House of Mar 2024 Christmas Holiday Home Tour

House of Mar 2024 Christmas Holiday Home Tour

Welcome to my House of Mar 2024 Christmas Holiday Home Tour!

This Christmas was so busy so I kept the Christmas decorating simple this year.

Because of how busy I was I kept it simple this year when decorating for Christmas. I always like to add some greenery throughout my home for the holidays. The simplicity of the greenery throughout my home adds so much to the holiday decorating. This year it was all about the greenery and the Christmas tree. Every Christmas season I always decorate with a Christmas theme. This year was no different, I just kept it subtle.

Holiday Christmas Home Themes:

During the holidays I usually add a theme to my Christmas decorations. In years past I have had a theme of, no place like home. For that year I used my little village collection of Christmas homes. These homes were painted white and I used these little homes along my fireplace mantel. I also wrote on the mirrors throughout my home the quote, There’s no place like home for the holidays.

Over The Years Christmas Home Themes:

One year it was all about snowflakes. I used big snowflakes on the Christmas tree and throughout my home. I added touches of snowflakes to the fireplace mantel, windows, and placed snowflakes here and there. You can see the Christmas tree in this past blog post on how to decorate a Christmas Tree https://houseofmar.com/the-best-way-to-decorate-a-christmas-tree/.

The Nutcracker Theme

The Nutcracker also found a space at my home for Christmas one year. This year I also incorporated the Nutcracker in a luncheon I hosted before my family and I went to see the Nutcracker balla. It was so much fun! I added nutcracker ornaments to the tree, included dishes with the theme symbols, and placed nutcrackers throughout to add to my holiday home. I even gifted each luncheon guest with a nutcracker ornament for their tree. You can see the Nutcracker Christmas luncheon here https://houseofmar.com/how-to-host-a-fun-christmas-luncheon/

There are so many ways to add a fun theme to your seasonal decorated home!

Children Christmas Themes

When our children were little we did Christmas tree themes. We have had trees decorated with handmade ornaments the kids made. One year it was all paper ornaments. The kids made paper garlands of red and green and white paper snowflakes. That year the tree lights were only on in the evening when I was present!

The following year we made homemade cookie ornaments for the Christmas tree. Wow, that was a lot of work, but oh so much fun!

When The Kids Were Little

When the kids were little one year they wanted to decorate the Christmas tree all on their own, so we only had ornaments at the bottom of the tree. They were not tall enough to reach higher and didn’t want any help, Lol. As the kids got older the Christmas tree’s became a little more put together. I sure miss those Christmas years!

Christmas Family Traditions:

Do you have family Christmas traditions

When my husband and I were dating every year we went to a little Christmas village about an hour and a half from our area. It’s called Frankenmuth Michigan. You can view it here https://www.frankenmuth.org/The first year my husband and I went to this Christmas village, I bought a Christmas ornament for our future Christmas tree and have each year after.

A Family Christmas Tradition

My husband and I kept that tradition and when we started having our children we continued that tradition. Each year during the Christmas season we would take the kids to Frankenmuth. Our children would pick out an ornament for the Christmas tree. They would look for an ornament, usually that choice was based on something they had enjoyed that year. Sometimes it was a sport they played, a movie they saw, or something special that had happened. We would spend hours at the Bonner’s Christmas store looking for the perfect ornament. It has been a fun tradition we all looked forward to every year.

Christmas Family Traditions:

All of my children are adults now and have homes of their own. Last Christmas I gave each of them their ornaments they had choosen each Christmas. They were pretty excited to receive their holiday ornaments. These are beautiful keepsakes with wonderful memories that can be placed on their own Christmas tree.

When collecting the Christmas ornaments I only had one requirement, the ornament had to be from the designer Christopher Radko. I love the details in these colorful glass blown ornaments. Each ornament is made with such detail, they have been beautifully made and are such wonderful keepsake collectibles. Click the link to see some of the Christmas designed ornaments https://www.christopherradko.com/

Special Family Traditions

We have another very special family tradition our Nativity set. Years ago, my mother and father-in-law gave us this beautiful nativity set for our home as a Christmas gift. Each year, this set is displayed in our foyer. One year, during Christmas my husband and children built a manger out of some scrap wood and painted it. It is a very special tradition to add to our holiday season. I leave it up until the Three Kings Day. A few years ago I decided to paint the set, you can read all about it here.https://houseofmar.com/how-to-update-a-vintage-nativity-set/

Fun Family Traditions:

Fun family traditions are so important. Another tradition that my kids do at Christmas time is Secret Santa. At the beginning of the Christmas holiday season they will draw a name and the name they draw is who they have for secret santa . The Secret Santa does special things for their person during the holiday season. This family tradition kept our home full of mischief! A bed would secretly be made. A dish would be cleared from the table after dinner. A favorite Christmas candy may appear under a bed pillow or a special book may end up in a stocking. When Christmas morning arrived the secret Santa would be revealed with a Christmas gift from under the tree. Our home was filled with this fun family Christmas tradition every year. Even though my children are adults they still do Secret Santa with each other.

Family Fun Traditions

Another family tradition we have is to make a gingerbread house. This Christmas tradition has evolved through the years. When we first began this fun activity the kids were little. We would buy the pre-made kits and they would create a little gingerbread house. These days it’s house parties with friends and family and larger gingerbread homes and adding as much candy to the home, Lol! A few years ago I shared how to host a gingerbread house-making party. https://houseofmar.com/how-to-create-the-best-gingerbread-house-party/

Christmas Holiday Decor for 2024:

This Christmas holiday season was all about keeping it simple. Sometimes you need a simple holiday season. To keep it simple through out our home I went with a Christmas tree theme. I focused on decorating the Christmas tree, and adding touches of Christmas here and there. I also always add pinecones, different greens such as, spruce, evergreen, cedar and pine. Of course these are faux evergreen’s. I also added a few spruce candles, cozy blankets, wreaths and greenery around my home for the season.

Let’s begin the House of Mar 2024 Christmas Holiday Home Tour.

House of Mar 2024 Christmas Holiday Home Tour.

Our Entranceway

The foyer, our entranceway starts the House of Mar 2024 Christmas Holiday Home Tour. I always have our family’s Christmas nativity displayed on the bureau. This piece is also a family tradition. You can read all about how it became and what I did to change it here.https://houseofmar.com/how-to-update-a-vintage-nativity-set/

In The Kitchen

This Christmas season of 2024 In the kitchen I added the cutest cloth napkins to the table. I found these last year after Christmas. Each napkin has a Christmas tree embroidery. They are so darling, and I found little bow napkin holders on Amazon that go together perfectly! With keeping with simple holiday decorations I added a few touches of greenery and ribbon to the chandelier and around the kitchen.

The Great Room

Our great room is a room you see as soon as you enter our home. Our Christmas tree is always in this room every year. The big focal pointe is the fireplace I always decorate it for the seasonal holidays.

Fireplace

This Christmas of 2024 I did keep it simple by adding greenery that I had along with pinecones and some florals. There is a little bird sitting on the mantel, can you see him! I love birds and add them to all the season decor around the house.

Coffee TableI

I also made a Christmas centerpiece for the coffee table, I kept with my Christmas tree theme. These mercury glass trees were updated with a ragged washed paint. I added a few greens, pinecones and a pretty mercury glass ornament adorned with a holiday ribbon. I also added a candle that has the nicest spruce scent.

Christmas Tree

Our Christmas tree this year was decorated with ribbons and my collection of mercury glass bulbs. I added green and white plaid ribbon, white velvet ribbon trimmed in silver, and another pretty green ribbon with beautiful detailed Christmas trees.

The Dinning Room

The Dinning Room is off the foyer. In keeping with the other open rooms adjacent to the dinning room I added touches of seasonal decor. Christmas bulbs were added to a large dough bowl that sits on the dinning-room table. Theres a little bird in the dough bowl too! I added a garland of spruce to the top of the china cabinet. Of course there was a scented candle or two!

The Den/Office

I kept the den/office really simpleas well. A little Christmas tree was added and decorated with pretty ribbon and another collection of mercury glass bulbs.. I also placed a scented candle on the bookshelf. I use it all season and the room smells so wonderful!

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

All the rooms including the bedrooms and bathrooms received a few Christmas touches. The bathrooms in keeping it simple I added a few pretty Christmas guest towels, scented soaps, and a ribbon or two. In the bedroom’s I added cozy velvet blankets, Christmas scented candles, a wreath on a door and Christmas ornaments. For my bedroom I place a little tree on the dresser and decorate it with flowers, and Christmas ornaments.

The 2024 Christmas Season

The 2024 Christmas season was busy and filled with family, friends and so much fun! We ate traditional family foods, did a few Christmas-themed adventures, played games, and spent time together. It’s always a wonderful season when you are with your family!

I hope your Christmas Holiday Season was wonderful and blessed!

Blessings,

Mary Anne,