There’s something timeless about a Ralph Lauren-inspired Christmas, where rich tartans and traditional holiday decorations evoke the warmth and nostalgia of the season, which, as we know, is upon us. So today, we’re taking you inside three homes across the world that offer Ralph Lauren vibes at their very best: From a Manhattan apartment to a Pennsylvania horse farm, these spots will make you want to wrap a red velvet ribbon around something soon.
A Nostalgic Ralph Lauren Christmas in Montreal
In Montreal, content creator Tamara Anka embraces that timeless aesthetic with a Christmas scheme rooted in childhood memories of decorating alongside her mother. Her living room, where the family gathers to open presents each year, features a tree adorned with red ornaments, layered plaid ribbons, and blue-and-white ginger jar decorations. “This tree reminds me a lot of when I grew up,” she says, recalling the little red bows her mother always used. Throughout the house, Anka repeats the same traditional patterns, even incorporating family heirlooms into her festive displays.
A Tartan-Filled Manhattan Christmas
For textile and interior designer Scot Meacham Wood, who spent 14 years actually working at Ralph Lauren, the look is practically second nature. His circa 1906 Manhattan apartment is a celebration of Scottish tartans, antique treasures, and dramatic holiday greenery, with an oversized plaid sofa anchoring the living room. In the library, a Christmas tree surrounded by carefully collected objects creates what he calls a “Narnia-like” atmosphere. We’ll take it.
Although his years at Ralph Lauren helped refine his approach to decorating, Wood insists his aesthetic came first. “People ask me now if I live like this because I worked at Ralph Lauren,” he says. “No, I worked at Ralph Lauren because I lived like this.”
Christmas at a Pennsylvania Horse Farm
Meanwhile, television personality Carson Kressley brings a more playful interpretation of the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic to his Pennsylvania horse farm. The 1973 house, which Kressley dreamed of owning as a child, is filled with equestrian antiques, colorful textiles, and family keepsakes, including a painting of his grandparents’ Shetland pony that inspired the formal living room.
Having also worked at Ralph Lauren, Kressley borrows a familiar holiday decorating trick from his time there: swapping ordinary lampshades for tartan ones. His Christmas trees are equally personal, particularly the flocked tree in the sunroom, which he decorates with ornaments collected during his travels. “For me, the holidays are really about nostalgia,” he says, a sentiment that ties all three homes together.
