Home feel like — a short introduction to this piece.
Home feel like: Quick Notes
I am ready to romanticize everything this upcoming holiday season! I always enjoy this time of year, but with two precious little ones in the house again, I am feeling even more inspired to capture a warm, cozy, magical Christmas movie feeling in our home. I can’t wait to prepare our home as the setting for all the memory-making, the joy in celebrating the reason for the season, and time together as a family, too.
In today’s post I’ll share 5 simple ways to make your home feel like a Christmas movie (alongside photos of a festive hot chocolate party we set up in our home!).
Watch a short video below!
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Here are 5 simple ways to make home feel like a Christmas movie:
1. Create pretty little moments of magic
You don’t have to have a lot of seasonal decorations or decorate every corner to make your home feel magical. Instead, create a few pretty little moments of charm–places that make you smile every time you walk by. Display intentional pieces that will feel nostalgic and memorable: a charming Christmas village (I’m smitten with my new gingerbread houses), a bowl of vintage ornaments, even Christmas cards from loved ones displayed on a string with little clothespins, or a strand of warm twinkle lights tucked into a cozy nook.
This gingerbread village is so charming—how sweet are those checkered roofs? They even light up (battery included!). You can see a video of them here for more detail.
These glass trees added an extra sparkly touch next to the gingerbread houses. They light up too but I forgot to turn them on in these pictures!
2. Host a cozy simple gathering
Invite a few friends, family, or neighbors over for a cozy simple gathering! Having people over can inspire you to do something special for the season.
Much like stylists set a scene and prepare the mood of a cozy Christmas house, you can set the scene in your real life home for family traditions and making memories with friends.
One of my favorite holiday traditions is setting up a hot chocolate bar for family gatherings or even a party! It’s simple, but always so fun. Don’t just open the can of hot chocolate and put in a spoon. Set the scene…a pot of homemade hot chocolate, festive mugs, and a few toppings to choose from.
With only a few special touches, even a weekend movie night with family can feel like you’ve stepped into a movie house. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be memorable. At our house we love to pile onto the couch with our festive mugs and cozy blankets and put on a movie (Father of the Bride is one of our favorites to watch over the holidays, even though it isn’t a Christmas movie!).
I love the charming winter scene on these mugs…I have mugs that remind us to make every season feel like a gift and our home a place of celebration.
To display the hot chocolate bar toppings, we used this tiered rattan stand with the dinner plates from this gorgeous dish set. Little bowls for marshmallows and dark chocolate, treats tucked in here and there, and for a pretty seasonal touch we embellished the plates with preserved oranges and sprigs of faux berries.
I keep little flourishes like these in a “seasonal basket” to make decorating quick and easy! They are almost like little “props” for styling. Being prepared means less overthinking, you know you will be able to use what you have in your basket.
We set our mugs on a round tray—trays like this make even simple ideas like mugs for hot chocolate feel more intentional and festive (I used this this round rattan tray with a glass insert with this pretty woven placemat underneath for a little extra flair).
I keep a few trays and serving pieces in the drawers below our dining bench so I can pull them out anytime. I’m not a fancy hostess, everything is very casual, but I try to make whatever we serve feel thoughtful.
3. Make the everyday special
Romanticizing your life as if you live in a “movie house” is about celebrating the smallest moments. Even an everyday experience like making your morning coffee can feel more like a scene in a movie when you drink it out of charming seasonal mugs (if you ask me!). Sip slowly, savor every one of them, add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top for extra delight. 🙂
Use cloth napkins, special dishes, and light a candle even if it’s just takeout on a Tuesday.
I loved using these gingham napkins all fall and will continue to enjoy them over the holidays. They are the perfect year round pattern and palette, too. They are the best quality, so thick and soft, my favorite kind of cloth napkin to use.
This green pot the hot chocolate is in is the only green pot I own. I actually don’t own matching pots and pans–I’ve never bought a full set. I chose this one in green because even though it will be used all year, I thought the green would feel festive in our kitchen at Christmas.
We don’t have storage for excess or unused pieces, so each piece needs to play a role and contribute something special to our experience to earn their spot on the cast.
I adore the seashell details on this flatware set.
Sources for above: Moss balls // Cake Stand // Block Print Pillow // Green Throw Blanket
4. Play music that sets the mood
Music can set the scene, turning the atmosphere instantly from ho-hum to holiday cheer no matter what you’re doing. Cooking? Cleaning? Hosting? Turn on cozy holiday tunes (piano, classic jazz, soft acoustic, whatever you love!) and suddenly, you’re dancing around like you’re the main character in your own Christmas musical. 🙂 Am I right?
Here is a cozy holiday playlist for you!
5. Add florals + greenery (faux or real!)
A seasonal wreath (on the door or even a window like we have here!), a sprig of cedar tucked into a vase, simple garland, or a bouquet of flowers—adds life. Even if it’s faux, including an organic element turns any scene or setting into a welcoming home where people celebrate the season!
This pretty wreath has magnolia leaves, wheat, fruit, pinecones berries, making it the perfect mix to take your from fall, Thanksgiving and beyond.
Cheers to making home feel like your own holiday movie!
Click the images below for source details from this post and more (+ see a video of these items here!)
Home feel like appears here to highlight key ideas for readers.
