Christmas at Home

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Hello lovely folks coming from my email. I made a mistake at put 2025 Christmas Home Tour. I actually meant to say / and link to this my 2024 Christmas Home Tour. So sorry about that! More 2025 Christmas inspiration coming soon!

Add charm and personality to your home this Christmas with unique and creative decor ideas. A blend of handmade details, vintage finds, and personal touches make for a space that feels inspiring, eclectic, and full of festive joy. Find ideas to create a holiday look that’s both intentional and timeless.

vintage christmas card in wood box.

Join me for a little holiday home tour to see my 2024 Christmas decor. This isn’t a big festive tour—just snapshots of moments around my home.

I want to mention once again how blogging has changed a lot over the past five to seven years—for better or worse. Much of it is about how people read or view blogs and how bloggers create and share content. On top of all of this, I’ve changed, too.

I’ll admit, I always get a little nervous over this since some people love things the way they were, resist change, or come to expect things to stay the same. I get that and consequently, I want to help my readers understand how I have personally evolved. Years ago, I used to do these big, massive Christmas decor home tours. While they were fun, they were also exhausting. Over time, I scaled things back, first to single rooms, then recently to smaller vignettes such as a tree or a mantel. And yet, I still feel this self-imposed pressure to make things new, different, and/or better each year.

This year, I’ve scaled back even more. Not just for Christmas but overall, and it’s been amazing. I honestly feel like I needed a break from sharing everything. On top of that, I kept much of my Christmas decor the same as last year (and I love it!).

pink vintage christmas ornament on a tree.

With all that being said, I still wanted to put together a post sharing the photos I have taken of this year’s Christmas decor. (Many of these photos have already been shared on my Instagram.) Some are quick snaps from my phone, and others are more styled. Currently, there are only a handful of photos, but I’ll be adding more to this post over the next week or so with anything/everything else I capture. This approach feels more relaxed and enjoyable for me and hopefully for you too.

Whenever there are major updates, I’ll bump this post to the top of the blog so you don’t miss anything. I’ll also do one final share at the end of the Christmas season. Sound good?

I left some photos to speak of themselves and others have little descriptions. I’ve also reused a few of my Instagram captions here. Lately, I’ve been writing longer, more thoughtful captions over there, so I thought they’d be a nice way to add a bit more context to some of these photos. I hope you enjoy these glimpses of my holiday space. Thank you for being here and for making this place such a joy to share.

Entryway

grand entrway christmas decor and tree in the background.
entryway built in closet shelves an bench decorated for Christmas.
christmas decor with cat.
entry shelves and peg rail decorated for Christmas.
entryway closet and shelves and bench decorated for Christmas.
shelf with christmas decor new and vintage with vintage scotch tape tins.

Also, Leo and Ruby wandered in while I was photographing, so I couldn’t resist snapping a picture of them, too.

ruby cat next to banister garland.

You have already seen my handmade vintage bobbin garland when I shared the full tutorial on how to make it. This has been on of my favorite projects!

staircase garland with paper balls and vintage bobbin garland.
Vintage Bobbin Christmas Garland hung on peg hooks with stockings.
Vintage Bobbin Christmas with green thread and red beads.

Create a holiday garland that’s as unique as your style with this Vintage Bobbin Christmas Garland tutorial. Using vintage spools, colorful beads, and sturdy cord, you can design a charming piece that blends nostalgic charm with personal style. Whether you drape it over a matel, incorporate it into greenery, or hang it on its own, this garland will add a personal, handcrafted touch to your holiday decor.

christmas tree with entryway and a cat.
entryway with christmas tree and cat.

Family Room

My family room Christmas tree is nearly identical to last year’s—well, almost. I loved it so much that I couldn’t resist bringing it back for a repeat performance. If you’re curious about the details, I shared more about this tree in last year’s post.

colorful christmas tree with vintage ornaments
decor under christmas tree.
christmas decor and vintage finds under the christmas tree.
vintage ornaments on christmas tree.

christmas tree with colorful ornaments.
wood cabinet with vintage Christmas decor on top.
vintage Swedish christmas tree candle holders.
bar cart with christmas decor.
vintage santa in wreath.

Living Room

living room with christmas mantel and christmas tree decorated.

I got a new coffee table! Well, actually, I got a new coffee table, rug, chairs, chandelier, desk…the list goes on. I’ve been wanting to refresh my living room for a couple of years now, and it’s finally starting to come together. I’ll share more soon, but for now—let’s talk coffee tables.

This wasn’t the original one I had planned. I’d fallen in love with a beautiful vintage Ralph Lauren coffee table that I stared at online for months. It was ridiculously expensive, but I couldn’t resist, so I went for it. The delivery process? A disaster. It arrived broken, and it was way too big for the space. Total heartbreak.

vintage wood coffee table decorated for Christmas.

Thankfully, because it was damaged during shipping, I got a full refund. A few days later, I stumbled across this coffee table on FB Marketplace—for $15! (For context, I paid $500 just to ship the other one which thankfully was returned.) My expectations weren’t high, but I went to check it out. Turns out, it’s a vintage Ethan Allen piece from their Circa 1776 collection. The top has its fair share of watermarks and scratches, but with a little festive styling, you’d never know. It might not be perfect, and the scale might be a little off, but honestly? I couldn’t be happier. This whole story reminds me how sometimes the best finds are the unexpected ones. And that $15 price tag? Just the cherry on top.

To style the table, I used mostly things I already had on hand: a brass bowl (from Target) filled with vintage glass ornaments, a stack of books (of course), and a little ceramic figure of a boy sledding that I picked up on a recent antiquing adventure. I added a couple of candles, a stack of adorable mini dishes, and a few other festive touches to tie it all together.

vintage details on coffee table with Christmas decor.
living room decorated for Christmas.

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This little coffee table journey has been such a reminder that the best finds are often the ones you don’t plan for. From the heartbreak of the broken (and way-too-big) table to the unexpected charm of this $15 find, it all worked out better than I could have imagined. With a mix of pieces I already had, a few festive touches, and the story behind it all, this table has become so much more than just furniture—it’s a reflection of creativity, patience, and a little holiday magic.

living room decorated for Christmas with tree, garland, and fireplace.
brass bowl of vintage ornaments.
stack of books with vintage plates.
secretary desk with Christmas decor.
vintage brass merry christmas card holder and felt trees.
secretary desk with christmas decor.
secretary desk decorated for Christmas with artwork and red chair.
small vintage toy truck with wreath on back.
living room and mantel decorated for Christmas.
bookcase shelves decorated for Christmas with glass house ornaments.


You might have noticed my handmade paper plate doves. This simple DIY was used to create a garland for my mantel, and I also hung a few individually as ornaments on my tree.

fireplace mantel with Christmas decorations.
Christmas garland made of painted colorful doves.

Over the past few years, I’ve been trying to be more intentional with my Christmas decor. As someone who used to spend hundreds of dollars on decorations each year, I just couldn’t do it anymore. It wasn’t just the expense—it was the excessive amount of stuff that started to feel more like a burden than a joy. The temptation is still there, and I may add one or two new things each year. (And if I do, something else needs to go.) 

All that to say, handmade has become my go-to lately. I’ve done the classics like popcorn garlands and paper chains, it’s the new and unique projects that have truly captured my heart. A couple of years ago, I made mushroom ornaments out of clay (still love those!), and this year, I created these doves using paper plates that I’d been using as paint palettes. 

These paint palettes have a story of their own. I used them over and over, front and back, until the paint was too thick to keep going. Each plate holds the history of the artwork it has created. Not wanting to just throw them away, I found inspiration in their unique colors and marks and decided to give them new life as Christmas decor. 

I sketched out a simple dove pattern (Likely not anatomically perfect, but I don’t mind) and cut them out. To add a little character—but not so much that it distracted from the organic patterns of the paint—I used paint markers for subtle details. And that was it! Now these paper plate doves are one-of-a-kind Christmas decor that cost me nothing and feels so meaningful. These doves will likely stay in my studio long after the holidays have passed. I couldn’t love them more. 

colorful painted dove on a Christmas tree.
living room decorated for christmas looking into dining room.

Living Room Christmas Tree

eclectic metallic and colorful Christmas tree.
christmas mantel and christmas tree with festive decor.
Christmas tree with decor under the tree.
living room with cozy christmas tree with vintage and handmade decor.

Dining Room

Clothespin Snowflakes hung above a Christmas village.

I get a lot of questions about these Christmas houses. They’re made of paper and beautifully decorated with festive details and snow. They’re from Cody Foster, and you can find a variety of them here. They are on the pricey side, so I collected them over a few years to build up my display. Cody Foster typically releases a few new ones each year, but I’m happy with my collection as it is—if I did add another, one would have to go to make room.

Christmas houses on a sideboard with Clothespin Snowflakes hung above them.

Also, check out these wood snowflakes. They are made from clothespins. This is another DIY I shared this year. Be sure to check out how to make these clothespins snowflakes.

Clothespin Snowflakes on a shelf with Christmas decor.
cake stand with vintage pinecone elves

Butler’s Pantry / Kitchen

vintage santas in butlers panty.
vintage poinsettia boy and girl salt and pepper shakers.

What started as a simple Santa mug collection has grown into so much more. Now it includes Mr. and Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers, Santa boots, and pretty much anything ceramic and Santa-themed. Just when I think I have enough, I find more. Ha! It’s even expanded to another wood shelf in my pantry.

shelf filled with vintage ceramic Santas and mugs.
vintage elf boot mug and christmas decor.
vintage Santa christmas collection.
small christmas tree filled with vintage glass ornaments.
kitchen with touches of christmas decor.
kitchen window decorated with garland.
paper garland with christmas cats.

REMEMBER: That’s a wrap for right now, but there’s more to come!!

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gingerbread man painted in oils.

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72 Comments

  1. Oh, Michael, your home is as lovely and charming as ever. I love the nostalgia and whimsy and beauty of it all. This is the essence of Christmas decor to me. It should reflect the things we love. Merry Christmas. I look forward to seeing what you have in store for 2025.

  2. I always love your Christmas Tree but this one is my favorite. I have crocheted stars, just like yours, that my Mom made many years ago. I also have lots of vintage shiny brite ornaments from the 50’s and 60’s that were always on our tree. Luckily none of my siblings wanted them. Have a wonderful and restful Christmas and New Year.

  3. Michael, your home is so warm and inviting for the holidays! The artful display of carefully collected and curated treasures is a feast for the eyes, but also just stirs joy in my heart! Thank you for sharing your home, your time, and your creative gifts with us! It is such a pleasure to be able to visually pour over all of your thoughtful details! Have a Merry Christmas! P.S. The vintage coffee table is PERFECT!

  4. Michael, I didn’t read all of your post but got as far as the coffee table. All I have to say is…some things happen exactly the way they are supposed to! You were meant to have that coffee table….Happy Holidays!

  5. I am in love with your new secretary-desk! (I first noticed it on your instagram post.) It is a beautiful antique and fits in so well with your decor. Can you show us a photo of the whole piece, from the front? You are going to have so much fun decorating it!

  6. I love seeing how you decorate your home, incorporating “new” items as well as returning ones. Presenting returning items in new ways is, in my opinion, a service to all of us who cannot or do not want to change out decorations each year. And especially the handmade ones you have been showing us in the the last few years. Always inspired!

  7. Michael, I adore all your collections. Each area is unique but the overall feeling is of perfect continuity. What I especially enjoy is that you show us so many things I’ve never seen. It’s like a treasure hunt in every room. Thank you for sharing with us. Any form of Christmas ‘tour’ at your home is my favorite spot on the internet. Merry Christmas!

  8. The coffee table is perfect and was meant to go with that scalloped (love!) rug. I can’t wait for the real tour. As a long time reader and only a once in a great while commenter I couldn’t pass up complimenting you on this post and your decorating! I wish I had your mad skills!
    Merry Christmas!

  9. Thank you Michael. It’s just all so lovely and you never disappoint. Anything you post is fine with me. I am not on instagram so I appreciate this very much.

  10. I truly enjoy your Christmas home tours. I recognize the pressure to generate ever bigger and splashier content. I don’t think it’s a healthy thing for anyone – content creators, followers, or the environment. In the infinite universe of social media, I’m looking for nuggets of heartfelt content – the personal, the authentic, the imperfect. It makes my eyes very happy to see things like your bobbin garland, ribbon collection, vintage deer, DIY doves, and plaid tins – all things you clearly enjoy collecting.

    PS – I give you permission not to cull your deer collection if they continue to, ahem, breed in the off-season!

      1. Everything is so cozy and beautiful! Your praline pecan recipe was so so good! I kept them in my garage – we live in a Cold climate and every time my son came over he told me he would eat one! He said what were those they were amazing! Need to make them again. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!

  11. Oh, Michael, your holiday home is so charming! My two favorite things are the joyful child on the sled on your coffee table and the crochet stars on the first tree you shared. I’m a stickler for 6-pointed stars – my dad was a scientist – and yours are perfect!