A Family Friendly Christmas Home

family room with fresh Christmas greenery

Photography by Kimberly McCole

Styling by Tamela Adams

Simple yet welcoming Christmas décor places family at the center of this Florida farmhouse.

farmhouse entryway with fresh greenery — The entryway is a window into the rest of the décor: simple and streamlined with pops of texture and color. “I wanted it to be simple and welcoming,” Tamela says. “The sign above the door is exactly what I want my décor to be: merry and bright.”

When it comes to holiday decorating, the ultimate goal is to create a warm and cozy atmosphere for a family friendly Christmas home. Florida homeowner and Instagrammer Tamela Adams of White Blossom Home does this by filling her farmhouse with holiday cheer as Christmas draws closer. “My goal for Christmas is just to have my home be warm, cozy and overall inviting,” Tamela says. With five children, this special season can be chaotic. So Tamela focuses on simple farmhouse décor to keep her four-bedroom, three-bath home, and the season itself, full of laughter and joy.

word art and nativity Christmas vignette — Rather than overstated décor in every space, Tamela decorates with nooks of Christmas cheer. “I just want simple and welcoming,” she says. Tamela values her faith, and she received this special Nativity scene as a gift all the way from the Philippines.

Christmas tree and wreath on interior sliding barn door — Family is most important to Tamela, and it shows in her décor. “The best thing about the holidays are the traditions we have and the memories we make,” she says. She brought this philosophy into her home with touches like the handle on the barn door that was originally from her grandfather’s barn.

Tamela has been through an extraordinary journey, both battling breast cancer and dealing with infertility. In spite of facing such difficulties, Tamela and her husband, Melvin, were eventually blessed with four adopted children and one biological child. With a family of seven now, Tamela has had to learn how to balance the Christmas season with the busyness of a large family. As the time comes to decorate for the holidays, she finds that less is more. She opts for soft colors and simple accents to create a winter wonderland.

garland and centerpeice with fresh greenery in farmhouse dining room — As is the living room, the dining room is accented with rustic wood pieces like the wooden bench and tabletop. The centerpiece holds Tamela’s signature décor: candles. The candles and greenery create the cozy wintry atmosphere that Tamela strives for during the holiday season.

Simple Solutions for a Family Friendly Christmas Home

For her home’s color palette, Tamela has a foundation of neutrals. She uses shades of white, beige and soft blues and grays throughout the year, but to ring in the holiday season, she weaves in pops of color in each room to create a seamless Christmas atmosphere. “Fresh greenery is another favorite,” Tamela says. Different types of greenery adorn the mantels, cabinets and centerpieces. Wooden beams frame many of the doorways between the living areas downstairs, bringing texture to the modern farmhouse, as well as another opportunity for Christmas decorations.

white stockings and fresh garland on mantel — Turning the books on the mantel around may be a different approach but it has its purpose. “My dad hates this,” laughs homeowner Tamela White. “But I love it and it gives a neutral palette that all blends together; the spines of the books had too many different colors.” This creative touch makes the space unique and intriguing, while working perfectly with the décor of the rest of the room.

The living room is one of the centerpieces for Christmas décor in the Whites’ home. Tamela used simple, neutral colors with ornaments, stockings, sofas and rugs. “I stick with a neutral base and use décor to add festivity,” she says. The navy throw pillows and silver-and-gold accents bring color to the space, while a rustic crate for the tree base and a wooden hope chest add character and texture.

rustic Christmas centerpiece with wood and candles

rustic bell garland and greenery on coat rack

Family First

Tamela pays tribute to her family values and faith with word art signs in many spaces in the farmhouse. “Jesus is the reason for the season,” Tamela says. “I love that reminder in my home.” Along with festive signs, Tamela uses different forms of lighting to soften her décor and create a sense of coziness. “I love to add twinkle lights whenever I can to warm a room without making it feel overwhelming,” she says.

word art fresh greenery in Christmas farmhouse kitchen — The kitchen décor has functionality top of mind. “I like to keep my sugar, flour and oatmeal at hand but keep the rest really simple,” says Tamela. Greenery and a festive sign signal the holiday season, and a garland adorns the rustic range hood handmade by Tamela’s husband, Melvin.

One of Tamela’s favorite things about Christmas is all the fun activities and traditions the family can celebrate together. Whether it’s looking at Christmas lights, baking and decorating, or anything else they can do together, the season is a huge highlight for the Adamses.

Santa mugs and peppermint sticks with cedar sprig

It was with her kids in mind that Tamela decided to dedicate a room in the house to them. “I like to have little areas that are just for them,” she says. “A place they know they can decorate a tree, draw on the chalkboard and have fun with their own Christmas decorations, that they can do whatever they want with.” The kids’ playroom is a perfect Christmas nook in the home, complete with a hot cocoa play set. The kids’ freedom with their own holiday décor brings to life the spirit of Christmas.

cocoa station — Tamela often bakes in the spacious kitchen. The large island and minimalist décor allow for enough room for the whole family to gather together. Their children Maddox, Annie, Emme and twins Claire and Crew love to help Tamela bake during the holidays. “One of our favorite holiday traditions is making Christmas cookies and decorating them together,” says Tamela. Her kids even have their own hot cocoa play set.

Staying sane at Christmastime

It’s easy to get overwhelmed during this busy time. Let experienced mother of five Tamela Adams share her top tips for making it through the holiday madness.

Embracing History in a 1920s Bungalow

fresh garland and wooden beads laundry room Christmas decor — Tamela’s signature simplicity carries into the laundry room with bright white counters and shiplap walls. A collection of vintage bottles is dressed up for Christmas with a garland.

freestanding bathtub and shiplap in farmhouse bathroom — “A freestanding bathtub creates a look I love,” Tamela says. “It gets a lot of use.” Shiplap and wooden accents make the space feel distinctly farmhouse.

small potted tree in master bath — Clean lines and décor pair with warm brass fixtures for the modern primary bathroom. Elegantly patterned wallpaper and a small Christmas pine tree add pops of color to draw your eye.

Shop early. “One thing I always try to do is to shop early,” Tamela says. “Even picking up little things I see that I know the kids will like in their stockings makes it so much easier when it comes to the last day.” By starting early, you can avoid much of the stress of holiday shopping. It gives you extra time to get everything you need, gives you a better chance of items not being sold out and frees up your time for other last-minute necessities.

Make a list. And check it twice. Tamela likes to make a list of the family’s favorite holiday activities and stick to it. “There is always so much you can do, but sometimes we get so busy decorating and doing other things that we don’t stop to enjoy the quality time with our families,” she says. Making a list and sticking to it will help you prioritize the fun family traditions, whether it’s looking at Christmas lights or cuddling up by the fire with a good movie and hot cocoa.

Say no. This is a hard one, but remember that there are only so many hours in the day, and the Christmas season is only a few weeks long. Learn how to say no to the low-priority events and activities that, if you’re not careful, will crowd out the activities you really want to do with family and friends.

Christmas garland on headboard — The primary bedroom is the definition of a winter wonderland with bright whites, soft lights and festive greenery. “I love clean, crisp and white,” Tamela says, “and I love at Christmas adding a pop of green color.”

For more family friend Christmas homes, see A Pennsylvania Christmas Home and A Metallic Christmas For This Idaho Home. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!