Debbie Macomber’s widely beloved Christmas novels are an endearing expression of her love for the season. Likewise, her message of family, friendship, and joy shines through in the way she prepares her holiday home. In this video, Debbie shows us how her own family decorates for and celebrates the most wonderful time of the year.
Here are three things we learned from Debbie about Christmas decorating:
1. It’s Merrier with More Christmas Trees
Debbie enjoys brightening up her home with a decorated Christmas tree in the living room, foyer, family room, and in each of her children’s rooms. If you’ve thought of having a second tree or more, now is a great time to try it out. Whatever size or shape, multiple trees let you create different looks with the entire family.
Debbie placed herFraser Fir Narrow Treein one of her living rooms
2. It’s Time to Display Your Christmas Collection
Seeing her collection of Nativity scenes reminds Debbie of the stories and people who gave them to her as gifts. Decorate with items that hold special meaning for you, such as heirloom ornaments, travel souvenirs, or keepsakes from major milestones. They’re a great way to start conversations and celebrate the perfect Christmas for your family.
Adorn your mantel and shelves like Debbie did with thisFraser Fir Garland. These are prime spots to display your Christmas collections, too
3. It’s All About the People in Your Life
Debbie loves hosting, so she makes sure her home is festive yet comfortable for her guests. Christmas is for spending time with those we care about, so we want to make our home as inviting as we can. A few throws for keeping warm, handmade place cards, or simply providing for special dietary needs—personal touches such as these make your celebrations as entertaining and heartwarming as Debbie’s stories.
Debbie used vintage-inspired decor like theseFrench Country Ornamentsfor an elegant look (Photo by HelpfulHomemade.com)
For more inspiration on how to decorate your home for Christmas, visit Balsam Hill today.
Debbie Macomber: Hello, Merry Christmas! Welcome to our home on Hood Canal. Wayne and I sold our home in Florida because we wanted to spend more time with family and to have a bigger Christmas right here on our waterfront home. I’m excited to show it to you, so come on in.
Foyer
Instead of a wreath and ferns and all the things we usually decorate with, I decided to do a rope [for the staircase]. I just thought it was clever. And we kept it up all year. We did this last year and now we’re keeping it up.
And this is our family tree, this is where Wayne and I put our presents for ourselves.
In our Port Orchard home, every single one of our children has a tree. So there are six trees. I even have one in my yarn room. This will be the tree where Wayne and I will put our own presents.
Now when it comes to Christmas, the very most important thing to me is the reason for the season. So the first things that I unpack are my Nativity scenes. As you walk in here, the first thing you’ll see is a little stand with a Nativity scene, I have probably over 50 now. Our other home has got every conceivable place with a Nativity scene.
Dining Room
The next place I’d like to show you is our dining room. Of course the Nativity scene, which is here. This is a special one to me because it came from my uncle who was in World War II. He’s in his 90s now. And he knows how much I love Nativity scenes so he purchased me this special one.
The table is decorated with candles and ferns. And hidden cleverly behind there is Wayne’s jigsaw puzzle because Wayne loves to do jigsaw puzzles.
Family Room
I’ll take you now into the family area, and our eating area too—of course, Wayne and I have the hot sauce out! And over here is where we spend a good portion of our time in our family room. This is a table that we brought with us from Florida that we had specially made. And if you look carefully, you’ll see that the fish have the names of our grandchildren on them.
And of course, there’s another Nativity scene. This is a special one that I got from a friend, and I treasure it. When people know you collect things, that’s the first thing they think of when they come to give you a gift. So I have been blessed many times by beautiful Nativity scenes.
Living Room
Now I would like to show you our formal living room. We have an extra tree here— can’t seem to keep just one tree. I have to have multiple trees. I chose this to decorate with Balsam Hill. So everything in this room has been decorated with Balsam Hill products.
And look! Oh, how clever! Somebody put a copy of Alaskan Holiday, my Christmas book. Although my children are adults now, when they were kids, Christmas morning was amazing. I still remember, one of the very first things that would happen was Wayne would wake up first—not the kids. And he would put on Christmas music. And as soon as Christmas music resonated through the house, the kids would leap out of bed and run into the living room.
And then one of them would play Santa. It was usually Jody who’s our oldest and Adelle would then help her deliver the gifts. And everybody would get their own little pile of gifts and we would take turns, each of us opening a gift at a time. I could remember, Ted was about 4 or 5 years old and when it came to his turn he would run around the gift four, five times before he would open it because he was so excited. One year when my parents were there, my dad got impatient and he started opening his gift when it wasn’t his turn. And the kids said, “Grandpa! You can’t do that! You gotta wait your turn!”
So the memories just keep flooding back. The years that we had the children at home and how precious they were. A lot of times we didn’t have a big Christmas, we didn’t have a lot of gifts. But we had a lot of love.
One of the special Christmas traditions I have is holding Christmas teas. I love tea, I love Christmas, it’s a natural [pairing]. Our home is beautifully decorated. I invite the people that I swim with in the morning, and I have a separate tea for local authors. It’s such fun to sit and talk about business, and encourage and inspire one another with what’s going on in our careers. I have one for friends and I have it for family, too. It’s just a fun time to get together and enjoy the season and the holidays.
Before I go, I would like to say Merry Christmas again. I hope your season is filled with love, joy, and peace. And thank you for love and support of me and my books.
17 Comments
Oh, so beautiful!
I too, like the ocean, so I find your sea-inspired decorations really pretty and very tranquil!
Merry Christmas!
I always love your videos. You have been my favourite author for many years. My daughter Donna Peliti; took me to your retreat in 2013 in Nashville after I had been hit by a vehicle while waiting to cross at the traffic light.. I was left handicapped and was in my wheelchair but Donna being a real trooper; wheeled me all over so that I could get to meet with you. I have pictures taken with you which I treasure very much.
Merry Christmas and a Happy and blessed New Year.
Dorothée McKinlay
I always enjoy the DM books & often pass them on to others who will enjoy them too.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home and your blessed memories! Gloriana in Arizona
Your home is beautiful and I also love Nativity scenes. Balsam Hill items are beautiful, but oh my, they are expensive.
Your books continue to entertain me after all these years. Thank you for your truly gifted writing skills.
May you have a blessed Holiday season.
Your home is beautiful, Debbie. A happy and holy Christmas wish for you and all your family. I just love all your books. Eileen
I literally just finished reading “The Snow Bride”, and I can’t wait to get back to Alaska again by reading your newest “Alaskan Holiday”.
I know I’m behind, but will catch up with all of your newer books.
Diane
I just finished Alaskan Holiday and I thought it was a delightful book to read. Will there be a sequel? Love your home Debbie. Thank you for the tour.
Debbie you are so stinkin adorable, sincere and precious to us all! God has blessed you with such a loving, fun and gentle spirit! I love your creativity and passion for Christmas trees. I too have multiple Christmas trees in the homes I’ve had, but they stay up all year long and have just white lights and pine cones on them except for Christmas. I then decorate it with signs that say “Thank You” and “Jesus” in a black background with white letters, so at night the letters stands out. Plus I just love black and white anyway!!! Well dear Debbie, while my husband and I lived in our vacation home up in Lake Cushman, (darn it….I still cry over selling our home there!!), I met you at your restaurant in Port Orchard and fell in love with your wonderful ways of living life and of course your books! Anyway, I soaked in all your words of wisdom from your 4 non- fiction books. I have shared your heart with other people. So bless you dear Debbie and may you and your family stay healthy and joyful through this earthly journey called life!!!! Hugs to you all and a Merry Christ Center Christmas!
Saundra Carscaden San Luis Obispo, Ca.
thank you for showing us your home … it is lovely……Also I want to thank you for all your books…. I have been under some stress due to medical problems and I was able to take time and read your new book “Alaskan Holiday”… I just loved it and it made me relax and enjoy the moment. I/m happy to say my medical problems have been resolved with loads of prayers from family and friends….. Please keep printing your wonderful books. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Yeart….
Debbie,
Thank you for opening your beautiful home & memories to us it actually brought a lot back of when my boys were young, miss those days a lot. I have 2 adult Autistic children and 1 of them also has Parkinson’s Disease. Some days are rough but books for me have always been my little “vacatio/escape” for a little I read one book a day always have. When I was much younger I started with V.C. Andrews I’ve read everything she’s written except the new one waiting for release. Then I got hooked on your books and I have read 4 of them now will have to go the library being on a fixed income for 3 adults is hards. Especially when (me) mom is severely disabled with back, leg & neck injuries but reading makes me literally forget everything. Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New year to you and your family
You have a beautiful home. Thanks for sharing it and the memories with us. Love your snowman scarf!
Wishing you and yours the very best Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Merry Christmas to Debbie and your family. Thank you for the warmth you share through your books. I too collect nativity sets, so I know the love of looking at each one and remembering….
Debbie, Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. I have read every one of your books and loved every single one. You have such a gift for writing. I wait eagerly for each one to come out.
Thank you for just being you. Love you Debbie. Have a very Merry Christmas as you celebrate the reason for the season. Without Him where would we be! Happy New Year and many blessings to you as you enter into a brand new year.
Judy Welander
St Francis, Minnesota
Debbie, your home looks beautiful!
Thank you for the holiday tour.
I’ve loved reading your books for years and always look forward to reading your new ones.
Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas and a happy new year 2019.
what a lovely home I to love nativity scenes I collect but don’t have but a few
what a lovely home I to love nativity scenes I collect but don’t have but a few at my age and health I don’t put up my big tree so I use several smaller ones