Room

I had a smaller (unlit) tree from our last house that I put in the corner of the dining room and wrapped the train around it. The girls LOVE the train, so it’s nice that they can plan on it all day long and there can still be conversation happening in the living room. The floors are heated and toasty in the dining room and the train runs so smooth on the floors.

On the fauxdenza, I set up my tree collection, I’ve been adding to a little bit each yeah. This year, I added the ochre bottle brush trees–I guess the color unofficially became my holiday color this year with the ribbon too!

On each of the doors, I hung a wreath by navy ribbon. I love the way it picks up the curtains and the navy couch through the arch into the living room.

We didn’t have any ornaments leftover, so I tied a few bows on the tree with three different black and white striped ribbon and strung a strand of cafe lights. She’s so sweet!

The Music Room

With the brick-colored walls and Christmas music always coming out of here through the piano or record player, this room didn’t need much to feel festive. I put a few branches on the coffee table and a candle.

We added this beautiful credenza last month on the other side of the room and it’s the perfect spot for our record player, a bowl full of faux snow balls and a couple more trees. I scored that massive vintage screen printing screen at an antique shop awhile back and I love it leaned against the wall here.

Needless to say, it’s feeling festive over here. And we hope wherever you are this year, you’re finding ways to add cheer into your life and home–whether it’s lights, a tree, some ribbon, a warm conversation or just a really cozy throw.

Sources: 

Entry Sources

Living Room Sources

Breakfast Nook Sources

Dining Room Sources

Music Room Sources