Layered textures, blues and greens, and timeless holiday charm come together in my Maine home for a Ralph Lauren Christmas with a unique story to tell — one that feels distinctly New England.
My Holiday Living Room
Last week, in my flurry of decorating activity, I pulled together the dining area and then moved on to the living room — focusing on my new small tree and the fireplace.
If you didn’t see last week’s dining room post, you can catch up right here.
The tree was the easy part — I already knew exactly how I wanted to decorate it, with the pinecones, ornaments, and blue velvet ribbons I’ve used for the past couple of years.
The mantel, however, was another story. The fabulous ship diorama I found at a flea market in June was staying, but beyond that I had no real vision for the fireplace. After all, how does a sailing ship make sense at Christmastime??
And then inspiration struck from an unexpected place and everything clicked.
Today on the blog I’m sharing how I reimagined the wildly popular Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic for my coastal New England cottage — in a way that feels authentic, layered, maritime, and very Molly-in-Maine.
Are you intrigued? Read on!
The Spark of Inspiration
A Surprising Nudge from the Ralph Lauren Christmas Trend
When I’m working on a design project, sometimes I have a clear image of what I want to do. Other times I need to let things sit in my mind while I wait for inspiration to strike.
I was firmly in that second camp when I came across an unattributed image a while back on Instagram: a richly layered holiday scene anchored by a rugged stone fireplace, with a full evergreen garland, classic brass touches, and blue-and-white accents — all combining for that unmistakable Ralph Lauren-style, home-for-Christmas coziness.
Have you heard of the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic that’s trending all over social media this year? It’s characterized by everything in that photo: deep reds and greens, classic plaids, leather, brass, abundant greenery, and cozy candlelight — a blend of heritage Americana, old-world luxury, and lived-in comfort.
I love all those elements, but they aren’t really my look. And I’m certainly not one to do something just because it’s trendy.
But I couldn’t deny that this image spoke to me. Somewhat surprisingly, it turned out to be exactly the spark I needed to create my own fireplace display — a coastal New England twist on this year’s Ralph Lauren Christmas.
Here’s how I did it!
Reimagining the Look for Coastal New England
Rather than copying the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend, I reimagined its mood with elements that feel authentic to my coastal New England home.
Some of those pieces were already in place.
The fireplace, built from locally quarried cobblestone, makes a strong statement of place year-round. It literally anchors the home — centered between the living and dining rooms — and provides a beautifully grounding backdrop no matter the season.
And of course, the ship diorama would remain the focal point. With its folk-art charm and simple rope edging, it speaks to both my heart and my eyes.
Years ago, I tore a page from a magazine showing holiday greenery embellished with old jute rope. I tucked the idea away for “someday,” and this finally felt like the year to bring it into my home.
Beyond those touch points, though, I didn’t have a concrete plan. I just knew the feeling I wanted to create — something layered and storied, with an old-fashioned maritime soul.
What I Connected With in the Ralph Lauren-Style Image
While I would be taking my mantel in its own direction, I definitely connected with the overall mood of the Ralph Lauren image — the fullness and simplicity of the garland, the warm glow of the sconces flanking the artwork, and the balance of symmetry and ease.
The mantel has a collected, lived-in feeling rather than something overly styled or theme-driven. There is no overt Christmas décor — no Santas, elves, or reindeer. Instead, everyday elements layer with greenery and warm light to create something that is both festive and completely of the season.
I kept this same mood, but reimagined it through a coastal New England lens, creating a mantel that is entirely my own.
The Details That Made It Mine
With the general mood set, I began pulling together the details that would tell my own coastal New England story.
The focal point — the ship diorama — was already in place. A trip to a favorite antiques spot earlier in November provided two key pieces: a brass ship-style lantern and a length of old jute rope. (You can read more about that outing, including what else I brought home, here.)
Of course, once I thought things through a bit more, I realized I wanted a second lantern. This classic, Ralph-Lauren style called for symmetry. Fortunately, I found one that had a similar feel, while still adding that slight mismatched charm I love.
The last thing I purchased was new faux Norfolk Pine garland from Afloral — the Deluxe version, wonderfully full. After years of mixing multiple garlands for a layered look, I wanted this year’s greenery to feel clean and simple, but still abundant.
Pulling it all together
With everything gathered, it was time for the fun part — bringing the vision to life.
Just like the horse artwork in the inspiration photo, the ship diorama is the anchor of my entire display — decidedly not holiday-themed, but the piece that sets the tone and shapes the story.
I kept the stack of books and the rope ball from my fall mantel. They bring that easy, collected-over-time feel I love.
Like the ginger jars in the image, I placed a brass lantern on each end of the mantel. Battery-powered flickering candles inside give off a warm glow at night, echoing the ambiance of the original photo.
For even more nautical interest, I added a third brass lantern — one from my summer mantel — laid on its side and propped on a book in a relaxed manner.
Next came the greenery: thick, soft, and full. I wired it along the front of the fireplace and draped more over the diorama for extra richness.
And then, the rope.
Instead of velvet stockings or gold ornaments, I wanted simple jute rope adorning the garland. But I struggled with it at first. I tied the ends into a loose knot and tried draping it neatly, but it all looked contrived. After several attempts, I took a break to regroup. I grabbed the rope to move it aside — tossed it casually over the top of the diorama — and then stepped back.
It was perfect.
Unfussy, natural, and exactly the look I had been trying (too hard) to create. Sometimes the best results really do happen by accident.
For a final touch, I leaned a pair of large brass anchors — originally from a set of vintage andirons — against the stone on either side of the fireplace. Weighty, and unmistakably nautical, they ground the whole scene.
In the end, this may be my favorite holiday mantel ever. (Do I say that every year?) I love its visual and emotional richness, the classic maritime story it tells, and the way it feels both warm and festive. I like to think that Ralph would approve.
Time now to turn my attention to the tree!
The Little Tree That Could
I wrote all about downsizing to a smaller tree this year in my recent post, The Search for the Perfect Small Christmas Tree: My Favorites and the One I Ordered. As I shared there, it was surprisingly difficult to find a substantial and realistic 4-foot tree.
In the end, I chose the Suzanne Kasler Frasier Fir Tabletop Tree from Ballard Designs, and overall I’m very happy with it. The shape, size, and fullness are exactly what I wanted, and it came with the warm incandescent lights I always prefer. My only hesitations were the ratio of PE (more realistic) to PVC (less realistic) needles — and the fact that, if you look closely, you can see a few hinge points on the lower branches.
But just as I anticipated, once decorated, the tree is everything I hoped it would be.
Styling a small tree with big presence
For more impact on a smaller tree, I added a couple of extra strings of twinkling lights and really loaded it up with ornaments — the real and Old-World-style glass pinecones tied with blue velvet ribbons that have become my signature look. Natural, with just the right touch of elegance and sparkle. Perfect for my cottage by the sea in the Pine Tree State. (Fun fact: Maine’s state “flower” is actually the white pinecone!)
To give the little tree more presence, I stood it in a basket on the table in the same corner where my big tree has lived in past years. At its base, I arranged a wicker fishing creel filled with extra pinecones and ornaments, a large brass star, and a white sailing ship model with green trim — all details that help this small tree hold its own in the room.
I had intended to use a different blanket to ground the whole arrangement, but I tucked it away when I had friends over and couldn’t locate it. So I borrowed a throw from the bedroom instead — another happy design accident, because its softer colors and beautiful drape complement the tree perfectly. (And yes, I later found the original blanket tossed into a box in the basement.)
This is definitely the little tree that could — twinkling at night every bit as beautifully as a big one.
This Week Into Next
I’m coming to you from Maryland this week!
As much as I’d like to say the entire living room is decorated for the holidays, a few finishing touches still await me back in Maine. But the focal points — the mantel and the tree — are done, and I was so excited to share them with you today. I’ll show you the rest once I’m home again.
While visiting Zoë and Sam, I’ve been helping them design the dining room in their new home. The space has sat empty since they moved in last March, but with the family gathering here for Christmas, it’s time to bring it to life. I found a beautiful FB Marketplace table (I’m sitting at it as I type), and sourced chairs and a rug. I put everything together in a little Canva “proposal,” and things are moving along — the table is in place, the rug is ordered (though likely arriving after the holidays), and the chairs are on their way. It’s such a joy helping them create a warm, functional space for their growing family.
A few fun things before I go:
• Weekend sales:
Sixpenny — The source of the comfy chairs flanking my dining room fireplace, and where I found the host chairs for Zoë and Sam. Get 20% off your entire purchase through Dec. 1 with code GENTLESUN.
Revival — You know how much I love their one-of-a-kind vintage rugs. Save up to 30% sitewide.
Craftspring ornaments:
I recently received a few new felt ornaments from Craftspring for the Maine-themed tree I usually keep in the guest cottage. This year it’s going in the snug so I can enjoy it more easily. Everything Craftspring makes is handcrafted through partnerships with artisans around the world — they are truly special pieces.
This weekend I’ll be cutting down and decorating a Christmas tree with Zoë, Sam, and Poppy. Whatever you’re up to, I hope it brings joy too.
Until next week, be well!
