WELCOME & MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Step inside and take a peek at how we bring the holiday spirit to life in our home! This festive post is part of the 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes, hosted by Jenny at Evolution of Style. It’s been such a joy to virtually visit the beautiful homes of fellow bloggers and see how they celebrate this magical season. If you’ve missed any of the other stops on the tour, don’t worry—links to the full lineup are included at the end of this post!
If you’re new here, hello and welcome!
I’m a mom raising three teenagers with my husband in a quiet town that’s about to transform into a winter wonderland here in Massachusetts. We moved into a charming fixer-upper five years ago and have been gradually updating it ever since. My Christmas decorating style is simple, and this year, thanks to an ongoing fireplace remodel involving carpentry, tiling, and painting, simplicity is the name of the game! So come on in—I’m thrilled to have you here.
Decking the Halls with Fresh Greens
I love incorporating fresh evergreens from our yard throughout our holiday décor, starting with the urns at our front door. If you’re looking for tips, I recommend the “clock” method for arranging evergreens—it’s easy and fun! To add height to your outdoor planters, try stuffing the bottom with newspaper before covering it with dirt.
Our family usually enters through the garage mudroom, where I keep a large chalkboard that changes with the seasons. This Christmas, I traced the Ella Claire Inspired Nativity Chalkboard Art template. It’s not my finest artistic moment (my bird might resemble a trout!), but the message is what matters.
Kristen from Ella Claire Inspired offers the template for free—thank you, Kristen, for sharing this beautiful reminder of the true reason for the season!
Twinkling Lights and Cozy Touches
Inside the house, it’s all about fresh greens and soft white twinkle lights. I adore battery-operated light strands; they’re perfect for decorating our bay windows with pine garland and illuminating the nativity scene in our living room’s bookcases. These bookcases, built during the One Room Challenge, are a focal point of our TV-less living room, where we gather to read, relax, and entertain.
This year, thanks to our fireplace remodel, our Christmas tree found a new home in the family room. Last week, we mounted the TV over the fireplace—a decision I debated for ages. While it feels enormous to me, it’s a hit with my husband and boys, especially for Patriots games. The bonus? We’ve gained so much floor space! Watching games, enjoying a crackling fire, and admiring the tree all in one cozy space has been such a joy.
A Work in Progress
Here’s a little sneak peek at our fireplace makeover. While it’s not complete yet (crown molding, lower shelf doors, a new hearth, and some tile trim are still on the to-do list), it has already transformed our home’s atmosphere.
Simple Joys and Cherished Memories
Beyond the tree and lights, I focus on small, meaningful touches to make this season special. Lighting candles, playing Christmas music, and diffusing peppermint essential oil are little things that create a warm, joyful ambiance for my family to return to.
These are the moments I hope my kids will carry with them as cherished memories when they’re all grown up. Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you a merry and magical Christmas season!
Ornaments That Tell Our Story
One of my favorite Christmas traditions started with a pewter ornament I gave Mark on our very first Christmas together. It had the year engraved on it, and since then, we’ve added one for each year, as well as ornaments marking special events and milestones for our kids. Someday, if all goes well, our tree will be a beautiful reflection of our family’s journey, filled entirely with these timeless pewter treasures.
Cozy Kitchen Touches
The little seating area in our kitchen is a spot everyone loves—family and guests alike. It doesn’t take much to make it festive: a few sprigs of fresh evergreens and a cheerful bowl of gumdrops do the trick.
From the kitchen, we’re lucky to have a perfect view of the Christmas tree. It’s a reminder to pause and savor the beauty of the season before diving into our next big project—giving the half wall a much-needed makeover and possibly removing the post (fingers crossed it’s not load-bearing!).
Grateful for Your Visit
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a peek into our Christmas home! I’ve loved sharing it with you and hope it brought a little holiday inspiration your way. Wishing you and your loved ones a Christmas filled with joy and warm memories.
Celebrate with More Christmas Homes
Today is a special day for two of my nearest and dearest friends, and it’s also the day Kris from Driven By Decor is sharing her stunning and inspiring Christmas home. Be sure to check out her post and show her some holiday love!
If you missed any stops on the 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes, here’s the full lineup to catch up:
12/1: Evolution of Style | Dixie Delights
12/2: Life & Home at 2102 | Provident Home Design
12/3: Simple Details
12/4: The Pink Clutch Blog | This is Happiness
12/7: Bless’er House | The Tale of an Ugly House
12/8: Classic Casual Home | This is Our Bliss
12/9: Primitive and Proper
12/10: Shine Your Light | Driven By Decor
Tomorrow, the tour continues:
12/11: Suburban Bitches | Our Storied Home
And next week, we wrap up with these fabulous blogs:
12/14: Simply Sarah Style | Rough Luxe
On December 15, we’ll take a look back at all the homes, and on December 16, it’s your turn to share! Join in by linking your holiday home to any of our blogs, and it’ll be featured across all 18! I can’t wait to see how you celebrate the season.
Merry Christmas, my friends! 🎄
