Cheery, Cozy Christmas Home Tour
There’s just something about Christmas decorating. I love to check out other people’s homes any time of year, but Christmas is my absolute favorite time.
I love how everyone has their own unique spin on Christmas decor and it’s all just so full of joy and hope. Whether it’s colorful and whimsical, subtle and pretty, or full-out traditional, I just love it.
Every year I invite some of my favorite bloggers to join me in sharing their homes all decked out for Christmas. You can find my friends’ homes linked at the bottom of this post – it’s such a fun way to check out all different Christmas styles.
As for my own home, when it comes to decorating for Christmas, I don’t try to stick to any one style.
I just put together the things I love in a way that makes me happy! That usually involves sprinkling lots of snowy greenery, cozy candles, and vintage finds all through the house until everything feels cozy and Christmasy.
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Christmas in The Entryway
Our little entryway is always one of my favorite spots to decorate for any season!
I kept things pretty neutral in here to complement that beautiful wood wall. I leaned a couple of pretty thrifted mirrors against the wall (including one I turned into a chalkboard).
And then to add that Christmas touch, I hung a few glittery banners from each and added a few cute little trees.
On the bottom shelf is our sweet little peg doll nativity set. I bought the people a few years ago and painted the animals myself. You can get a similar set on etsy.
I love how cute and simple it is and my boys love to play with it and talk about it the whole Christmas season.
I also tucked a basket filled with some pretty wrapping paper next to the table. I love wrapping paper and can’t seem to resist buying pretty rolls at the end of the season sales each year.
And since it’s so pretty, I figure why not use it to decorate!
I have to confess that 11 months out of the year, I am pretty firmly anti-glitter. I’m just not a glittery, sparkly kind of person in general. And of course, I hate how it ends up absolutely everywhere.
But at Christmastime, I make an exception; I love to add a bit of glitter to little banners and ornaments.
I use silver German glass glitter and it truly is the king of all glitters. It is made from literal crushed glass and it sparkles like no other glitter I’ve ever used.
It also tarnishes over time like silver which can give it a really beautiful vintage look. And once it is too tarnished and has lost it’s sparkle (usually after a few years) I just add fresh glitter.
German glass glitter is a bit more expensive than regular glitter, but a little also goes a long way and a jar lasts a very long time.
Christmas in the Library
When this house was built back in the 70s, this room was the formal living room. When we added a wall of built-in bookcases, my kids started calling this the library and the name stuck.
Every year I try to find just the right thing to put in our bay window at Christmas, but I’ve never found anything that looks equally good from both the inside and the outside until now.
This year I put my new DIY wood nativity set in the window along with a couple of cute little trees and I love it. Next year I may add some pretty garland, but for now I’m pretty happy with this set up.
Christmas in the Dining Room
Next up on the tour is our dining room. This glowing Christmas centerpiece is probably my favorite part of all of my Christmas decor. It’s pretty, inviting, and almost completely made from secondhand treasures.
I started with a table runner made from pages torn from a book of sheet music.
I found my sheet music at a yard sale, but you can buy bulk lots of vintage sheet music on Etsy. Or I have printable versions of some of my favorite Christmas songs here you can download and print.
After the sheet music, I added a few candlesticks of different shapes and sizes.
I am always on the lookout for pretty candlesticks in all kinds of materials when I’m out thrifting. They’re pretty easy to find for super cheap and they look beautiful grouped together.
I added a few pretty glass Christmas trees. I upcycled several of these trees last Christmas from thrifted glass Christmas tree jars. Then I added a couple more light-up Christmas trees this year. (These are very similar.)
Finally I wove some simple garland between around everything to bring it all together.
I think it looks beautiful and warm during the day. And it’s even better in the evening with the candles all lit.
Next to the table I added some of my favorites from my husband’s nutcracker collection. His grandmother started it when he was small and it’s still going strong!
Christmas in the Family Room
And finally, the room where we spend most of our time – our family room. This is definitely the most important part of our Christmas decorations according to my kids – I mean, you really can’t top the Christmas tree and the stockings.
The Christmas tree I flocked six years ago is still going strong! You can read all about how to flock your own tree here. I did add a bit more flocking this year, but it still looks beautiful.
I didn’t do anything fancy with the tree this year. I just added my favorite buffalo plaid ribbon and all of the ornaments we’ve collected and made over the years.
(If you’re looking for ideas, I have dozens of DIY Christmas ornament how-tos.)
Our stockings are all hung and ready for Christmas Eve. The cute initial stocking tags are made from simple chipboard letters covered with my favorite silver glitter.
The rest of the mantel is not all that different from how it looks year-round. The collection of candlesticks are always there; I just added the garland and the little wooden houses.
And that’s our Christmas home tour! My boys also have a small Christmas tree and a few dozen more nutcrackers in their room. But it’s pure chaos in there, so I’ll spare you the photos.
Thanks so much for letting me share my home with you! Now head to the links below to check out everyone else’s Christmas decor. Seeing everyone’s homes always gets me in the Christmas spirit!
I’d love for you to pin this post on Pinterest!
Merry Christmas!
I so much enjoyed seeing your home’s Christmas decorations, Carrie! I especially love your two nativities and how you used sheet music for your dining room table runner. The light-up trees on your table look fabulous and it’s an idea that I would love to copy for my home. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you so much Paula!
I just love the color of your fireplace! It’s the perfect backdrop for your stockings. And the nutcrackers! My Mom has a huge collection from when we lived in Germany and I just love them so much. Seeing your husbands makes me want to go out and buy a ton! Thanks for sharing your home and hosting this tour!
Thank you Wendy! I love the nutcrackers to – they are so fun to look at every year and I have so much fun choosing a new (or secondhand) one to buy every Christmas!
I love the little bits of Christmas decor around your home! The blue fireplace looks really beautiful against the bright tree.
Thank you Lindsey!
Everything looks beautiful Carrie! I love the idea of using the music sheets as a table runner. Def pinning! Thanks so much for all your hard work in hosting the Christmas tour. Merry Christmas!
Thank you Tara!
Your home looks so cozy and ready for Christmas! I really like the layered mirrors against that gorgeous wood wall! And I’ll have to check out your DIY nativity!
Thanks Cindy!
This is just lovely. Everything looks so elegant and I love that it all fits so well in your home. Each room looks like a winter wonderland – and it goes together but also feel really distinct.
The nativities are so beautiful – I love the little manger in the entry. I may have to make something like this for my kids. They love their nativity, too.
And I’m also swooning over the flocked tree. My tree lights are going out so I’m thinking maybe next year, I rip them all out and flock that sucker. ;)
Thanks for hosting!
Thank you Kim! I love that little nativity too and so do my boys! And I highly recommend flocking a tree – it just looks so beautiful!
I really loved these ideas, especially the basket full of wrapping paper and the sheet music as a table runner. Simple yet clever! Definitely going to try these in my decor. Happy holidays!
Thanks Corey!
Seeing all of your Christmas decorating ideas is inspiring and creative.
I love your fireplace color. And the music page table runner.
Merry Christmas, Carrie.
Thank you Meegan!
So fun to see your home decked out for Christmas. The centerpiece on the dining table is simply beautiful. I love all of the layers. My other favorite spot was the mirror in the entry with the festive garland. Thank you so much for putting this Christmas home tour together. We love participating.
Thank you so much Michelle!
Oh, it all looks SO wonderfully cozy Carrie! I especially love your tree – the contrast of that bold ribbon and the pops of colour just look so lovely against the snowy white! It’s all so beautiful! Happy holidays my friend and thanks again for hosting!
Thank you Kristi! Happy Holidays!
Carrie, everything is so pretty and festive. I love the German glass glitter. And your centerpiece is simple but stunning. The family room looks so cozy and inviting. Thank you for hosting the tour!
Thank you Angie!
It all looks so great Carrie! I love the music table runner and the tree on the table is gorgeous! And the wood nativity is really pretty. I’ve been looking for a replacement after mine broke with our last move. Thanks so much for having me again!! I love being a part of your blog hop!
Thank you Kathy!
Love your style. It’s all lovely, but the entryway is my favorite! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Amanda!
BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
your home looks so so cozy, carrie! i love your family room- such a great place to make memories.
Thank you Cassie!
Your home looks beautiful all decorated for the holidays! I especially love your dining room table centerpiece. So fun and festive. Merry Christmas!
Thank you Kristi!
Very beautiful. I stole your sheet music idea! On a long narrow table I have in my foyer. I put a few treasured music boxes my parents had given me as a child. My parent are long gone. 2 of my sisters saw it & loved it! Now all 6 sisters in my family have decorated a table or shelf with sheet music & music boxes that may seem like junk to some but the memories and sentimental value are truly priceless. Thanks so much for sharing. The Johnson girls.
P. S. Is that a white frame around your TV? I really like the color white.
I’m so glad you stole my idea! That sounds beautiful with your special music boxes! And yes, I built the frame around the TV. The color is white with a bit of dark gray dry-brushed on. I have a tutorial for the frame here if you are interested: https://www.lovelyetc.com/how-to-build-a-cheap-and-easy-tv-frame-that-swivels/
I am enjoying this home tour hop! Loved your use of sheet music on your table!
Thank you Libbie!
You decorated beautifully, and I am right there with you doing so on a budget every year! I love the idea to use sheet music as a runner – so pretty and unique. Beautiful and creative as always!!
Thank you Jenny!