Every year since we’ve been married, over 17 years now, we’ve pulled out the same couple of Christmas totes. Because our wedding just happened to be in the Fall (I originally wanted a Christmas wedding, but got outvoted), we were given a fair bit of holiday decor as gifts. Over the years we have added ornaments from our travels, and each year our boys get an ornament for St. Nick’s Day, but beyond that, we had never really purchased Christmas decorations. And certainly not decorations that would lend themselves to a Calm, Cozy Cottage Christmas.
Each year we’d unpack the boxes of stuff, finding places to tuck all the items, but by the time I’d get to the bottom of the totes, I’d already be ready to pack it all back up and put it away. The traditional bright reds and greens felt like an assault on my senses. The colors didn’t go with our home and made everything feel chaotic.
It’s not that I don’t love traditional Christmas decor, or hate the colors red and green; I don’t! Green is my very favorite color, and red my husband’s. It’s just that my house has really strong opinions. And since it’s a small space, anything that doesn’t work is just glaringly obvious.
So, this year I decided to make a change. And in this post, I’m going to show you all the ways I changed up our holiday decor to create a cozier, calmer Cottage Christmas.
Choosing non-traditional colors for a Cottage Christmas
This year, everywhere you look, the traditional red and green color scheme in out in full force. YouTube and Pinterest tell me that everyone is trying to have a Ralph Lauren Christmas, whatever that means. Last year it was a Little Women Christmas. Who decides these things?
Anyway, since it’s taken me all of 5 years to figure out the right color scheme for my home, I didn’t want to stray too far from that, even when it came to the holidays. I also (GASP!) didn’t want to shop online. It just felt too overwhelming. Too many choices. I wanted to hit the pavement, go to real stores, touch and feel the items and make sure they all worked together cohesively.
Cottage Christmas decor inspiration
I’ve already talked plenty about the colors that work best in my home. In fact, you can read all about it in this post called Swedish Cottage: Dreams to Reality. So I kind of had a vision before I even headed out to the shops. “If I have to put a name on it,” I kept saying to myself, “Snowy Woods Christmas, would be the vibe.” In fact, I stumbled upon this print online before I had purchased anything, and even though it’s bordering on a little cheesy, I knew I had to have it. It incorporated all the colors I had in my mind. Natural wood tones, silvers, golds, antique brass, slate blue, sage green, and light, creamy whites.
In addition to colors, I had textures and patterns in mind as well. Cedar boughs and piney-print papers. Birch bark. Nubby Linen and gingham. Wicker, especially for the tree skirt. Kraft paper contrasted with a velvet ribbon. As much pottery as possible (always).
Shopping for a calm, cozy Cottage Christmas
Once I’d figured out the vision, Snowy Woods, the colors and textures, it was time to set a budget and hit the shops! Despite the fact that I haven’t bought much in the way of decor over the last 17 years, I knew I didn’t want to spend too much on something that only comes out once a year.
I also had a very good grip on the size and scale of our home. In our main living areas, there are literally 4 flat surfaces where I can do any sort of display. The top of our piano, the very small ledge of the desk hutch, and the two open shelves in my kitchen. That is it. I already have a Willow Tree manger scene that I love, and wanted to feature that on the piano, so there really wasn’t a need for too much stuff. I set a budget for $200, and thanks to some bargains, I was easily able to stay within that.
Where to find cozy, calm Cottage Christmas decor
Shop online
- Poshmark. While I did most of my shopping in stores, I did gather a few items earlier in the year on Poshmark. The Hearth & Hand Advent Calendar above was a Poshmark find, as well as the Hearth & Hand light wood garlands on our tree. I also grabbed our knit stockings on Poshmark as well.
- Amazon. Try as I did to avoid the Amazon, I did grab our wicker tree skirt there. It was the best price I could find, and I’m not sorry. I’ve wanted one the last few years, and I love it so much. It has gone up since I bought it though, I only paid $39.
Shop in store
- Hobby Lobby. I’ve never been a big Hobby Lobby girl, but a few gals I follow on YouTube were raving about the Christmas stuff this year, and I have to say, it did not disappoint. Plus, every single thing was 50% off. Unreal! I grabbed the large bottle-brush type trees that are on the piano, the three little ceramic (speckled, just like my dishes!) houses in the kitchen, nearly all my ribbon, and the stable for my nativity. Jackpot!
- Target. I was a little disappointed with Target this year honestly. Hearth & Hand had gone full red and green, and everything else seemed way overpriced. I did grab two small, gold reindeer ornaments, and some sparkly gold pinecone ornaments for the tree.
- Wal-Mart. Similar to Hobby Lobby, I’m not a frequent Wal-Mart shopper. As silly as it sounds, I just don’t like the store layout, it feels chaotic and overwhelming. But the Christmas section this year, WAS GOLD. And the prices were incredible. I made a major haul at Wal-Mart, grabbing the little mini tree that’s on the desk hutch, the bear print in the kitchen, the gold mercury glass ornaments on the tree, the big blue globe ornaments, the darker wood bead garlands, all of my wrapping paper, some of the ribbon, some paints and plain glass ornaments (that craft didn’t work out), and some gift bags and tissue paper.
- Goodwill. I wasn’t actually even planning on heading to the thrift store as I felt skeptical that I could find the specific colors I was looking for, but lo and behold, I found a few treasures. Goodwill had the copper glass Christmas balls on the tree, the silver Christmas balls and the little cedar tree in the guest room. I love this quirky little tree, and since my parents are joining us for Christmas, it’ll bring a little sparkle to their room.
- Trader Joe’s. Every year without fail I make the trek to Trader Joe’s and buy two centerpieces, which I use for mini wreaths on my kitchen windows. I love the way they look, they’re the perfect size and less than $7 each. This year they even had blue juniper berries on them! Destiny!
Cottage Christmas items I already had on hand
Now I didn’t get rid of absolutely everything I had before. Here’s a few things I already had and decided to keep:
- Willow Tree Nativity. I can’t totally remember, but I think we registered for this nativity, or atleast got it as a Christmas gift early on in our marriage. And I still love it! It’s simple, natural and beautiful, and I’d actually really love to collect some more of the pieces.
- Most of our ornaments. It felt really nice to put together a cohesive collection of tree decor this year, but I also really love all the ornaments we’ve collected through the years. We may cull out a few, mostly because the tree is getting pretty full, but I never want to be too fussy for all the fun ornaments. Going to get our tree and getting it all decorated with our boys is one of the best days of the year!
- Swedish Window Stars. I ordered these our very first Christmas at Bramblewood, as I’d been seeing so many in the photos of Swedish country homes I was pinning for inspiration. And though they are so simple, just made of paper, we LOVE them. I usually pop a string of fairy lights inside so they glow, and they look so magical when you’re driving home at night.
- Lights and tree topper. We had plenty of big, little and fairy lights on hand for our tree and otherwise, and we also already had a tree topper we’ve used for years. I just love simple white lights, big or small, but they have to be warm! None of that blue LED light for me, no thank you very much.
Other ways we’re keeping our Cottage Christmas calm & cozy
- Starting the days off right. Usually we give our boys a new ornament, Christmas pjs and a book for St. Nick’s Day. It breaks up the onslaught of presents on Christmas, and makes it so they can enjoy their jams all month long. But we decided this year that our book collection had started to get a little too robust. So, instead of getting new ones, I wrapped up all our existing Christmas books and tied a little wood disc on each one. Each morning, right when they wake up, the boys take turns pulling a corresponding wood disc out of the advent calendar. We find that book under the tree, open it, and start our day off cuddled up in the magic of story. It’s been so sweet and special.
- Making big breakfasts. On a normal weekday morning, I don’t usually make a full hot breakfast. We always have Dutch Babies on Friday mornings, but it’s often sourdough toast, smoothies and/or yogurt and granola on weekdays. Big, lazy breakfasts are saved for the weekends. But not in December! If we have a slow day ahead, I love to make pancakes, scones, muffins, waffles, french toast, etc., and often the boys will help. It just makes everything feel slow and cozy, and I love it.
- Taking it slow. Being a farming family, Winter for us is like Summer for most people. A little slower paced, more free time, more laid back plan making and such. It’s hard to remember that, since it’s not as nice outside and the options are a little more limited, but it’s a really important balance for us. We need this season of rest in order to function well during harvest time.
Share your Christmas decor and traditions!
Leave me a comment and share your favorite Christmas traditions, or your holiday decorating scheme. Do you just pull out the same old thing year after year, not sure if you even like it? I hope I’ve inspired you to think it through, and maybe start over. Having pieces I truly love and jive with my home has been SUCH an unexpected blessing this year.
Pin this image below so other friends can find these tips and ideas as well.
I wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! And pray this is a season of peace, joy and contentment for you all.
Hi, I'm Kali!
Mama, farmer’s wife and the creator of the Potager book + blog. Follow along as we cook and garden the seasons, as well as fix up our little Swedish cottage in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
