I know it’s only July, but with all those Christmas in July Hallmark movies currently playing, have you thought about your Christmas plan for this year? Today my friend Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse is graciously hosting Christmas in July for me and my blogging buddies. I am sharing Christmas in July – My Festive Cottage Home. So sit back and check out all the Christmas inspiration coming your way!

Before we get into all the fun decor… if you’re coming over from my friend Jen from Midwest Life and Style, welcome! Jen has such an amazing blog and her 5 simple ways to get ready for Christmas were so good and are definitely on my list!
In case this is your first time here, my name is Kim and I have lived in the Mitten my whole life. I love sharing home decor, a pretty table setting, family and my blankets that I make for a cause. Here’s one of my favorite Christmas blankets I made last year. I am a traditional girl when it comes to Christmas so the red and green patterns give me all the holiday feels!

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Is Christmas In July A Real Thing?
If you’ve been here before and have read my Mitten Moments you know I love random trivia.
Since so many people celebrate this festive holiday in July, I wanted to know where it originated. In my quick research, I found that Christmas in July orignated 84 years ago on July 24th and 25th at a girls’ camp called Keystone Camp in North Carolina. Therefore, Christmas in July is usually celebrated on July 25th.
There’s your bit of trivia for the day!
My Festive Cottage Home
I’m one of those people who absolutely loves everything about Christmas!
Everything! So why not share it in July!?
Some of my Cottage must haves are:
- wreaths
- garland
- cozy pillows and blankets
- outdoor lights and decor
- pretty packages with large homemade bows
- a tree or two that takes hours to create (that’s the fun part!)
Like I said before, I am a traditional girl when it comes to Christmas colors and I am planning for more of the same colors this coming Christmas.
And yes, I am already planning!
“But here I am in July, and why am I thinking about Christmas pudding? Probably because we always pine for what we do not have. The winter seems cozy and romantic in the hell of summer, but hot beaches and sunlight are what we yearn for all winter.” – Joanna Franklin Bell
The Trees of Christmas Past
When our sons were young and still living at home, we always had two large trees. We decorated one tree with colored lights and all the family treasures that we collected over the years. The second tree had white lights and blue, white, and silver ornaments.
That blue tradition started when my oldest son was born, right before Christmas. I thought why not have a second tree with blue ornaments? I used the balloon that said “It’s A Boy!” as the tree topper and it was perfect! We had two more sons so it only seemed fitting to keep the blue tree tradition alive.
Fast forward a few years…we built our smaller Cottage in the Mitten home and there is now only room for one tree.
If you think boys that grow up don’t care about that stuff, I’m here to testify that they do! Scaling down to one tree just doesn’t seem to be enough for them.

Last year, I made the executive decision to shake things up a bit. I decided to decorate our one and only tree with only red, green, and white ornaments. I went through our existing 7,000 ornaments (that doesn’t feel like an exaggeration) and pulled out the ones that I knew were precious to the boys and incorpated some new ones.
In my opinion, it was the best of both worlds. The red and green definitely spoke to my traditional heart!
Speaking of red and green, I even coordinated my Christmas wrapping paper!

I would love for you to stop by and see My Simple & Traditional Holiday Home Tour from last Christmas.
What theme do you think I will choose this year?
Let me know in the comments!
My Christmas Footed Tray
One piece that I know for sure I’ll be using again this Christmas is my footed tray. I shared How To Make A Footed Tray a few years back and it’s still such a fun piece to accessorize for the holiday. It’s the perfect statement piece when decorating a large table.
You don’t have to be a woodworker to make this project and that’s what I loved about it.
If I can do it, so can you!!
And if you aren’t interested in making your own, there are plenty of pretty options out there to purchase.

The Utlimate in July Hot Chocolate Bar
While making my list for the upcoming Christmas season, one of the must haves on my list is a yummy hot chocolate bar. I showed you How To Create A Simple Hot Chocolate Bar last Christmas and let me tell you, my family and friends loved it!
These days the options are limitless when it comes to having a hot chocolate bar. From the super fun Christmas mugs and decorative toppings, to chocolate spoons, this bar can make a special addition to your holiday fun!

You don’t need a large spot for the display either. Consider using a mug tree to help save on space.
Leaving your hot chocolate bar out after Christmas is a great option. All you really need to do is change out your Christmas mugs for mugs with a more wintery feel.

Christmas in July – My Festive Cottage Home
That’s a little sneak peak into my Christmas in July Festive Cottage Home! I am sure this Christmas will be some of the same with, of course, a new spin!
Next up on our Christmas in July tour is Jenn from Down Shiloh Road. She is sharing Christmas around her new fire pit! How cozy and perfect does that sound?!
I hope I have inspired you to start thinking about your dreams for Christmas 2022!
But for now, enjoy the rest of your summer!
Ho, Ho, Ho!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest!
Christmas In July Blog Hop
Welcome to our Christmas In July Blog Hop. Be sure to click each link below to follow along on the hop.

The Ponds Farmhouse / Cottage on Bunker Hill / Midwest Life & Style / Cottage in the Mitten / Down Shiloh Road / Bricks N Blooms

Simply 2 Moms / Shiplap & Shells / Peacock Ridge Farm / WM Design House / Thistle Key Lane / White Arrows Home

Pasha is Home / Tater Tots and Jello / Robyn’s French Nest / Chas Crazy Creations / DIY Beautify / Cloches & Lavender

The Crowned Goat / Common Ground / Life At Bella Terra / The Tattered Pew / Design Morsels / Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Kim I love all of your pretty Christmas decorating ideas. I can’t wait for the holidays! xo
Thanks so much, Stacy! I’m looking forward to them too!
I’m like you Kim I’m Christmas crazy. Your tree was stunning last year.
It’s great hopping with you
Your tree is so fun and festive, Kim, and the hot cocoa bar is too cute! It’s such a fabulous way to celebrate the season. Hope you’re having the best summer, CoCo
Thanks CoCo! The hot chocolate bar was a hit with my family last year! Great hopping with you!
Your classic Christmas is so cheerful! And I think I might just have to binge on a Hallmark movie or two now. Haha!
Haha…enjoy! Great hopping with you, Robyn!
Thanks so much for the info about this tradition! I love your festive and bright Christmas decor. The bright green is so fun for the holidays!
Happy Christmas in July!
Thank you Amber!
Kim,
I loved seeing the blankets for a cause you make and that bit of trivia is amazing. I had no idea Christmas in July originated in NC. Thanks for sharing your talents with us today.
Thank you, Rachel! It was a fun piece of trivia! Thanks so much for organizing!
That was so interesting….I had no idea it was actually celebrated today! I love trivia too! Great ideas!!
I know! Such a fun fact!
Hi Kim, I’m totally in love with your pieced blankets! I too love the traditional red/green color theme for Christmas, so I’ve really enjoyed seeing your trees and all the fun ideas!
Thank you so much, Debra! Red and green for the win! 🙂
I’m a sucker for a traditional red and green Christmas and you did it beautifully! I totally relate to having a TON of ornaments too! This post has me looking forward to the holidays. Pinned for later!
Thanks so much, Anne! Maybe we should join ornaments anonymous!! 🙂
I love that tree just loaded with ornaments Kim! It feels so festive and merry! And thanks for researching the history behind Christmas in July! I always thought it was invented by bloggers lol!
Just a fun little tidbit!!
Wow, your home is lovely! Thanks for sharing and lovely hopping with you!
You are kind! Thanks Chas and happy to hop with you!
Love your classic color and last year’s tree will be hard to beat! Thanks for all of the shopping inspo too! Pinned and excited to start my planning! Hugs friend!
I’m still working on my theme! Happy hopping friend! xo
Kim, I love your ideas for a hot chocolate bar, which is high on my list to create this year. I’m going to hop over to your post to take notes! Happy Christmas in July to you!
It was a family favorite last year and I’m so glad I added it!
Hi Kim! I loved your ideas. The hot chocolate bar is such a great idea! And I loved your idea of keeping it out all winter and switching out the mugs!
xoxo
Thanks Jennifer!
IT is never too early to be thinking about the holidays, they are such a happy joyous occasion and after this crazy year and the two before we can use all of the joy we can get. I love your tree, chocolate bar and footed tray. Have a wonderful summer!
Thanks so much Elizabeth!!
I loved you Xmas living room last year!! Let’s see what Big Al comes up with this Xmas…
Yes..lol Let’s see what he comes up with!
Kim this was so lovely. So nice that your boys love Christmas – my son does too! The blanket you made last year is so pretty and I adore the footed tray! Thanks for sharing the history.
Thank you so much, Crystal!
Super cute ideas, my friend. So fun hopping with you.
Love your traditional Christmas decor Kim. I know precisely how your boys feel. Mine boys are the same way. I might have to make a tray as well. So cute.
Thanks so much Wendy!
Lots of inspiration for Christmas ideas in my new home. Have room for trays and an extra tree or two. Love to imagine it.
Beautiful
Can’t wait to see what you do! xo
SO many pretty ideas, Kim! I enjoyed seeing your festive home. I can’t wait to see what you do this year. Happy to be hopping with you. Pinned!
Thanks Jen! Always good to hop with you!
Kim, everything looks so beautiful. Lots of holiday inspiration. I can look at Christmas all year long.
Thank you, Tammy! I love Christmas too!
What a wonderful post Kim! Your home is definitely festive for the holidays. Every year I say I’m going to create a hot cocoa bar and I never quite make it. You’ve inspired me to try again this year.
I’m so glad I’ve inspired you! You will love having one, this season!
Your tree is amazing! And if Hallmark started Christmas movies in July—we would all be addicted for months, right! Great post, Kim! I hope I can remember all this great inspiration!
You are so kind! Thank you, Leslie!
Christmas in July is a very interesting concept. When we moved from New Zealand to Canada, years ago, people often asked what it was like to celebrate Christmas in July. I thought it was a really interesting question because, a) if I had always celebrated Christmas in July I wouldn’t know the difference and b) Christmas is about the birth of Christ so why would you celebrate it any other time than the 25th December.
It was really interesting to read about the history of how the Christmas in July concept came about. I would have thought that it would have originated in the Southern Hemisphere where it’s cold in July. Thank you for sharing that.
Christmas in July and how it came to be is interesting considering it was in the south and very warm!