Creating A Modern Cabin Christmas
Creating a modern cabin Christmas is my favorite time of year. It is such a joy creating a festive holiday home for my family.
A digital tour of our cabin is best seen with images. So, as I did with our fall tour, here is tour of our cabin through images.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Slow Decorating
It’s no secret, I decorate for Christmas throughout the month of November. I do this for a couple reasons. The first is time. December is very busy with events, and activities for my family. Additionally, I’m more creatively drained in December than other times of the year so this timing is right for me.
My goal is for our entire cabin to be ready for Christmas by December first.
The second reason, I love unveiling the season slowly in our cabin. Little by little, during the weeks of November, our home is decorated for Christmas. Then voila! Thanksgiving departs and the entire cabin is nearly decorated for the Christmas season ahead.
So below is the order in which I decorate our home.
Mixed Green Garland
I start with garland every year. It’s easy to keep simple, then add pops of red berries after Thanksgiving.
You can see how I created my own garland with layers of greenery here.
Rustic Mantle
Next up, and typically the same weekend, is the mantle. After a few iterations of this mantle over the years, we finally have a favorite. The big chunky pine cones, and more mixed greens are perfect. The battery operated candles with timers add the perfect ambiance.
Several years ago, I bought the chalk board on clearance somewhere and did Pinterest inspired chalk board art. Somehow, I’ve managed to keep the chalkboard in tact every year since in storage. It’s the perfect finishing touch and adds just the right Modern Cabin Christmas charm.
Coffee Bar and Holiday Vignettes
The next big decorating wave happens with the coffee bar and decorative vignettes.
This is only the second time I’ve done a Christmas themed hot cocoa/coffee bar. Our sweet kitchen cart isn’t a huge space but adding small pops of candy cane red and our stocking garland really make this corner pop. Not to mention the fun themed mugs hanging on the perfectly sized rustic counter tray.
Here is the drip and k cup coffee maker we use and love! It’s a great space saver. 2023 update: Checkout my new coffee bar setup below:
Carrying the theme of red over to our landing I is this beautiful magnet banner from Erica Dixon Design. I’ve also clustered many ceramic houses and bottle brush trees on this small table. It’s a sweet welcome at the top of the stairs.
Over the years this small alpine village has grown to what you see here. It’s small but mighty in visual impact. The pieces have been curated from Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Wal-Mart. They fit perfectly with our love of rustic decor and the modern cabin Christmas theme.
Cabin Christmas Table
The second to last area I style comes on night of Thanksgiving or the day after. When the Thanksgiving meal is over, I clear away the table-scape and set out Christmas.
The layers of circles upon circles and pop of holiday color at each table-setting are offset by the rustic plaid checked runner.
This year Cutlery Couture helped with the finishing touch on each place setting.
The centerpiece is the beautiful birch log with tea light holders that can also hold bud vases or taper candles. . It’s one of my favorite decor elements ever and has such a powerful visual impact. I am using flameless remote operated candles throughout the vase too.
Christmas Tree
Finally, the live tree comes the weekend after Thanksgiving.
We pick our tree up locally every year and enjoy it for the remaining weeks of the holiday season.
With only one tree in our cabin I’ve gotten creative with having a themed decorative base before adding our family ornaments. Colored and white lights start our tree, then brown paper and yarn with plaid garland add visual movement. The last themed element is big picks of berries amongst some different greenery. These three starting elements add depth and richness to our family tree.
We end the decorating festivities with an evening of family time by hanging our cherished memory ornaments and the bright Christmas star.
By December first the decorating is done! I spend the free time of December baking treats, wrapping gifts, sending cards, and enjoying as many festive activities as I can.
Slowly decorating through the month of November has been one of the best decisions I’ve made as the chief decor giver in this cabin. If you’d like a short video tour of our kitchen fireplace area, click here. It has meant slowly and lovingly unveiling the visual joy of the season and not letting stress creep in.
With hope for you and your intentional home,
