Welcome to our annual Christmas home tour! We’re absolutely thrilled to share how we’ve decked out both our main house and our beloved beach house for the holidays this year. Get ready for a generous collection of photos and a deep dive into our festive transformations. It all kicks off with our home’s stunning new exterior. After much anticipation, we finally achieved the white brick house of my dreams (seriously, it was the only thing on my Christmas list, ha!). This fresh canvas sparked so much joy and inspired us to try some exciting new decoration ideas out front, creating a truly welcoming and sophisticated holiday façade.
Our exterior lighting scheme this year is all about understated elegance. We’ve added simple, warm white exterior LEDs to the faux trees flanking our front door. Finding these specific warm white lights was quite the quest – why are they always so elusive?! These aren’t just any trees; I actually upgraded them to these taller, more substantial faux ones a while back. The reasoning is simple yet effective: I can’t accidentally kill them, and their increased height provides a much nicer, more balanced presence on our newly white-bricked porch. The pots holding these trees are incredibly resilient; they’re the same ones we’ve had for over four years! A quick refresh with Rustoleum’s “Copper Rose” spray paint (complete with built-in primer for an effortless finish) transformed them in about 30 minutes flat, adding a subtle touch of metallic warmth. We also took the opportunity to switch out the light fixtures by the door for these slightly wider and larger ones, which perfectly complement the updated brickwork.
No Christmas porch would be complete without my signature magnolia wreath, lovingly crafted each year at a delightful “Wine & Wreath” event I attend with my favorite ladies. It’s become an annual pilgrimage, and I swear my wreath grows bigger every year – I’m truly learning to embrace the grandeur! This season, we introduced two magnificent 14-foot fresh evergreen garlands from Trader Joe’s, a steal at just $7.99 each. The natural scent and texture of real greenery are simply unparalleled, and we love them so much that they’re officially joining the annual wreath-making tradition. John skillfully strung more of the same warm white LEDs through the garlands, and to make life easier, we synchronized the garland lights and potted plant lights onto the same automatic timer. Now, they gracefully illuminate and dim on their own every evening, creating a magical, hassle-free display.
Beyond the enchanting door display, our exterior remains elegantly simple. We’ve placed our favorite LED battery-operated candles in all the front windows, each equipped with its own timer. This means no more nightly dash to turn them on and off – they operate completely on autopilot, casting a soft, inviting glow from within. We briefly considered adding more lights to the bushes, and I must confess, I strongly advocated for these adorable white deer for the porch. However, John wasn’t quite as smitten with the idea, so we kept the exterior relatively streamlined. While our outdoor decorations might not rival the legendary Griswolds, our interior more than compensates with FOUR dazzling Christmas trees inside! Rest assured, our Christmas spirit is vibrantly alive and thriving.
I am absolutely bursting with excitement for the ultimate holiday decoration: a fresh blanket of snow! I can already imagine the house covered in pristine white fluff for the first time, and I might just lose my mind with joy when I see it. So, stay tuned for that picture-perfect moment!
Stepping inside, we brought another one of those wonderful 14-foot fresh garlands from Trader Joe’s into the kitchen, draping it beautifully around the windows. This quick project only took a few minutes; we simply tapped small picture nails into the very top of the molding on each side of the window, just as we did for the outdoor garland around the door frame. These nails are so tiny and placed so discreetly at the trim’s apex that they are virtually invisible. Lazy me is seriously contemplating leaving them there year-round, making garland hanging in December an absolute breeze. It’s a little secret for future holiday ease!
Throughout the house, I’ve strategically tucked away some of my most cherished holiday pieces. Among them are these charming pink wooden trees, acquired several years ago. I’ve grouped them together on our living room built-ins, where their soft hue adds a playful yet sophisticated touch, perfectly complementing the permanent decor and creating a focal point that feels both festive and integrated.
Our living room mantel this year boasts a beautifully simple yet impactful display. The star is one of my favorite large pink bottle brush trees – a treasured find from Target years ago (though a similar one can be found here). Its soft, whimsical presence sets a cheerful tone. I also introduced a delicate pink mercury glass tree, which was one of my only new holiday purchases this year. I simply couldn’t resist its sweet charm! What makes it even more magical are the tiny lights inside that emit a gentle glow, powered by two small batteries nestled in the base. It adds a lovely, subtle radiance to the entire arrangement.
Completing the mantel’s balanced aesthetic, on the other side, sits a small faux flower pot. Interestingly, I picked this up about six months ago at Target, not as holiday decor, but it was likely part of their spring collection. Yet, with its inherent red, green, and yes, even pink tones, it looks incredibly festive to me! To further enhance the glow, I brought in a pink vase (sadly, no longer available) that I’ve had for about a year and tucked a small strand of battery lights inside. The effect is absolutely darling, perfectly balancing the glowing pink tree on the opposite side and infusing the space with warmth and color.
Our main Christmas tree, which I believe is this exact model (the link and name tend to shift!), has not had a “theme” in years, and we absolutely adore it that way. Instead, it’s a vibrant tapestry of memories, piled high with handmade ornaments from our children and cherished friends, along with pieces we’ve crafted ourselves. Highlights include sweet silhouette and handprint ornaments and colorful creations made from kid art. We also hang a wonderful assortment of ornaments collected over the years from our travels and special occasions. It’s a beautiful, eclectic “mish-mash” that tells our family’s story, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Viva la mish-mash, indeed!
The kids’ stockings are the same beloved ones I acquired a few years back (some similar options are available here). Each year, I delight in adding little elephant chains to them. This might seem a bit random, but they provide such a fun pop of color and personality! If I can’t persuade John to embrace leopard print stockings, at least I can infuse some sassy little elephants into our holiday decor. They bring a whimsical touch that everyone loves.
Moving into the dining room, I’ve gathered my remaining collection of bottle brush trees, each one a treasured find accumulated over the years (here are some similar styles). These charming trees are artfully arranged atop our old green sideboard. The vibrant green of the sideboard provides a beautiful contrast to the whimsical trees, creating a simple yet effective holiday vignette that infuses the room with festive cheer without overwhelming the space. It’s a testament to how just a few well-placed items can make a significant impact.
Earlier, I mentioned we have four Christmas trees, and while we keep decorations minimal for most holidays (you won’t find a single shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day or hearts for Valentine’s), Christmas is undeniably our absolute favorite. There’s something truly magical about seeing this little tree glowing softly in the bonus room window at the end of the hall. This cozy space is where we enjoy countless movie nights, and the tree’s gentle radiance is even visible when we pull into the garage, making it a delightful sight to behold. It’s the perfect spot for a smaller, more intimate tree. The kids absolutely adore decorating it with their collection of mostly felt and plush stuffed ornaments – with the abominable snowman proudly perched at the top, of course!
Just like our main tree downstairs, we incorporate a cozy element around its base: a soft faux sheepskin rug. For this smaller tree, just one does the trick, adding texture and warmth. Our much larger main tree in the living room, however, proudly boasts three of these fluffy rugs, creating a luxurious and inviting foundation that enhances the festive atmosphere. It’s a simple detail that makes a big difference in both comfort and style.
Another beloved tree resides in our son’s room. It’s a wonderfully retro green tinsel tree (here’s a similar one) adorned with colorful lights that he personally selected last year. It looks incredibly playful and vibrant against his bright green closet door, which is painted in “Irish Moss” by Benjamin Moore, creating a harmonious and fun scheme. Among its unique ornaments is a sequin banana from Target, which he absolutely adores. And adding a touch of sentimental history, the charming wooden reindeer standing next to the tree was crafted by John’s grandpa many decades ago, making this tree a true blend of youthful whimsy and cherished family heritage.
A favorite bedtime ritual for our kids involves walking into the hallway and asking Alexa to turn off their Christmas tree, and to their endless delight, it magically complies. This effortless control is all thanks to smart technology! Speaking of which, John “Lover Of Smart Tech” Petersik put together a quick video demonstrating just how simple it is to use a smart plug to control your lights or Christmas tree remotely. This is especially useful for trees with awkwardly placed plugs. The beauty of these smart plugs is that you don’t even need Alexa or a separate smart home hub; you can easily control them directly from your phone. While we could use basic timers for these trees, similar to our exterior lights, we much prefer the convenience of smart plugs. They allow us to turn on all the trees simultaneously with a single voice command in the morning (you can group multiple actions to happen at once!). And similarly, if we’re rushing out the door for a meeting or dinner, we can instantly switch off all four trees at once. It’s a game-changer for holiday convenience and energy efficiency! You can watch the video on YouTube here to see it in action.
Watch how it only takes a couple of minutes to install a smart plug so you can control your lights (or Christmas tree!) remotely! View video on YouTube
Our daughter has also reveled in having a tree in her room for several years now (here’s a similar one). She takes immense pride and joy in redecorating it almost every single morning, bringing her unique creative vision to life each day. I particularly love tucking her tree into a colorful basket that I painted myself. It’s a fun and stylish departure from a traditional tree skirt, and its vibrant hues look absolutely charming alongside her bold closet door, which is painted in “Cinco De Mayo” by Benjamin Moore, perfectly reflecting her bright and lively personality.
If you’ve tuned into our latest podcast episode, you’ll know that we made a concerted effort to thin out our decorations this year, aiming for a simpler, more streamlined holiday season. This decision aligns with my year-long focus on generally simplifying our home, and I certainly didn’t want to undo all that hard work by cramming every surface with holiday decor. The silver lining of this paring-down session was an abundance of “overflow” holiday decorations that were absolutely perfect for our beach house! We’re planning to spend some cherished time there with family over the holidays, so we were incredibly excited to decorate it for the very first time. Three cheers for not splurging on new items and instead decorating an entire house with repurposed, “free” treasures! I did purchase one new tree for the beach house, but even the ornaments on it were items we already owned, making it a definite win in my book.
You’ll likely recognize these iconic red boots, which have been a staple in our main home’s holiday decor for years, sometimes gracing the porch, other times nestled under the console table, depending on the season. Now, they’re enjoying a new life at the beach house, filled with faux evergreen branches. They’re joined by these charming little faux trees, which once adorned our porch before we opted for larger ones at the main house. It’s wonderful to see how these familiar pieces find new purpose and bring festive cheer to a different setting.
The wreath gracing the beach house door is one we purchased last year, and happily, it’s still available. I absolutely adore its subtle gold bells, which wonderfully echo the gold transom numbers above the door, creating a cohesive and elegant look. Arranging everything on the porch was incredibly straightforward. I particularly love the vibrant pop of red from the boots against the soft pink siding of the beach house – a color combination I find utterly charming for the holidays. If you’re curious about my affection for pink and red together during the festive season, check out this barn post for more inspiration!
Inside the beach house entryway, you’ll likely recognize this beautiful faux magnolia garland, which was the centerpiece of our main house mantel last year. This season, I opted for a more minimalist mantel display next to our large green tree at home, making the garland perfect for our beach house. Adding it to this console table was a brilliant way to introduce a rich, vibrant green hue into our mostly white and gray entryway, instantly transforming the space with festive warmth. To make it look extra lush and substantial on the elegant marble top of that amazing dresser (which has its own story!), I was able to double it up, creating a wonderfully thick and inviting display.
In the living room of the beach house stands our single new purchase for the entire holiday decorating effort: a Christmas tree! I’ve always harbored a desire for one of these enchanting “Charlie Brown Christmas Trees,” characterized by their charmingly sparse branches that exude a rustic, nostalgic appeal. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a fantastic pre-holiday sale, allowing me to acquire this lovely 6.5-foot version for approximately $160. It’s a unique tree that perfectly captures a quaint, understated elegance, making it an ideal centerpiece for our beach house holiday celebrations.
All the ornaments adorning this unique tree are ones we’ve lovingly held onto from themed trees we decorated ages ago. Back in the day, we had a delightful pink and green tree, and even a vibrant citrus-themed one (which is where the little green pear ornament originates – oh, please forgive those old, blurry photos from nearly a decade ago!). As we’ve increasingly filled our main living room tree with collected and homemade ornaments that reflect our current family life, the themed ornaments from those earlier trees have naturally seen less use. Why hang ten pink balls when we can display ten priceless preschool masterpieces, right? But I am so incredibly glad we saved them! They are absolutely perfect for this charming, sparse tree at the beach house, especially since it’s our beloved pink house. It feels like these ornaments have truly found their spiritual home, bringing a cohesive and personal touch to our holiday decor here.
Oh, wait, I almost forgot – we did make one more purchase for the beach house tree: the charming yarn pom-pom garland! I absolutely adore its playful texture and how it adds such a soft, whimsical touch. It took three strands to beautifully drape our 6.5-foot tree, and honestly, a fourth would have been even better, but I managed to snag the last three available. It truly completes the tree’s look, enhancing its unique character.
On the back wall of the kitchen, you’ll find a few other cherished items that you might recognize from past holiday tours. Among them are these festive red reindeer, which I painted a whole seven years ago – how does time fly by so incredibly fast?! There’s also a hammered bowl brimming with ornaments I’ve had forever, which have graced all sorts of surfaces over the years. I’ve also sprinkled a few charming feather trees throughout the kitchen and pantry; it took about 4.5 seconds for these little additions to make the entire space feel wonderfully jolly. My absolute favorite piece here, though, is the letter board that my daughter crafted for me. I gave her complete creative freedom, simply suggesting, “How about a holiday quote?” Her choice clearly indicates that we watch a significant amount of Home Alone around here, and it brings a smile to my face every time!
The funny thing is, John later reminded me that I put that exact same quote on a black letter board last year. It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and I must admit, her spacing is even better than mine! It’s a lovely little reminder of shared holiday traditions and a testament to her budding design eye.
Over by what I affectionately call My Favorite Pink Stove Of All Time (yes, that’s its official designation!), I’ve simply leaned up a small decorative plate I found a few years back (here’s a similar style) alongside two classic white ceramic nutcrackers that have been part of our collection for years. It’s truly heartwarming to see how just a few thoughtfully placed items can instantly transform the entire kitchen, making it feel warm, inviting, and utterly ready to host a gathering of cherished friends and family. I absolutely love that it doesn’t take much effort to create such a powerful festive atmosphere!
And there you have it – a comprehensive tour of our home, beautifully decked out for Christmas, alongside a delightful peek at how we creatively repurposed many of our treasured decorations for our charming beach house. We hope this festive journey through our decorated spaces has offered you some fresh holiday decorating inspiration and perhaps even sparked new ideas for your own home. We’d absolutely love to hear about your unique holiday decorating traditions and favorite festive touches! Please share your ideas and photos with us over on Facebook or Instagram. If you’re craving more holiday cheer, you can explore last year’s holiday tour and the one from 2016 right here. Plus, we’ve gathered a few other fantastic holiday ideas for you below to help make your season even brighter:
- How to make a charming Christmas village
- Expert tips for hosting a memorable Christmas dinner
- Creating heartwarming kids’ silhouette ornaments
- Our guide on how we made 38 simple & affordable holiday ornaments
- Crafting enchanting small glass boxes full of tiny winter scenes
- Two creative ways to make ornaments using kid art
- Fun ideas for making ornament magnets for the fridge
- Our best practices for how we efficiently pack up & store our Christmas decorations
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