A Christmas Home Tour: Plaid, Patterns, and Holiday Panache

Welcome to the first part of my Christmas home tour! Growing up, there was something so special about the day we’d bring up the Christmas decorations from the basement—it was truly the start of the holiday season!

Now, I’ve carried that tradition into my own home, blending nostalgic touches with bold colors, classic plaid, and a hint of chinoiserie charm. This first look highlights some of my favorite rooms all dressed up for Christmas, and I’m excited to share the festive details with you!

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Welcome to Sonata Home Design! My name is Missy and I’m thrilled to be part of this year’s Bloggers’ Best Holiday Home Tours. It’s an incredible lineup of talented bloggers sharing their beautifully decorated homes throughout the week.

Be sure to check out their stunning tours linked at the end of this post—you won’t want to miss the inspiration!

A Christmas Home Tour: Step into Comfort and Joy

Step on in, my friend!

Don’t you love a Christmas tour of private homes?

​How we decorate for Christmas is so personal and individual. Seeing how someone decorates for the Christmas season is the ultimate “Get to Know You” activity!

No fancy tour guides here. Just me…sharing what I love and how I feel the spirit of the holidays at home.

This holiday home tour is going to start just inside our front door. The entryway is not a large space. But it is big enough to add a hint of the Christmas cheer to come.

It is also a dead giveaway to the fact that I love to decorate with color and pattern.

This year’s color palette?

Red, pink, and blue with a healthy dash of bright metallics and greenery!

This Christmas ornament centerpiece is one of my favorite DIY projects and is the perfect decorative introduction to the living room.

Tartan Tales by a Houndstooth Hearth

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, my houndstooth-patterned fireplace practically demands to be the star of the show.

 And you know what pairs perfectly with houndstooth? Plaid! 

It’s like they were meant to be together, the Bonnie and Clyde of bold patterns!

So, I decked the tree with a plaid ribbon, tossed in some lumbar pillows with a tartan twist, and topped it all off with a nutcracker  that announces, “We’re here to sleigh!” 

The result? A fireplace that captures not just the warmth of the season, but also my love of pattern. 

Because even Santa appreciates a little pattern mixing!

When I started to decorate the tree, the color palette was traditional red and blue.

But adding deep pink and bedazzled blush ornament colors gave this tree (and the plaid) a little shake-up!

Here is a tip! When using lots of ornaments in dark, bold colors, hang clear ornaments toward the center of the tree. They will catch the light and give the tree a warm glow that showcases the colored ornaments!

Please meet Sir Crack-a-Lot! Dressed to the nines in his plaid jacket, he guards his favorite places in the house…always near Christmas trees!

A Merry Mantel Made of Dreams

This year, my fireplace mantel became an illustration of my little holiday dream world. 

On one side, I created a miniature forest with bottle-brush and glass trees, sparkling like they’ve been dipped in Christmas magic. 

On the other side, I added two gold metal buildings—the little house resembles the exterior of our own house and the other has the unique architecture of a charming carriage house, because why not dream big? (Every estate needs a carriage house, right?) 

A lush stretch of greenery runs across the mantel, tying my whimsical woodland and my “dream estate” together in perfect holiday harmony. 

Who says I can’t live in a fantasy of the gilded age, at least for Christmas?

The Little Things that Make Christmas Sparkle

There are touches of color and pattern in other parts of the room. The wallpaper-covered bookcase is a project from a couple of years ago. Throughout the year, the folk-art flowers are a whimsical pop of color and pattern.

But during Christmas…do you see it?

I think the pattern takes on the spirit of holly berries! And provides a fun background for some of my beloved blue and white chinoiserie pieces.

Do you remember my love of childhood Christmas decorations?

This wall art featuring the Three Kings was created by my mother over 50 years ago!

With colorful felt, sparkling jewels, and a steady hand, she meticulously arranged them on lush black velvet to create this framed Christmas wall art. Decades later, it’s still one of my absolute favorite treasures.

To let this cherished piece shine, I kept the surrounding decor simple: a rustic dough bowl filled with vibrant ornaments that echo the colors of the kings. Sometimes, less really is more—especially when the memories do all the sparkling!

There is a special kind of Christmas magic when the lights go down.

These cut glass blue spheres are simply styled on the coffee table, adding just the right touch of sparkle. When evening rolls around, I love nothing more than curling up on the sofa with a cup of coffee (or hot chocolate if I’m in the mood for something extra cozy) and soaking in the warm glow from the spheres, with the fireplace flickering behind them.

It’s those quiet, peaceful moments that make the season feel so special.

Christmas Cheer in the Family Room

Just off the living room is the family room…possibly one of the smallest rooms in the house.

But, other than the kitchen, it is where we spend the most time.

I used the same color palette as the living room but in a lighter, airier way.

The white, flocked tree is decorated with ornament balls in blues, pinks, and reds. But instead of heavy swaths of fabric, I used light velvet bows with long dangling tails.

I can’t wait for the first time it snows. I’ll be on the family sofa…gazing at this Christmas tree with a winter wonderland seen through the window behind it!

This piece of chinoiserie sits low on the coffee table in front of the tree and gets a touch of Christmas with a garland of simple red berries.

The end tables on either side of the sofa get a little Christmas magic, too!

On one side, there’s this charming alpine candle spinner gently whirling above a very special Nativity scene.

On the other side, Santa’s giving us a shush—he’s making sure we don’t wake the little ones while he’s hard at work! I love these little touches that really bring the holiday spirit to life.

What is an Alpine Candle Spinner?

An alpine candle spinner Nativity is a charming, whimsical decoration that features a set of candles, typically placed around a Nativity scene, with a spinning mechanism that’s powered by the heat of the flames.

As the candles burn, the warm air causes the spinner to rotate, creating a magical effect as the figures seem to come to life.

This type of candle spinner, inspired by traditional German and Swiss designs, has its roots in the alpine regions of Europe, where it was originally crafted to bring both light and movement to holiday displays.

Over time, it became a beloved symbol of Christmas, adding a touch of nostalgia and enchantment to festive settings.

Tips for Christmas Decorating with Plaid, Pattern, and Color

I love decorating with plaid year round! Here are a just few tips for decorating with plaid, color, and pattern this Christmas:

1. Mix and Match Patterns: Don’t be afraid to combine different patterns like plaid, stripes, and polka dots—just make sure they share a common color palette to keep it cohesive.
2. Use Plaid as a Focal Point: Incorporate plaid through bold pieces like throw blankets, pillows, or even tablecloths, and balance with more subtle patterns to avoid overwhelming the space.
3. Play with Color: Embrace bright, cheerful hues like red, green, and gold, but add in unexpected colors like teal or pink for a fresh take on traditional Christmas decor.
4. Layer Your Textures: Mix cozy fabrics like flannel with luxe textures like velvet to add depth to your patterned pieces.
5. Add Pattern to Unexpected Spots: Go beyond the basics and add patterns to your Christmas tree, wreaths, or even stockings to tie everything together with style.

Cheers to Holiday Magic

As we wrap up this little holiday tour, I hope you had fun checking out how I’ve added some festive magic to my home.

The soft glow of a candle…

…the crackle of the fireplace…

…or just the joy of colorful decor…

It’s those little touches that make the season feel so special.

I feel like a kid again…bringing out my Christmas decorations and sharing the joy they bring…with you!

Here’s to a home filled with warmth, wonder, and all the holiday magic we can get our hands on!

Cheers!

Bloggers’ Best Holiday Home Tours

This week I am joining some of my blogging friends for the Bloggers’ Best Holiday Home Tours. Twenty talented and creative women will be opening their homes up for you to tour all week long. You can visit each holiday home tour by clicking the links below.

Monday’s Tours

Lazy Girl’s Garden Club / This Is Simplicite / Amy Sadler Designs

Cottage In the Mitten / The Ponds Farmhouse / DIY Beautify

Tuesday’s Tours

Midwest Life and Style / Robyn’s French Nest

Sonata Home Design / StoneGable / Thistlewood Farms

Wednesday’s Tours

Living Large In a Small House / Shiplap & Shells / She Gave It a Go / Southern Home & Hospitality

Thursday’s Tours

Pasha Is Home / A Hundred Affections

tatertots & jello / Returning Grace / Perfecting Places

A Little About Me

Hi! I’m missy. So happy to meet you!

“Decorate with Joy! Live with Happiness”

I truly believe that your home should be a reflection of your personality, a space where you feel free to express yourself and create a sanctuary that feels uniquely yours.

I love creating mood boards, hunting down unique home décor treasures, tackling easy DIY projects, and gathering with family and friends for a delicioHomes are meant to be enjoyed, filled with laughter, and shared with the people you love!

– cheers –

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