My cozy holiday bedroom with a tree full of favorite ornaments and family memories, layered winter bedding, and a little Thanksgiving catch-up.
December
And just like that, Thanksgiving has passed, December has arrived, and the holiday season is officially in full swing. Are you ready?!
I’m so glad I got the living and dining rooms decorated before I left for Maryland. And earlier in November, I had already swapped out my bedding from fall to winter (the flannel sheets were calling…). So this week I was able to focus on getting the bedroom tree up, decorated, and ready to share with all of you.
Sounds like I’m in good shape, right? Except this morning I added a few last-minute touches to the bedroom and then accepted an impromptu invitation from a friend to walk in the woods with our dogs.
Now here it is, 3:00 in the afternoon, the sun is already starting to set, and I’m just sitting down to write this post.
Therefore, short and sweet it will be this week — I’m sure you’re all busy too.
Today I’m sharing my cozy holiday bedroom, the oatmeal I’m starting my mornings with right now, a fun and easy tea drink, and the links for Zoë’s dining room furniture. Plus a little Thanksgiving catch-up.
Let’s jump right in!
The Bedroom Christmas Tree
A few years ago I added a Christmas tree to the bedroom, and now I can’t imagine the season without it. When I switched the living room tree to pine cones, this tree became the keeper of our family ornaments, collected over the years. With its twinkling white lights and mix of well-loved treasures, It brings such a cozy holiday feel to the room.
A tree with a little extra glow
The tree is beautiful during the day, when all the colorful ornaments are clearly visible. But at night, the hundreds of incandescent lights I wrapped around each branch take on a magical glow. I love to cozy up in bed and fall asleep to the warm twinkle of the lights. And they make for a festive start to the day on gray mornings, too.
My secret?! A smart plug that turns the tree lights on and off automatically. Mine is synced with my Alexa device, so I can use voice commands as well. Plus, no more crawling behind the tree to reach the outlet—such a simple upgrade, but truly life-changing!
A tree filled with memories and stories
Beyond the lights, though, the tree casts a glow over my heart with all the memories it holds.
If you’ve been with me here for a while, you know my mom passed away shortly after I moved to Maine. She lives on in so many aspects of my life—including the Christmas tree.
Every year she gifted each member of the family a special ornament: something to commemorate an accomplishment, hobby, or sport.
Leah’s ornaments include swimmers and a car for the year she got her driver’s license.
Zoë has numerous ballet dancers and a Mouse King from her first Nutcracker.
And for Jack, there are hockey players, a guitar, and a trumpet.
The years, when we all gathered at our house, my mom would choose a large ornament that everyone present would sign. Those are incredibly special to have now.
And then there are the ornaments collected along the way.
I went through a cow phase and, well… everyone got the memo.
There are plenty of mermaids and eagles, a few bicycles, and a kayak.
We often picked up an ornament when we traveled, so the tree now includes pieces from Nantucket, a handmade ceramic ball from the Outer Banks, a cowbell from Switzerland, the Golden Gate Bridge, and a ferry from Seattle—to name a few.
Since moving to Maine, I’ve added a whole section of Maine-themed ornaments—boats, lighthouses, buoys, lobsters, and pine trees. One very special ornament painted by a local artist even captures the exact view out my windows.
Of course, there are ornaments for all our pets—those snoozing beside me as I type (literally) and those we still miss.
This tree truly tells the story of our life as a family.
Now, with the kids grown and my mom gone, the memories can be bittersweet, and I usually shed a tear or two as I decorate. But mostly, when I look at the tree, I remember good times and the people dearest to me.
And, like my heart, this tree is ready to hold even more memories as our family continues to grow.
You can read more about my mom and her legacy in my post I Am My Mother’s Daughter.
Around the Bedroom
Even beyond the tree, the bedroom feels especially cozy this time of year. A few winter layers and a handful of small holiday touches make the space warm and welcoming without a lot of fuss.
Winter bedding
I always love to mark each season with a bedding change. Winter means soft layers, deep colors, and of course a good dose of pattern.
Back in November, a quilt from West Elm caught my eye — a graphic “ornament” design in deep greens, browns, and cream, with pops of red and turquoise blue. I knew the colors would blend with pieces I already own, and even though it was part of their holiday collection, it didn’t scream “Christmas.” It actually reminded me of a log cabin quilt, more “winter cabin” than holiday-specific, which means it will work well into January and February.
To pull it all together, I went with my usual mix-and-match layers — soft flannel sheets in a small floral print of red, gold, blue, and brown, and bold red and green William Morris Strawberry Thief pillow shams. These pieces feel festive for the holidays but will continue to add cheer to the bedroom well into the new year.
Lastly, I folded a red plaid cashmere-and-wool blanket at the foot of the bed and added a matching throw pillow on top of the shams. The only truly Christmas-specific element is a lovely embroidered and appliquéd pillow that reads Noel.
With all the soft textures — the flannel, the quilt, the stitched shams, and that cozy cashmere blanket — the whole bed feels like a warm hug at the end of the day.
Aside from the quilt, everything is something I already had — just a reminder that a few thoughtful layers can make the whole room feel warm, cozy, and festively refreshed.
Here are links for the bedding elements that are still available. (The quilt is now on sale!) :
Garnet Hill plaid throw blanket and pillow cover
Small holiday touches
With the tree and bedding in place, the room just needed a few finishing touches — those tiny details you might not notice at first glance but that make you smile when you do. So I dug through my Christmas bins for a little inspiration.
Bottle brush trees on the mantel.
A shell wreath leaning against the mirror above the chest of drawers.
A turquoise ornament candle on the bedside table.
A faux greenery wreath with a big plaid bow on the headboard.
And my walk with the dogs today wasn’t all play — I gathered a bit of natural greenery, berries, and a branch with a pinecone for the pitcher beside the bed.
Nothing over the top — just some gentle seasonal warmth.
A Simple Breakfast With a Festive Twist
This time of year, even my everyday breakfast gets the tiniest seasonal upgrade — nothing fancy, just simple ingredients with a little festive twist.
A December oatmeal that’s anything but boring
I know oatmeal has a reputation for being bland, but I love it — and during the cold months I start each day with a warm bowl. The secret to taking it from boring to delicious lies in the “fixings” — all those good things you add to it. Maple syrup for sweetness. Chopped nuts. Dried and fresh fruit. And always, a small pinch of salt to bring out the flavors.
Recently I’ve been adding one unexpected ingredient that has brought a whole new depth of flavor to my morning bowl.
Inspired by my favorite granola recipe, I stir in a small spoonful of white miso.
Yes, really — miso in your oatmeal!
Then I sweeten with maple syrup and top with chopped pistachios, hazelnuts, dried tart cherries, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. This morning I added a handful of blueberries warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Trust me on this… it’s delicious.
(Also, I cook my oatmeal with oat milk instead of water — another simple upgrade.)
Let me know if you try it!
A London fog to sip alongside
And to go with your oatmeal, have you heard of a London Fog? It’s essentially an Earl Grey tea latte with the addition of vanilla — cozy and a little festive, without being overly sweet.
Here’s how I make mine:
- Brew two Earl Grey tea bags in about ¾ cup boiling water.
- Heat ¾ cup unsweetened oat milk and froth it.
- Add French vanilla oat milk creamer to your brewed tea to taste — this gives you the sweetness and the vanilla flavor.
- Top with the frothed milk and enjoy.
It’s a fun, festive alternative to morning coffee and pairs perfectly with a chilly December morning.
I’ve linked a few items below to help you enjoy my December breakfast too!
Shopping links:
This mug from Georgetown Pottery is very similar to mine. I love this Maine-based business — they’ve been handcrafting beautiful, everyday pottery since 1972. Each piece is made by local Maine artisans and decorated by hand, with that perfect blend of beauty and functionality.
I use a Dansk Kobenstyle Butter Warmer to cook my oatmeal each morning.
Zoë’s Dining Room Sources
I hope you all enjoyed the design board I shared last week for Zoë and Sam’s dining room. I had so much fun working with them to pull this space together on a budget — and in time for our family gathering there at Christmas.
The table and side chairs are already in place, and the host chairs are on their way. The rug, however, is custom and shipping from India, so it likely won’t arrive in time. No worries — we’ll still have a beautiful place to sit and enjoy our meal!
Here are the shopping links for the table and both sets of chairs. (I found the table for Zoë on FBMP at a discounted price, but the seller originally purchased it on Amazon.):
Sixpenny Melo Dining Chair in Quiet Sage Cotton
Zoë and Sam are creating such a warm and welcoming space, and I can’t wait to see it fully pulled together.
This Week Into Next
This week has been a transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
I had the best time with Zoë and her family in Maryland. In addition to helping design their dining room, I also painted their front door (green!), hung some artwork, and put up a few Christmas decorations. On Saturday we went to a farm to cut down their Christmas tree — their first in the new house! It’s the jolliest, fattest tree, and getting to decorate it with Poppy was so special. There was lots of cooking and good food, plus plenty of Poppy time. (How many times can Mim sing Jingle Bells and make Froggie dance??)
The drive down and back through Pennsylvania was long, but far less stressful than going via NYC, the New Jersey Turnpike, and I-95. I think that route is a keeper — if I can find it again. Google Maps really didn’t want to send me that way.
And now I’m in full Christmas mode. I have shopping to do and a few more decorations to finish up. Next week I’ll be sharing my front door holiday buoy décor, along with my little tree decorated with Craftspring felt ornaments.
Baby, it’s cold outside! Stay warm, friends!
