Updated: November 2023
We celebrated our first Christmas in our San Diego home in 2020 and wanted to be very intentional as we purchased our decor. We started from scratch, gathering our holiday arsenal and establishing new traditions.
I think my holiday aesthetic is one cottage-loving-grandma, one part whimsical-magic-fun, and one part it-doesn’t-need-to-be-a-theme-it-just-needs-to-bring-joy!
Decorating for the festive season?
Here are some of my go-to tips:
- Candles, diffusers, and scents can really set the mood and are a fantastic option if you’ve opted for a faux Christmas tree
- Pick a color scheme you like — whether that’s red and green, more creamy neutrals with pops of gold, or pastels. Keeping it in these hues will help everything be more cohesive.
- Find pieces that are meaningful to you and are timeless, so you don’t have to buy new things every year.
- Bring the outdoors inside with touches of natural elements (like pinecones, birch branches, or long branches of pine)
- Festive lights (and ones on branches) go a long way if you’re stuck and don’t know what’s “missing.”
- As you’re building up your treasure trove of holiday decor, don’t feel like you need to buy everything at once (after Christmas, sales can have some great deals to get pieces for the following year!)
Here are my favorite cute and cozy Christmas & holiday decor for your home!
For the Front Porch
Preserved Eucalyptus Wreath
I love a front door wreath year-round and wanted something made from real plants that we could keep up year-round (it really plays into every season!) — just add a ribbon to give it more of a holiday feel. I love Terrain for wreaths and garlands.
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Fresh Winter White Wreath
Looking for something a bit more festive that incorporates fresh evergreen noble fir? This one is gorgeous!
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Preserved Fir, Boxwood + Eucalyptus Wreath
Hand-crafted by a woman-led team in Washington state, this organic, naturally-dried wreath takes on the delicate beauty of a winter with a mix of evergreens, eucalyptus, and pine cones.
Shop NowHere are a few more holiday wreaths I love:
Here are a few other doormats I love:
Want some more holiday inspo for the front porch?
I have a cozy fall décor post (we’re talking autumnal hues of muted reds and yellows, along with a plethora of pumpkins) you can use for some front porch inspiration! Simply swap in some poinsettias and mini spruce or pine trees for a festive touch!
Holiday Living Room Decor
For the Tree
Pine Tree with Clear Lights
We got this 7.5-foot faux tree for our home and I love that it already has lights throughout!
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Folk Christmas Tree Skirt
I love how this tree skirt gives a very traditional Nordic “cottage” feel!
Shop NowHere’s an assortment of other cute tree skirts and collars:
Passport Ornament
I have a sneaking suspicion that if you read this blog, you like to travel… 😉
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Handmade Ornaments on Etsy
I’m very nostalgic for a felt and handmade ornaments. I always buy new handmade ornaments on Etsy every year to celebrate big milestones. Some of my favs are these felt penguin ornaments, this custom dog ornament, and this framed custom watercolor ornament.
Shop NowHere are some of my favorite ornaments:
Felt and Pom Garland
For the mantel, the tree, or anywhere in between—I love this pom garland! The one featured is out of stock but you can find ton of options on Etsy (linked below)!
Shop NowHere are some of my favorite garlands for the tree:
For the Mantel
Jingle Bell Garland
Hang this string of gilded bells from either the mantel or tree for a bit of glitz!
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Pine Garland with Clear Lights
This is similar to the garland we have along our fireplace mantel!
Shop NowHere are some other garlands I was peepin’ at:
Mantel Decor
Mantel decorations are such a personal choice! We typically hang faux pine garland, decorate the top with festive tchotchkes, and add our stockings. I also love incorporating flameless pillar candles.
Stockings
You can find some beautiful handmade stockings on Etsy but I have also seen lots of cute options at Target and Anthropologie.
All Things Cozy
Snuggle up with all the cozy blankets and seasonal pillows.
Festive Scents
The house doesn’t have that fresh pine scent, as we have a faux tree. Bring in fresh scents and lovely holiday aromas via candles, wax melts, or scents in a diffuser. We have a few Pura home diffusers, and they have TONS of seasonal scents like Frasier Fir, New York Holiday, and Tinsel & Spice.
Holiday Kitchen Decor + Goodies
Cute Holiday Mugs
Holiday Dining Room Decor
Leather Tablecloth
Gathre
I absolutely love Gathre tableclothes — they’re for people that hate the look of tablecloths. It’s a total essential for the holidays as they’re made of bonded leather, so they look super chic while being extremely functional. (We use them for food prep, arts & crafts, and dining!)
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Stargazer Northstar Pendant Light
Whether you’re dining inside or outside, this is such a fun light pendant!
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12 Days of Christmas Dessert Plates
I sometimes think I decorate like a grandma, but I love a little nostalgia—especially when it comes to the holidays! These plates are perfect for serving up a sweet treat, but I personally like them for a “12 Days of Christmas” plate wall.
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Do you have any favorites when it comes to holiday décor or traditions you’d like to share? I’d love to hear all about them in the comments below!
Oo! I love these suggestions. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Can you tell that I had fun putting this together? 🙂 Feeling so festive!
These are cute suggestions. You are lucky that you live where you can host your holiday dinner outside. Thank you for sharing
Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much 🙂 We’re very grateful for the weather in Southern California – though that does mean we miss out on a lot of the “real” seasons and have to go elsewhere to experience the leaves and snow. Pros and cons of every place!