Our 2021 Holiday Housewalk home tour with classic Christmas décor ideas you can recreate for a timeless, nostalgic holiday.
Holiday Housewalk is here, and our home is filled with classic Christmas touches that bring out warm, nostalgic feelings. Over the years I’ve joined the talented Jennifer Rizzo to share our decorated home for this event, and this year we’re one of 27 homes on the tour. If you’re arriving from a previous stop, make yourself comfortable and enjoy a cup of cocoa.
Rather than simply showing pictures, I want to share easy, affordable classic Christmas décor ideas you can adapt in your own home. Below are practical tips and examples from our house that you can recreate without breaking the bank.
Classic Christmas Décor Ideas You Can Recreate Yourself
1. Bowls are your best friends
Use large bowls from your kitchen to create instant seasonal displays. Fill them with paperwhite bulbs, moss and pillar candles, glass ornaments, or jingle bells for a playful touch. I put a bowl of bells where our toddler can reach them—she loves to shake them—and a bowl of paperwhites in the foyer gives a fresh, elegant look.
2. Frame Christmas sheet music as art
Framing vintage Christmas sheet music is an inexpensive way to add meaningful décor. I always include “O Holy Night” because it reminds me of family traditions. A thrifted music book and a few frames make a charming gallery wall that honors memories and looks beautiful.
3. When in doubt, tie some ribbon on it
Real fabric ribbon instantly elevates garlands, wreaths, stockings, and tree branches. If you need to hide ties or twine, drape ribbon over them for a finished look. Changing ribbon colors each season updates your décor affordably—this year we favored copper and green for a warm, slightly Irish palette.
Switching ribbon is one of my favorite quick refreshes when I want a new look without buying new pieces.
4. Dry orange slices or other fruit
Dried orange slices, pomegranates, and cranberries add natural beauty and fragrance. String them as garland, tuck them into wreaths, scatter them on centerpieces, or use them on place settings. They’re decorative and make the house smell wonderful.
5. Raid your stash of spring and summer faux flowers
Reusing faux blooms from other seasons stretches your décor budget. I tuck magnolia stems into the tree and use other stems for table arrangements—simple repurposing adds depth and continuity across rooms.
We recently completed a dining room refresh that provides a lovely backdrop for holiday decorating—the mural and furnishings still feel fresh this season.
6. Stick to neutrals as much as possible
Neutral linens and accessories transition easily between holidays. I reuse table runners, napkins, and candle holders from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Reserve bright seasonal colors like red for small accents if you want flexibility month to month.
7. Shop your yard
Gather evergreen clippings, holly, and other greenery from your yard (or a friendly neighbor’s) for free decorations. Rinse branches with a little vinegar-water solution to remove bugs before arranging. Add cloves to oranges and sprigs of rosemary for fragrant centerpieces.
8. Give family heirlooms the spotlight
Display treasured items like a nativity set or heirloom ornaments where they can be noticed. I place our nativity on a buffet surrounded by small trees and juniper stems so it becomes a focal point that honors family meaning.
9. String ornaments onto ribbon for DIY garland
Tie small ornaments along ribbon to create a simple garland for a mantel or mantel-like surface. It’s a great way to repurpose ornaments from a child’s tree and makes a whimsical, handmade display.
10. Display childhood collections
Showcase sentimental items like nutcrackers, ornaments from your childhood, or keepsakes collected over the years. These pieces tell your family’s story and make holiday décor deeply personal.
11. Add color-coordinated ribbons and ornament boxes to blend handmade pieces
Use a box of color-themed ornament balls to create cohesion on a tree filled with handmade and sentimental ornaments. Families can help decorate, clustering shatterproof ornaments where little hands can reach for extra joy and memory-making.
12. Display Christmas books
Keep holiday storybooks in plain sight—under the tree, on a coffee table, or on open shelving—so they get read. They serve as décor and invite cozy family moments.
We still plan more updates for the playroom next year, but the kids are already enjoying the festive setup.
Next up: the living room, where most of our holiday gatherings happen.
13. Display holiday art on your smart TV
Turn your smart TV into a seasonal art display to set the mood for Christmas morning or gatherings. You don’t need a specialized device—any smart TV can show festive prints or rotating images.
14. Hang wreaths on windows
Window wreaths are an elegant, inexpensive touch. I use faux boxwood wreaths dressed up with different ribbon colors each year to change the look without much effort.
15. Bundle logs for the hearth
Tied bundles of logs add rustic charm to a hearth or entryway. If you can source them from your yard, all the better—bundle with twine for an instant cozy accent.
16. Spray-paint thrifted items for a fresh look
Spray paint can transform thrifted houses, ornaments, bells, pinecones, or small accent pieces. This year I updated colorful keychains with gold spray paint to use as name tags on stockings—an easy DIY with a professional finish.
17. Say no to Christmas-specific pillows
Pillows that work through winter and beyond are more practical than themed pillows you must store most of the year. If you want seasonal accents, add one small festive pillow as a pop of color instead of a full set of holiday-only cushions.
18. Shop thrift stores year-round
Some of the best finds arrive in the off-season. Keep an eye out for pieces that can be repurposed for holiday displays—small bowls, vases, brass pieces, and decorative trays are easy thrift-store wins.
That little brass footed bowl with pinecones? Ninety-nine cents well spent. Small thrift finds often just need a little imagination.
19. Add fairy lights to almost anything
Battery-operated string lights are easy to weave through garlands, wreaths, and centerpieces so you don’t have to worry about cords. They’re an effortless way to add warmth to mantel and dining arrangements.
20. Less is more
Minimal décor can feel calm and intentional. We compromised between a fully ornamented tree and a minimalist one—simple ornaments, candle clips, and a few bows achieved a clean, cozy feel without excess. Choose what makes your home feel peaceful.
We’re ready for Christmas—well, mostly. A few last-minute shopping tasks remain, but the house is cozy and inviting. Fun detail: there’s a plug-in air freshener near the tree to give faux branches a balsam-like scent after a previous experience with a real tree dried out too early.
I hope these classic Christmas décor ideas inspire you. They’re simple, budget-friendly, and focused on meaning—whether your home is minimal or full of festive chaos, what matters is that your space reflects your family and your story.
The next stop on the Holiday Housewalk is my friend Stephanie’s beautiful home at Casa Watkins—say hello and enjoy more holiday inspiration (and another cup of cocoa if you like!).
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” – Romans 15:13
