A Home for the Holidays

A local interior designer’s home is featured on a popular show’s holiday tour.

Written by Eugene Stockstill   |  Photographed by Joe Worthem

When Homeworthy contacted Oxford’s Emily Ryan about featuring her house as part of their holiday home tour, she jumped at the chance. The popular online platform (homeworthy.com) features interior design video tours of beautiful homes given by the people who live in them.

“Christmas is truly when my house shines,” Ryan said. “It felt like a natural fit.”

Ryan, who has two design businesses and a blog (Little House of Chic) on Instagram,

Pinterest and Facebook, began decorating for the holiday season long before Halloween, and thanks to some extra help, it took about a week.

“There’s so much layering and detail that goes into creating a full holiday home that I like to start early,” Ryan said. “That way, I can enjoy the process, rather than rush through it.”

The result is impressive, especially to anyone who covets Christmas decorations. Ryan has no idea how many decorations she has — perhaps thousands. And each room in the house has its own story to tell.

“The entryway tells a story, the living room has its own theme, and the dining room has another,” Ryan said. “It’s like creating a series of holiday moments that flow together.”

Trees are festooned with sparkling ribbons, bows and leaves. The stairwell is garlanded with faux greenery, bells and more ribbons. Elves, reindeer and other surprises can be found throughout the residence. In one corner, Santa is cooking up some gingerbread.

“(It’s a) cozy wonderland filled with flickering candlelight, magnolia leaves and ribbon-clad garlands,” she said describing how she views her home during the holidays.

The house, of course, has more than one Christmas tree, all of which are artificial and are scattered throughout.

“If you want the scent, buy the candle,” she said. “I love the look without the mess.”

Believe it or not, Ryan does not collect sentimental Christmas ornaments.

“I treat the tree as a design moment,” she said. “This year, my favorites are RAZ Imports’ new diamond-inspired ornaments. They sparkle like jewelry for the tree and catch the light beautifully.”

Ryan’s love of Christmas started early. Her grandmother made seven pies and decorated each room, a wood-burning fire was a mainstay, along with a big family meal, and it might even snow. One season, a snowstorm knocked out the power, and the family wound up grilling with propane and played games by fire and candlelight.

“It was the most old-fashioned Christmas we ever had,” she said.

That sort of memory, Ryan said, inspired her as she prepared for this upcoming season at her house, to which everyone is invited, she said.

“Because Christmas is more than just decor,” Ryan said. “It’s a feeling. I’m one of those people who goes all in because it connects me back to my childhood. Growing up, Christmas was the one time of year our home transformed into something truly magical.”

Expert Christmas Decorating Advice

Here are a few decorating tips from Emily Ryan for the upcoming holiday season.

• A little goes a long way. Don’t feel like you must go overboard to make a statement.

• Ribbons can do a lot of heavy lifting for you and are capable of transfiguring an otherwise humdrum looking tree.

• Florals can add fullness and texture without much effort.

• Sprigs of green things on a mirror, an unexpected wreath in an isolated nook, a surprise bowl of ornaments, an elf in a corner up to some mischief — these all offer ways to create that cozy holiday feeling.

• Don’t fall for the idea that you must cover every square inch with something. Festive does not equal decorative busy-ness.

• Watch those price tags, too. Choice decorations do not have to cost an arm and a leg. You’d be surprised what you can score at a discount store.

About Homeworthy

Homeworthy is an online media platform dedicated to telling stories about people and the places they live from their own point of view.

The YouTube channel @Homeworthy has more than 680,000 subscribers. Find their popular home and design video tours there, via their website homeworthy.com, or on Instagram @Homeworthy.

Throughout the holiday season, many of their video tours feature inspiring and festively decorated homes, including Emily Ryan’s home in Oxford.