Embrace the magic of Christmas by transforming your living room into a cozy and inviting haven with these five simple tips.
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2023 Christmas Home Tour
‘Tis the season for festive cheer, and today I’m excited to share part two of my holiday home tour with you…our cozy Christmas living room!
If you missed part one of my holiday home tour, you can check it out here to see how I used rustic touches to decorate our entryway and dining room for Christmas.
Thank you to my friends Anne and AnnMarie at Simply 2 Moms for handling the hosting duties for this week’s tour.
Over the next few days, you’ll have the chance to peek into the homes of more than 35 bloggers from across the country. Each blogger will be sharing their unique holiday decor ideas, so get ready to be inspired!
Today, I’m opening our home to you and sharing my secrets to styling a homey and inviting living room for the Christmas season.
I’m joined by five amazing friends who will be showcasing their festive homes. Each of them has put their personal touch on their Christmas decorations, and I can’t wait for you to see them all.
You can find each tour linked at the bottom of my post. I hope you’ll take the time to stop by each day and visit them all.
Welcome To Midwest Life And Style
A special greeting and “hello” to everyone joining me from Suzy at Worthing Court. Isn’t her dining room so elegant dressed up for the holidays?
Whether you’ve been following along for a while or just discovered my blog, I’m thrilled to have you here!
I’m Jen, a Midwest-born-and-raised wife, mom, and lover of all things that make a house a home. I especially love sharing entertaining ideas, including budget-friendly DIYs, easy seasonal recipes, simple table settings, and hosting tips and tricks to make every gathering special.
If you enjoy the content you see here, don’t forget to subscribe to Midwest Life and Style and join our growing community! When you do, you’ll receive weekly updates on the latest blog posts and gain exclusive access to our library of free printables.
So cozy up with a warm mug of holiday cheer, snuggle on the couch, and join me as I share my easy tips for adding warm and inviting touches to make your living room extra cozy this Christmas.
The Secrets To Styling A Warm And Homey Christmas Living Room
Our living room is the heart of our home, where we gather to relax and unwind. Next to the kitchen, it’s the room we spend the most time in together as a family, so it’s a space I want to feel cozy and inviting, especially during the holiday season!
Creating a warm and homey atmosphere for Christmas doesn’t have to be complicated. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, either. By following these five simple tips, you can easily transform your living room into a warm and welcoming haven.
Create a Cozy Atmosphere with Natural Accents
Incorporating natural elements into your Christmas decor is an easy and affordable way to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your living room.
Whether you prefer the real deal or faux, using a mix of holiday greenery, like garlands, wreaths, and evergreen branches adds a touch of charm to your decor and makes your living room feel like a scene from a cozy Christmas movie.
I love to style greenery in vintage containers, like an old jar, dough bowl, basket, or a unique piece like this one that I found at a holiday market.
Another great way to make your living room feel cozy with greenery is by using classic Christmas flowers, like poinsettias or paperwhites.
These paperwhites are faux, but you would never know. They look so real! love that I can enjoy them throughout the winter months without worrying about the blooms wilting.
Add a pop of color into your Christmas decor with citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, arranged in bowls or baskets.
I love the simplicity of natural accents like dried oranges, which were the inspiration behind my rustic green and gold Christmas color palette this year.
You can also make dried oranges and use them in holiday crafts throughout your home including as part of a rustic holiday centerpiece or some DIY Christmas chair wreaths. Or hang dried orange Christmas tree ornaments, or weave orange slices into garlands on your mantel.
Deck the Mantle with Christmas Cheer
Transform your mantle into a festive focal point by draping a realistic-looking pine garland and a mix of holiday accents.
To give my garlands a more natural look, I like to add in other types of greenery, like frosted twigs and pinecones.
You can also layer in ornaments and smaller garlands like a bell garland for some added whimsy.
And don’t forget to include a strand of twinkle lights for a touch of extra holiday sparkle.
I also love to display a large, sign on our mantel like this one from my friend Brittany at Currently Chic Boutique.
Out of all the Christmas decorations in our living room, this sign holds a special place in my heart. It features the lyrics from my most favorite Christmas hymn, ‘Mary Did You Know?’
Seeing it every year brings back warm memories of Christmas at my grandparents’ and the midnight candlelight service at church. I think of them and smile every time I see this sign.
Finish the festive look in your living room with some cozy knit Christmas stockings in natural colors.
And, to make your space even more inviting, add a basket on the hearth filled with extra blankets and pillows. Perfect for snuggling up and watching your favorite Christmas movie!
Snuggle Up with Festive Throws and Pillows
My motto is ‘more is always merrier’ when it comes to blankets and pillows. Especially during the cozy winter months.
Having a supply of throws and plush pillows creates an irresistible invitation to curl up and enjoy the glow of the Christmas tree.
Snuggle up in style by draping plush throws and blankets over couches and chairs. And opt for cozy fabrics like chunky knits, warm wool, or soft sherpa to enhance the feeling of warmth and comfort.
I also love incorporating seasonal touches by swapping out some everyday pillow covers. I love to use festive ones like these pretty green velvet ones I found for the holidays.
Add Candlelight and Twinkling Lights For A Cozy Christmas Glow
One of the best ways to add some cozy Christmas glow to your living room is by incorporating candles and twinkling lights into your decor.
Battery-operated candles like these taper candles or these pillar candles are a great, and safe alternative that you can use year-round.
And twinkling lights add a touch of holiday magic to any space. Drape them along garlands, and wreaths, or weave them through branches and greenery.
This combination of lighting will not only enhance your holiday decor but also make your living room the perfect place to gather with loved ones and celebrate Christmas.
Use Personal Touches To Tell Your Christmas Story
Incorporate cherished family heirlooms into your Christmas decor to create a story that reflects your family’s unique traditions and memories.
You can decorate your Christmas tree with ornaments passed down through generations, or display homemade ornaments made by family members.
One of my favorite ways to add personal touches to my Christmas decor is to display my Willow Tree nativity scene.
My mom gave me one piece each year when we first got married until we had the whole set. It’s always so special to put it up each year. And now my youngest daughter loves helping me.
Home Tours From Christmases Past
If you enjoyed getting a peek into our cozy holiday living room, you might also enjoy some of my past Christmas tours.
Magical Christmas Candlelight Tour
Timeless Red and Gold Holiday Home Tour
Cozy and Class Tartan Plaid Holiday Home Tour
Tour More Holiday Homes
Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope these five tips help inspire you to make your living room warm and cozy this Christmas season.
Don’t forget! There are still plenty of holiday homes to see! Next on the tour, go and visit my friend Cindy at DIY Beautify. Then check out all of the other tours linked below.
Wishing you a very blessed and Merry Christmas!
2023 Christmas Home Tours
This week I’m joining thirty talented and creative bloggers to share our holiday decorating for our 2023 Christmas Home Tours. I hope you enjoy all their beautiful ideas and inspiration! I especially want to thank Marty from A Stroll Thru Life for organizing this tour of homes. You can visit each Christmassy home tour by clicking the links below.
Monday’s Tours
Simply2Moms | Worthing Court Blog | Midwest Life and Style
DIY Beautify | Peacock Ridge Farm | The Stonybrook House
Tuesday’s Tours
Our Southern Home | Calypso in the Country | Chalking Up Success
Pink Peppermint Design | The House on Silverado | Lyndale Drive
Wednesday’s Tours
Southern Home and Hospitality | A Pretty Life in the Suburbs | Whispering Pines Homestead
She Gave it a Go | Decor to Adore | Eleanor Rose Home
Thursday’s Tours
County Road 407 | Thistle Key Lane | White Lilac Farmhouse
My Family Thyme | Southern Hospitality Blog | Clean and Scentsible | Bungalow 47
Friday’s Tours
Shiplap and Shells | It All Started With Paint | White Arrows Home
This is Our Bliss | Thrifty and Chic | Follow the Yellow Brick Home
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Jen, your home is so beautiful and cozy for Christmas. I love all of the touches in the living room. I want that coffee table (trunk) of yours!
Thank you so much, Tammy!
Love your tips for the perfectly warm and homey Christmas decor! Your living room looks so inviting and I adore all the twinkle lights!
🙂 Linda
Thank you so much, LLinda. Wishing you a happy holiday season!
You home looks so beautiful, Jen. I love the nativity under the table. Each picture is so pretty! Well done, friend!
Thank you, Kim. Merry Christmas!
All your holiday touches are just beautiful Jen. I am absolutely in love with the gingerbread house under the glass cloche. And your mantel is so festive. Merry Christmas and happy holidays my friend.
Thank you so much, Kim. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
Lovely tour Jen! I always get so many darling ideas from you, such as adding greenery to the cloche with the gingerbread house, and the paper whites in the tureen! By the way those look like the real deal! Happy Christmas!
Thank you, Michelle. I always enjoy these home tours. They are such a great way to get new holiday ideas and inspiration. Merry Christmas to you!
Your living room is so cozy Jen, I love how you’ve styled it for the holidays! The gingerbread house inside the cloche is one of my favorite details, it’s so cute!!! Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Heidi. Merry Christmas to you too, friend!
Just beautiful Jen! The nativity is such a special treasure as well!! Love your trunk too – I have one I’d love to use as a coffee table but my daddy made my coffee table so I’m using the trunk as an end table.
Thank you, Anita. I’ve had the trunk forever. I love that it doubles as a coffee table and storage for extra blankets. That’s so special that your dad custom made you a coffee table. What a great piece that you can and pass down through the generations.
Oh so pretty. I love the warm and cozy feel you’ve created in your home. You also shared so many great tips with your tour too. I always love to find new ways to change up my home and make it more welcoming and inviting. Your candelight tour was beautiful also.
Thank you, Marty! I hope you are resting up and taking good care of yourself. Merry Christmas!
Your Christmas home is so pretty, Jen. You gave some great tips. You are so reight about using natural accents to get a warm and cozy vibe. Pinned!
Thank you so much, Suzy. Wishing you a very Merrry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Jen, your home definitely has a warm and homey vibe! I love all your twinkling lights, your gingerbread house and all your holiday touches! It’s all so beautiful! Great to tour with you again!
Shelley
Thank you, Shelley. I always enjoy these tours. It’s so fun to see everyone’s differnt ideas and how they decorate for the holidays. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Jen I absolutely love your color palette. It feels so calm and serene. The nativity is just gorgeous!
Thank you, Laura. The nativity is one of my most cherished things. I’m so glad my mom gifted it to me. I hope to be able to pass it down to one of my daughters some day.
Thank you, Laura. I’m so glad my mom collected each of the nativity pieces for me. It is one of my favorite things to put out each holiday.
Jen, I loved your tour and so many things resonated with me…midnight candlelight church service, handmade Christmas ornaments on the tree, a special nativity and that song! Have you heard the Pentatonix version? Brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it! Wishing you and your family a holiday filled with new memories, old reminisces and MUCH JOY as we celebrate Jesus!!!
Thank you, Cindy. I LOVE Pentatonix. I have all of their CD’s and I was lucky enough to see them in concert last year. It was am amazing how! I agree that every time I hear that song it brings tears to my eyes. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
Mary Did You Know is my all-time favorite Christmas song. When he sings – when you kiss your little baby, you’ve kissed the face of God. That gives me goosebumps!
Your living room looks lovely Jen and I know spending time in there with the twinkling lights everywhere is magical.
And btw, what state do you actually live in the midwest? I don’t think I’ve ever known that. Merry Christmas!
It’s such a special song, isn’t it? It’s a beautiful reminder of the reason for the season. Oh, and I’m a born and raised Nebraskan…just a straight short north of you! Merry Christmas to you too and Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home. You nailed it. It is definitely warm, homey and inviting. I love your ‘Mary did you know’ sign. It made me smile as well. Your nativity scene is so sweet.
Blessings,
Lori
Thank you, Lori. Merry Christmas!
From one Midwest gal to another, this is beautiful! I love the gingerbread home in the clouch!
It’s always so nice to “meet” a fellow Midwesterner! Merry Christmas!
Jen, your home
Is so warm and inviting. I love all the gorgeous touches that you added for the holidays. So lovely. Merry Christmas, my friend.
Thank you so much, Renae. Merry Christmas to you too, friend!
Your living room is so cozy and festive, Jen! I love all the details you used and the thought that went behind each one. That new obelisk-style lantern is such a great piece! You’re going to have so much fun with that all year long. Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Anne. Merry Christmas to you my friend. And best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024!