IN THE AIR THERE'S A feeling of CHRISTMAS

Early November is the longest I can wait. By then, I'm already pining for scents of cinnamon and nutmeg. For twinkle lights that catch my eye and Bing Crosby on the turntable. I'm longing to unpack every moment and memory of holidays past. Yes, I'm one of those. By the time we're ushered into the second-to-last month of the year, I am more than ready for Christmas to settle inside my home. The way we deck the halls at the farm doesn't change much year to year. For me, this season isn't about introducing a lot of new but about celebrating the old, the passed-down, the patiently waited for. It's about the sights and scents and stories that say to us, "Soon, it will be Christmas Day."

- JOANNA GAINES

A HOLIDAY START

I like to have my entryway feel festive since it's the first thing you see when you walk into our house.

Here, I kept it simple, but still sentimental, with a couple of winter village houses I found nearly 15 years ago and a Norfolk pine wreath that I like to hang on top of our large vintage gate.

all through the house

Our sitting area is one of the first spaces you see when you step into our home, so I like to keep it neutral but still very festive. The tree always gets dressed up with tinsel and my collection of mercury ornaments, and this year I was inspired by a sense of storybook nostalgia so I enclosed vintage books and moss inside a large cloche. The garland down the staircase is a yearly tradition, and in recent years, I've loved the addition of velvet ribbon.

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