A Farewell Christmas Home Tour: A look at the kitchen and living room—the heart of the home where we spent the last eight years. Sharing this final home tour is bittersweet as we move into our new house this week.
With this year’s theme essentially “decorate quickly, then pack everything up to move,” I leaned into classic, simple styling. Whether you’re preparing for a move or staying put, you can achieve this look by keeping only your favorite decorations and avoiding excess. A pared-back approach lets beloved pieces shine while keeping the overall effect calm and timeless.
For the mantel I left the mirror and two shutters in place and built the decor around them. Finding a few statement pieces for over the mantel changed the focal point entirely, and I could have easily refreshed the styling seasonally had we stayed. When styling a mantel, start with the largest elements and layer in greenery, lights, and a couple of meaningful ornaments for balance and warmth.
For more detail on the mantel and tree styling, I recommend checking my posts titled My Simple Christmas Mantel and My Flocked Plaid Christmas Tree for ideas and inspiration.
This year I enjoyed placing our “fancy” tree in the living room for the first time. In past years, themed ornaments lived on a taller 9-foot tree in the dining room, but I donated that tree because our new home has 9-foot ceilings. I purchased a 7.5-foot tree for the new house, which should fit perfectly and still feel full and festive.
I’m looking forward to unpacking and decorating the new home with our favorite family ornaments and making fresh memories in a different space.
In the kitchen I created a simple, movable centerpiece using a dough bowl filled with greenery, pomegranate branches, and a few gold ornaments I’ve collected over the years. A dough bowl is perfect for holiday table decor because it’s easy to lift off the table when you need the space for meals.
Small touches make a big difference: wreaths on the back of chairs add instant charm and cheer, and coordinated plates and mugs—like my favorite turquoise melamine plates—make a casual Christmas breakfast feel special without fuss.
I also added a few seasonal accents—a small muffin display, festive mugs, and layered textures—to create a cozy breakfast scene that’s both practical and inviting.
A small corner vignette came together with cascading ornaments tucked into a colander, a “noel” sign, and a tiny sled I found in a dollar spot—simple, inexpensive items that add personality and a handmade feel.
The DIY open shelves have been one of my favorite features to decorate each season. I’ll miss styling them in this house, but I’m excited to find new spots to showcase treasured pieces in our next home. When styling open shelves, start by removing everything, cleaning the surfaces, collecting your favorite items, and adding them back slowly until the arrangement feels balanced.
I’m particularly fond of a green velvet, gold-embroidered tree pillow that adds a cozy, subtle holiday accent. It’s a small touch that enhances the room’s texture and color without overwhelming the classic style.
When arranging items on shelves, I mentally divide the space into four areas and create small, balanced vignettes in each section. Using the rule of odd numbers and grouping items in threes helps maintain visual interest and cohesion.
This year I included a “Family-Owned Farm” printable from my Christmas printable collection. Adding framed printables is an easy, budget-friendly way to insert seasonal themes and typography into your decor.
Another printable I love features pomegranates and candy—bright, festive art that pairs well with natural greenery and vintage-style accents. Printables are easy to change out year to year and help personalize a holiday palette.
One of my favorite collections to display each winter is a variety of mini evergreen trees gathered over the years. They’re versatile, easy to group at different heights, and bring an evergreen, classic feel to mantels, shelves, and tabletops.
Thank you for joining this final Christmas home tour in our current house. By the time this posts we will already own the new home and be in the process of moving furniture in. I’m hopeful we’ll have a little of it decorated for the holidays in time for Christmas—there’s something special about starting fresh in a new space with familiar ornaments and traditions. 🎄
More Posts You Will Love:
- 7+ Ways to Decorate with Christmas Ribbon {Sources & Ideas}
- How to Decorate the Kitchen for Christmas
- How to Hang a Christmas Mantel Garland (includes video)
- How To Display Kitchen Cabinet Wreaths
- Blue and White Christmas Living Room Ideas