2020 Christmas Home Tour

Welcome everyone! Please come in! I’m so glad you found your way to my 2020 Christmas Home Tour.  We have been decked out for Christmas for quite a while now. I just felt a nagging urge to start earlier this year than I have in the past. It seems like everyone, everywhere, is in desperate need of the peace and joy this season brings. I know I am, so I’m glad to be able to visit with you today!

The Front Porch

We will start right here on the front porch.  A front porch sets the tone for anyone who comes to visit. I have tried to create a welcoming atmosphere with several Christmas elements and signs of the season. ( We might be a little obsessed with Dachshunds at this house! )

I feel a little guilty about that.  There are three fur babies that live here and Cooper is the only wiener dog.  We love them all but I can’t imagine my world without a dachshund in it. Never a dull moment!

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I like my porch to have a certain warmth to it so it’s essential to have at least one lantern outside!  Candles are a must if warmth is your goal.  This year, I decided to redo my Christmas wreath and added a candle there as well. 

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The Entry

Just inside the door,  this Santa Claus rug delights the little ones when they come to visit.  This has been a favorite of ours for as long as I can remember. Who doesn’t want to see Santa Claus when they open the door???

The entry table holds some other favorites as well.  The Countdown to Christmas Clock was always such a fun piece to have when the kids were small. Our version of “the number of sleeps before Christmas” that is so popular these days. The lantern holds a scene from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer complete with Burl Ives.   My newest find for this table is the lighted, glittery ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas book. Such a pretty addition!

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Also new this year is the standing winter birdhouse. I added lights, birds, and a battery operated candle inside. It is just so pretty at night and really brightens up an otherwise dark corner of the entry.

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The hallway table brings in the traditional red and gold theme that I still love so much.

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The Santa on the bottom shelf will read you a book if you put one in his hand! (Avon 1999). I keep fuses and lights in the decorative box so they are out of sight but always handy.

Like I said… a bit obsessed with Dachshunds!

The Living Room

The living room is quite traditional and holds a few treasures of its own.  This room is rarely used so it is the perfect place to display some of the more fragile decorations.

During the many Christmas parties we have had in this house, the living room was the place for one on one conversations. The kitchen, family room, and downstairs bar were always the major gathering spots. This was a quiet place to catch up with an old friend or get to know someone you had never met before. No Christmas party this year but I put up the tree nonetheless. It’s sometimes just a quiet place for me, too!

The Tree

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I inherited this little tree on my coffee table and it is one of favorite decorations! My sister-in-law made it years ago for my husband.  The detail is just amazing.  Last year she called me just so excited — she had added some battery-operated lights to her own little tree and thought I would want to do the same. I did and that addition just made it that much prettier if that’s possible. The lights weren’t even thought of back when she made this tree.  Just amazing to think about!

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My favorite lantern also sits on this table. The scene inside is perfect for this room. Since the tree is done in white and gold, I simply carried that over to the lantern as well. The bow is made from leftover ribbon used on the tree.

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In between the two is a copy of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. It has always amazed me how often that book was picked up at a party here. Not by the children, but by the adults who just couldn’t resist!

Since this room is barely used, it is the perfect place for my gold mercury glass tree.  This is so fragile but it’s safe here on the corner end table.

The snowmen statue once belonged to my mother-in-law and I’m so grateful to have it in my home.

My chocolate wall in this room is the perfect setting for this Kinkade winter print. I’ve always thought the house in this painting was the perfect Christmas home, so my husband surprised me with the ceramic replica too!

The Dining Room

The dining room has not been used this year since Covid hit.  I am still holding out hope that it will see family and friends before the holidays are over — maybe in smaller groups than normal.  I’ll be doing a Christmas tablescape and posting it soon either way.

Most everything in this room is the traditional red and gold with a few accent colors added. The pencil trees in the corner bring in a bit of brown with their ornaments and the tabletop tree is simply white lights and snow.

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It is very hard to take detailed pictures of the China cabinet without the correct equipment but everything sparkles there so I’ve tried a few here.  

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This year I added a simple wreath that I made to the chandelier. You can see how easy that was in the post DIY Chandelier Wreath right here on the blog. I count my small wooden bears and rocking horse among my greatest treasures. They have been a part of every Christmas dinner through the years.

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The old-fashioned Santa pictures on the walls help to bring in memories from the past.

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The corner table also keeps the vintage vibe going with toys from long ago. I bought the box they sit on in anticipation of someday filling it with gifts for my first grandchild! No pressure kids!

It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

The Family Room

Going further into the main level, this is where the bears take over.  I have been a teddy bear collector for years and I love them all!  For most of the year,  they reside in a steamer trunk in my family room. But at Christmastime, they can be found just about everywhere. These four are my greeters for the season!

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They stand under the Santa picture to help him welcome in the season.

Perhaps the place they most like to gather is on the mantel.  They are dressed in their Christmas finery or wear a Christmas bow instead.  I’ve added some wooden horses, candles, and Santa. Together they make a beautiful centerpiece for the room.  

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Oh, those faces!!!

You will find that several more have taken over the tables in this room.

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They are adorable on my ladder for the season!

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You can even find them putting on a Nativity play most days!

The bears in this room provide a homespun holiday feel that I absolutely love!

Another favorite in this room is the actual manger that sits on a table by my favorite chair. It reminds me what this is really all about.  Sometimes we get too caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, but this little manger makes me stop and reflect every day.

The Staircase

A major focal point for this room is the staircase. I’ve kept it simple because I feel the very height of it is dramatic enough. Pretty evergreen garland and lights are almost all it needs. Almost. The garland ties that hold it secure on the staircase have jingle bells attached and the red and gold bows are the finishing touch!

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At the top of the staircase, these whimsical snowmen give a friendly wave to my visitors.

At the bottom hangs my favorite Christmas picture.

Of course the staircase is most beautiful at night!

You will find a few bears hanging out in the kitchen which is where we are headed next!

The Kitchen

The kitchen is always so much fun to decorate.  So many treasures here.  The hot chocolate bar is always the starting point for this room.

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Right above the bar is one of my favorite Christmas pictures.

While there is not a dedicated theme in this room, my decorations do include quite a few gingerbread-related items.

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Adding garland to the top of the cabinets adds an immediate Christmas feel. So many fun decorations are there too!

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Since the kitchen is quite busy during the season, I try to keep the counter decorations to a minimum. Of course I have failed miserably, but I can’t bring myself to put any of it away!

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The water lantern was purchased a few years ago and is already a family favorite.

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Although I bring in a lot of red and green for the season, I try to keep my normal buffalo check design going at the same time as well.

There truly isn’t enough room for my baker’s rack which sits in between the kitchen and the dining room. I’ve tried to bring myself to donate it on several trips to Goodwill this summer. But… where in the world would I put everything that I set on it at Christmastime??

I always love my Christmas kitchen, but never more than when dinner is done, everything’s put away, and the candles come on for the night!

HOME!

Powder Room and the Laundry

The powder room has a little bit of Christmas too! Since it is mostly gray and pink during normal times, I’ve added some green and burgundy for the season.

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When we are all out, which we often are this time of year, the dogs will hang out in their basket in the laundry room. So, of course it needed to have a Christmas feel as well.

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Thank you!

It was so nice to have you here today! I will be continuing the tour next week on the lower level. The infamous Miniature Christmas Village is there but it also has a completely different vibe. Since this is the part of the house where we keep all our coastal treasures, I’ve gone with that theme for Christmas as well. I hope you’ll come back and see for yourself!

Oh wait! We added this the day after Thanksgiving and I really wanted to share it with all of you!

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My son thought maybe we needed a bigger tree but…

I think it turned out just fine!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope I’ll see you again soon!

If you haven’t subscribed to the blog yet, I sincerely hope you will! Your subscription will give you immediate access to everything in my Printable Library. I have added several new Christmas printables and I will be uploading more for the winter season. In addition, with the new year approaching, I will keep you up to date with all the latest trends in home decor.