My Holiday Home Decor This Year

I started posting pictures and videos of my home (and life) way back in 2012. At the time, it felt odd to take pictures on my phone and throw them into the vast universe of the internet. And not too many people saw them, at least at the beginning. A lot has changed over the years… the pictures have become much better and so has the house. What hasn’t changed is my love for Christmas.

I’ve never decorated my home in any style but my own. And that’s truly what I believe: the home should be a place that feels comfortable for the occupant, a safe haven, and a cozy fortress. Outside, the world could be ranging, but in your home, it’s all about you.

No matter if one person, or many more, sees my home, I enjoy the Christmas spirit daily. Lucky me, I also get to invite you into my home on the farm to share in this spirit. Welcome! Come on in and have a look around at what I love and how I decorate for the holidays.

Let’s start in the entry

During my renovation, I was so excited to finally have an entry. The space before was crowded and majorly occupied by a less-than-useful closet. This isn’t a large entryway, but the change from having no formal area to welcome guests to this space is a dream!

I added pegs for coats, but more importantly, a shelf above them. When planning out the room, I tried to envision the space and how I could decorate it for each season. These Putz houses and bottle brush trees are some of my favorite items to collect.

The living room

Walking into the living room, you really get a view of most of the main level. The rooms flow into each other with only cased openings partitioning the spaces. Since the living room is flanked by the family room tree and dining room tree, I try to keep the other decor simple, including the storage of some of my everyday decor so the areas do not seem packed.

I love both new and old Christmas items. Cody Foster is a wholesale company that has some of the best Christmas houses and ornaments. These large, skinny houses are reminiscent of an old design and fit perfectly above my pine wardrobe.

Collecting isn’t just about finding old or antique items. Nope, it can also be about brand new items too, even faux trees. I collect various sizes and styles. When grouped together they make sense and feel like a Christmas forest.

The family room

The family room has a favorite tree of mine. Since I spend most evenings in this space, I can look at the mushroom ornaments, both new and old.

Watch how I decorated this Christmas tree:

Another vintage item I look for is papier-mache Christmas items. Usually in the form of Santas, they were produced from the 1930s-1960s. I love the character of them and how they blend with new and old decor.

The stairway

My stairway garland changes yearly. Growing up, I always dreamed of a grand stairway. But since farmhouses often don’t have them, Mom and I would always find ways to decorate the garland to feel grand. Really, it’s just a fun place to use different decor! This year, I chose layered garland and embellished with red and silver ornaments, topped with icicles.

Watch the video on how I put together this garland:

The upstairs

I keep the majority of my antique items upstairs. Bottle brush trees in the hallway are grouped together. When I collect a mass of something, like these trees, I think they make such a good impact and have a purpose when grouped together. Sometimes I mix in Putz houses and antique tree toppers.

My bedroom has some of my favorite pinecone ornaments and more mushrooms. The tree is in a large basket with numerous Christmas gift boxes. I hate for a tree to look empty, so why not stuff the base with even more decorative elements?!

The dining room

The dining has the largest tree in the house, set up in an antique urn so it looks even grander. I tend to keep the colors on the main level cooler with an air of subtly. Since the rooms are open to each other, I think it provides a calmer feeling.

Watch the video on this Christmas tree:

If a piece of furniture has space available, you better bet I’ll add in some Christmas! Anything oversized is fun to use as an exercise in the art of scale. So these large deer and smaller trees add height and whimsy to the top of one of my favorite antique pine cabinets (completed with festive Jadeite).

The kitchen

The kitchen will always be a workspace first and foremost. I use a kitchen daily, and hard. But that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be holiday joy! This year, I added a centerpiece to the island but kept it contained so food could not splatter into it. The glass dome and wooden board make it super easy to work around and move if needed.

When I add decor to the counters, I make sure to contain it on a platter or cutting board. This always keeps everything tidy and clean and easy to maneuver.

Christmas brings out the child in me every year! I love the decor and can never wait ’til I can start bringing it out and changing it up from the prior year!

I hope you have a very merry Christmas season this year!