I’m one of those “terrible people” who decorates for Christmas long before any turkey has been sliced or we’ve gone around the table and expressed our thanks. We’ll just call that November holiday Merry Thanksmas.
But this year feels different. I’ve wanted to paint my kitchen cabinets white since the first time I laid eyes on the space. There always seemed to be another project, a party to host, or simply bad timing, so the cabinets kept waiting.
Y’all.
Here’s a little truth: there will never be a convenient time to paint your kitchen cabinets. Never.
A couple of weeks ago my girls were sick, and when cabin fever hit I needed a project to focus on. So I decided to paint my kitchen cabinets—right before Thanksgiving, right before Christmas, and right before my girls’ birthdays. While I should be decorating and shopping, I’m sanding, cleaning cabinets, taping walls, and replacing cabinet trim. I have clearly lost my mind, but I’m stubborn about finally getting those white cabinets.
All of my Christmas decorations are still in the attic, so to calm my holiday panic I marched down to Walmart and picked up a new flocked tree to set up in the living room. It already helps every time a Christmas song comes on the radio. The glittery wooden star topper came from Target and the deer art is from Craftberry Bush.
Photos originally shared on Instagram and Facebook
While I wait for the cabinet paint to dry, I thought it would be fun to look back at some past holiday decorating inspiration and share how my Thanksgiving-to-Christmas scramble turns into a full holiday home tour. These memories also help plan the holiday decor, DIY projects, and seasonal touches I want to include this year.
Back in 2013 I embraced tartan and shared a “Pretty in Plaid” Christmas home tour. I was ahead of the trend then, and I’ll be bringing some plaid accents back this season because I still love that cozy look. Plaid pairs beautifully with natural textures and simple DIY touches.
Dining Room Chair from Overstock & DIY Navy Striped Curtains
The next year I pushed the red back and went more neutral, testing whether I could skip the obvious red accents at Christmas. The result was a softer, more layered palette with small pops of color. Instead of trying to photograph and post the whole house at once, I published one room at a time after breaking the tour into manageable bites—mostly because I was about to deliver a baby and tackling everything in one go felt impossible.
Simple Burlap Christmas Mantel — a rustic, slightly glam take on mantel decor
One year I made a framed chicken wire Christmas card holder for the living room. After the season, I cut the photos out of the cards and left them up all year—one of my favorite hands-on ways to keep family moments on display. This year I’m excited to add fresh photos and new cards to that space.
I’ll need to find a new spot for our tiny sentimental tree that displays homemade ornaments; it always deserves a special place. The living room décor feels both familiar and fresh depending on what I pull from the attic and which DIYs I decide to finish.
I decorated the kitchen for the first time last year and created a cozy coffee and hot cocoa station. With new white cabinets this year, the kitchen Christmas decor will feel completely different—brighter and more collected. Small seasonal touches like a chalkboard stamp and a colorful advent calendar make the space feel lived-in and merry.
Of course, every good holiday setup needs hot cocoa. My grandmother’s special hot cocoa recipe remains a favorite for cocoa bars and winter entertaining.
I also stamped the chalkboard in my eat-in dining area for a festive touch and I have a colorful advent calendar ready to hang. I’m hoping the baby won’t play with it—fingers crossed!
Last year’s tree had a rustic, glam, glittery feel that I plan to keep mostly the same. I always try to add a couple of new ornaments to our main tree each year and have one or two DIY ideas in mind for this season. One of my favorite past DIYs is a scrapbook paper garland that looks like sheet music—simple, budget-friendly, and full of charm. I have a new garland idea I want to try on the new tree and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
I also decorated the dining table and entryway last year, creating a cohesive flow from the front door into the main living spaces. Little details—vintage-inspired signs, layered textures, and homemade ornaments—bring the whole house together for the holidays.
This morning my mom is coming to help me finish painting, and I hope we’ll have time to decorate a bit too. My holiday home tour will be here next Monday—so much to do, but I’m excited to share the fresh white cabinets and the seasonal updates. Wish me luck!