A classic Christmas home tour with a modern edge for the 2020 Jennifer Rizzo Holiday Housewalk featuring 30 bloggers’ styled homes.
Pour a mug of hot cocoa and come on in—today is Holiday Housewalk day!
Each year, the talented Jennifer Rizzo brings together an inspiring group of bloggers to showcase their homes dressed for the season. If you missed the earlier stops, start here with Day 1 to see the full lineup.
I’m honored to be part of this tour for the third year running. You can find my previous Holiday Housewalk tours here.
Today is Day 3 of the tour and I’m delighted to welcome visitors here first. If you came from Duke Manor Farm, welcome back! If you want to start at the beginning, you can begin here.
The Foyer
There’s a moment every year when I walk through the house with the lights on and pause—music playing, breath slowing—and reflect on the year’s challenges, lessons, and blessings. This season has made me especially grateful for home and family.
This year I focused on spreading simple joy, using pieces I found at Bed Bath & Beyond and collecting a few meaningful accents. To avoid crowded stores and shipping delays, I ordered online and used curbside pickup—easy and safe.
Decorating was a family affair: Robert, Olivia, and I trimmed the trees and garlands while Regan napped. Our foyer is one of the features that made me fall in love with this house when we moved in, so I kept the styling simple this year—a bowl of preserved boxwood clippings, a candle on our vintage Eastlake chest, and classic mixed pine garland tied with burgundy velvet ribbon along the railing.
I love the quiet, timeless look—minimal, elegant, and comforting.
The Breakfast Nook
Our little kitchen table—our “breakfast nook”—is the busiest and coziest spot in the house, and it’s also small, so I kept the tabletop decor pared back. A round tray, a burgundy vase with a single pine sprig, and a couple of candle holders add warmth without clutter.
I found a modern light-up terrarium shaped like a Christmas tree that looks adorable on the console table. I paired it with wood beads, a bowl of bells (which our two-year-old loves), two dollar-store mini houses I already had, and a realistic-looking mini tree set in a woven basket.
Christmas brunch is a family favorite, and I can’t wait for pajamas, cinnamon rolls, and cozy chatter gathered around this small but beloved table.
The Living Room
The living room is where we live the most—blankets on the floor, movie nights, and endless Elf viewings—so I went all out with cozy, nostalgic details. Our artificial tree is the most realistic we’ve owned and sets the tone for the room.
Olivia and I made cinnamon salt dough ornaments that look like gingerbread, and I dried orange slices to add a classic, citrusy touch. I used crumpled burgundy velvet ribbon and wood bead garlands to create a slightly antique, handmade feel—pieces I’ll keep out even after the holidays.
The tree is decorated with burgundy and gold shatterproof ornaments (toddler-friendly) and a few black-and-gold pieces to bring a modern edge. A pair of Dala horse prints I found on clearance last year inspired the whole palette this season—modern, traditional, and Scandinavian elements blended together.
The mantel features a garland with preserved clippings, dried orange slices, burgundy ribbon, and fairy lights—rich, layered, and far from minimalist. I love the warmth and texture it brings.
I reused last year’s DIY stocking tags and added more wood bead garland for a cohesive mantle vignette.
For extra ambiance I used TV art to display seasonal images on the screen occasionally, though the bright display of our non-Frame TV means I don’t keep it on all the time.
A large basket of soft throws invites family snuggles, and scented candles (one mauve, one tobacco & amber) fill the room with a cozy fragrance. The candles are battery-operated and realistic, with a flicker effect and timer—perfect for hands-off seasonal glow.
Every seat is piled with pillows—moss-green velvet, cream block, corduroy in warm rust tones, gray-and-cream checks, and a faux fur throw Olivia already calls the “cloud blanket.” These layers bring texture and comfort and will carry through the winter months.
I truly think this might be my favorite holiday decorating yet—warm, layered, and full of little handmade touches that feel personal and timeless.
If you want to know any of the sources, you can find them all here:
Room Makeover Sources & Paint Colors
I’ve been impressed with the quality and convenience of shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond this season—easy pickup and lovely pieces that helped pull these rooms together.
No matter where you are or how different this holiday season may feel, know you are loved. Wishing you the happiest Christmas and hoping the new year brings brighter days—good things are ahead.
The next stop on the Holiday Housewalk is my friend Lucy at Craftberry Bush. If you haven’t visited her site before, you’re in for a gorgeous tour.
Merry Christmas, y’all!
