2021 Holiday Home Tour (Part 1) Christmas Magic

Christmas is a special time for welcoming friends and family into your home. Sprinkling a little Christmas Magic will help convey the warmth of the season to everyone who enters.

Welcome! I’m so glad you stopped by today. The house is decked out inside and out and I’m so excited to share it with you.

A festive front porch always sets the right tone for holiday guests, don’t you think so?

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Santa’s in the House!

One of my favorite Christmas decorations is the Santa rug just inside the door. He has been greeting guests since we first moved in years ago.

The entry has changed a bit this year with the addition of my newest lantern. Shaped like a church, it’s decorated with a tree, a candle, and of course, a little church mouse!

Along with my Welcome sign, the Christmas countdown clock is always here. I love the look but I go out of my way to ignore the counter. I already KNOW I’m behind. A few of my favorite snowmen are here to greet everyone as well.

The smaller entry table is filled with things that reflect the deep red colors I love so much this time of year.

Gold and White Formal Living Room

The formal living room has stayed the same as last year for the most part. Rarely used, I tend to put a few of my favorite things here with little fear that they will be broken.

Of course the focal point of the room is the white and gold tree. It’s the most time consuming of them all to decorate but I always love the end result. Christmas Magic at it’s finest!

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This tree is full of ribbon, pearls, and everything sparkly! It’s what the kids have always referred to as “Mom’s girly, girl tree.” They are not wrong!

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Christmas in the Dining Room

Christmas is the one season where I have trouble with change. There is just something so special about bringing out the same decorations year after year. That is especially true in the dining room. So many memories of Christmas dinners from the past played out in my mind as I decorated here.

Dinners when the kids were little and the excitement of the day meant endless chatter at the table. Surprise guests that I kept secret until the very last minute and sadly, memories of those we love who are no longer here.

I can still see my Mom in her spot at the table on the years she would visit from Phoenix. Always sitting closest to the kitchen so she could refill platters and bowls as she’d always done. It was my house now and I wanted to serve her but she wouldn’t hear of it. I understand that now and I know I will be the same way someday. I still miss her so much! Nostalgia is wonderful thing even if it hurts sometimes.

Most everything in this room is the same as it’s always been. The wooden bears will always be a part of my Christmas table. Irreplaceable to me!

I emptied my China Cabinet of most of the crystal that I keep there and replaced it with Christmas decorations of traditional red and gold. The more sparkle in this room, the better. I want Christmas magic everywhere here!

I will add fresh florals for Christmas dinner but for the moment, this room is just as it should be.

Christmas in the Heart of the Home

My kitchen is always a gathering spot as it is in most homes. I tend to go a bit overboard here but it is warm and cozy and a place where memories are made as well.

I started this room with a refresh of the coffee bar. The perfect stop for a great cup of Christmas coffee every morning or a mug of hot chocolate on a wintery night.

This year I made some Faux Hot Cocoa Cups to decorate with. If you haven’t seen them up close and personal yet, click here.

I always utilize the space above my cabinets but never so much as in the Christmas season.

It’s the perfect way to display some treasures that I’m not quite ready to part with.

There was a time that I would walk across counters and climb up ladders… I still do that but only with a spotter!

My tiered trays are on full display here too!

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Since my mixer won’t be used again until Christmas Eve, I thought I might as well add a little Christmas magic here too!

With the kitchen decorated to the max, the breakfast table sees a lot of use this season. Much cozier than the dining room for the two of us!

I love looking into the family room from here. I see Christmas magic everywhere there.

Christmas Family Room

The family room is home to the real Christmas tree each year. It’s a 15 footer and decorated the way our trees were done in our childhood days. Bringing it in is never an easy task but so worth it in the end!

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I can remember growing up, Christmas tree fires were always such a fear. The LED’s on this tree mimic the old bulbs but they never get hot. This is the tree where the presents will go on Christmas Eve. Putting them out earlier would be asking for trouble! The fur babies of the house think there is nothing more exciting then destroying a box under the tree.

This tree holds all the handmade things done over the years, pet ornaments, as well as our “special” ones. The special ones are the ornaments we chose years ago to be our own. While decorating the tree is no longer a family affair, we always hang our own special one. Katie’s is in a box to be hung when she comes home this year. Traditions!

I know Mom is happy to see hers is still hanging here. Grandmas really are just antique little girls!

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Putting together the mantel is always such fun. I change it up a bit with pictures and garland but the Christmas bears dominate the scene.

From my chair in the family room, the staircase is such a pretty sight! Simple with just lighted garland and red bows, it can give the room a warm and cozy feel all by itself.

Pillows and throws add to that feeling and are always welcome on a cold winter night.

The Holidays truly are a magical time of year for so many reasons that have nothing to do with the decorations. They represent all that is good in a world that has done it’s best to hide it of late. Whatever Holiday you are celebrating this year, I hope it’s a beautiful one!

This year I divided my 2021 Christmas Home Tour into 2 parts. If you’d like to continue on to Part 2 click here.

If you haven’t joined us yet, please do. We have a new year ahead full of decorating ideas, DIY tutorials, and a new batch of printables coming soon! Thanks so much for stopping by!

See you soon!