Cozy Christmas Styling: How I Decorate with Simple Wooden Houses
Every year when the holidays roll around, there’s one area of my home that makes me smile the most: the floating shelves in our dining/kitchen area. There are six of them in total — three on each side of my piano — and a few years ago, I had no idea they’d become one of my favorite Christmas features in the entire house.
A while back, I stumbled on a pile of neutral wooden and white houses at Target’s "Dollar Spot". And when I say “a pile,” I mean… I grabbed a boatload! I wasn’t entirely sure what I’d do with them — craft? decorate? gift them? But something in me said to take them home. I’m so glad I did, because these little houses have turned into some of the simplest, sweetest pieces of holiday magic.
How I Style My Floating Shelves
Each holiday season, I pull out my collection of houses and start playing with arrangements. I don’t overthink it — I just mix the natural wood ones with the bright white ones, alternating shapes and sizes for interest. The simplicity of the colors lets me style them with just about anything.
To soften the look, I tuck in small pieces of greenery — bits clipped from a garland we used to sell in the shop. Just a sprig here or there adds texture without overwhelming the clean, cozy feel. Lately, I’ve also been adding in a few prints from our shop (framed 8x10s) and they bring just the right amount of warmth and meaning (in my opinion). This year, I added some red berry picks as well.
And then… the best part: fairy lights.
Weaving them through the houses gives everything a soft glow that feels magical in the evenings. It’s the kind of ambiance that makes you want to sit with a warm drink and let the season slow you down.
A Fun Twist: Gingerbread House Ornaments
One year, I decided to get creative with the smaller houses. I painted some red, left others natural, and used puffy paint to create adorable gingerbread details. (You can watch the reel HERE.) After drilling a tiny hole in the top and adding twine, they became the cutest ornaments. I love incorporating handmade pieces like this! They add personality and charm that store-bought décor just can’t match.
A nice bonus is that I can use the red and neutral ornaments on my floating shelves if I want more pops of red and whimsy!
Styling Them in Other Spaces
While the floating shelves are my go-to, once or twice I decided to switch things up and placed the houses inside my entry hutch instead. I added greenery and fairy lights there as well...and the effect was completely different, but just as beautiful. A little whimsical, a little cozy, and totally festive.
Why I Keep Coming Back to This Setup
Out of all the décor I switch up each Christmas, this display is the one that always returns. It’s simple, inexpensive, meaningful, and warm feeling... a reminder that you don’t need elaborate decorations to make your home feel magical.
Sometimes the most beautiful spaces come from trusting your instincts… like tossing a bunch of dollar-spot houses into your cart and figuring it out later. 😉
If you recreate this look, I’d love to see how you style your shelves! Tag me or send a photo! It warms my heart to see the cozy corners you create in your own homes.
If you do a search for "Target Wooden Houses" you might find some available on re-selling sites.
#CreateInspireBeWell
