Farmhouse Christmas Tour Inside a Townhouse

In this article: Simple ideas for creating a farmhouse-style Christmas in a townhouse — a warm, cozy tour with easy inspiration you can adapt to small spaces.

Update November 2022: I originally wrote this post a few years ago. I still haven’t decorated for Christmas yet this season — it’s pumpkins and autumn leaves for now — but I wanted to share this farmhouse-style holiday tour to inspire your own decorating plans.

If you’re planning your seasonal decor, come on in and take a tour of our small townhouse dressed up for a farmhouse Christmas. I hope you find approachable ideas you can use in your own home.

This year I enjoyed working on a Home-Made Christmas series. Over the past weeks I explored practical organization ideas, seasonal decorating with natural elements, simple handmade projects like burlap-wrapped gifts and a farmhouse sign, thoughtful handmade gift ideas, easy no-bake holiday treats, farmhouse-inspired table styling, and time-saving dinner shortcuts. It’s been a fun reminder that a handmade, intentional Christmas is often the most meaningful.

With that in mind, I finally finished decorating our little townhouse and took photos while the light cooperated. I could still add a few more accents, but the house feels complete for the season, so I’m calling it done and sharing the highlights below.

A Farmhouse Christmas Tour (in a Townhouse)

A bit of background: we moved from a large farmhouse by the sea into this townhouse two years ago. This is our third Christmas here, and each year the space feels a little more like home. I’ve focused on bringing in farmhouse touches—shiplap, cozy textiles, vintage finds, and natural greenery—while keeping everything scale-appropriate for small-space living.

The Living Room

The main living space doubles as entry, lounge, and dining area, so I keep decorations layered and multifunctional. Comfortable seating is a must here; our La-Z-Boy sofa is the spot where I curl up in the evenings with a cozy throw and an easy Christmas movie.

On the gallery wall I swapped in winter printables and added a few DIY mini flocked trees on the shelves. Those small seasonal pieces transition nicely into winter decor once the holidays are over, extending the usefulness of each item.

Across from the sofa we updated an IKEA Billy bookcase system to look built-in by adding an extra shelf and custom trim, then finishing the center with shiplap. That built-in look gives the room a cohesive farmhouse feel without a full renovation.

The Dining Room

The Christmas tree sits between the living and dining areas so its twinkle lights warm the whole open-plan space on dark, rainy West Coast days. I elevated the tree on a wooden stool and used a vintage wool blanket as a tree skirt to give it presence and create space underneath for more decor or gifts.

Raising the tree also allowed me to display sentimental vintage items nearby: a red childhood chair belonging to my grandfather, a suitcase that once held doll clothes, and my mother’s old wooden play-cupboard. I layered rolled maps, corbels, greenery, and a small bell collection to create a cozy, memory-filled vignette.

The farmhouse shelves in the dining area are my favorite spot to style. I rotate seasonal finds, handmade pieces, greens, and small lights to keep the display interesting without cluttering the room.

A small ladder in the corner adds vertical interest and is a simple place to drape extra greenery and twinkle lights in a tight space. The table wears DIY wooden gift-place settings and a natural greenery centerpiece that can be used on the shelves when the table is in use.

Thank you for joining me on this farmhouse Christmas tour of our small townhouse. I hope the ideas shown here—using vintage items, simple handmade accents, elevated trees, layered textiles, and natural greenery—spark inspiration for decorating your own small space this season.

If you enjoy seasonal projects and home ideas, I share recipes, crafts, and decorating tips throughout the year and occasionally put together curated shop lists and gift guides for easy browsing.