Mark Twain Christmas: 15 Gilded Victorian Ideas That Make Any Home Feel Like His Hartford Mansion

A Mark Twain Christmas looked nothing like the plain holiday you might picture for a funny writer from the river towns. From 1874 to 1891, Twain and his family lived in a grand Hartford, Connecticut home full of deep colors, carved wood and shimmering gold. In 1881 he even had Louis Comfort Tiffany oversee the decorating. And one Christmas he wrote his little daughter Susy a letter from Santa Claus himself, sent from the Moon. The good news? You do not need a mansion budget to borrow that magic. Below are 15 easy Victorian ideas, from stenciled borders and faux stained glass to velvet bows and gold paper moons. Each one comes with a short supply list and simple steps..

Mark Twain Christmas Starts in a Gilded Library

Picture dark carved wood, a garland draped over the mantel and a tree glowing with gold. That is the feeling of a Mark Twain Christmas at the Mark Twain House in Hartford. His library had hand stenciled paneling and a carved mantel he bought in Scotland, so the room already looked rich before a single bauble went up. Copy the mood with deep greens, burgundy velvet and lots of antique gold. Hang a few gold paper moons too, a wink at his famous Santa letter. For more cozy book room ideas, see these home library ideas. Wait until you see what you can do with kraft paper..

You will need: a green tree, antique gold round ornaments, burgundy velvet ribbon, a thick pine garland, gold paper or card stock, thin gold cord.

How to make it: 1. Hang the gold baubles first, tucking some deep into the branches. 2. Weave velvet ribbon down the tree in loose swags. 3. Cut crescent moons from gold card stock and hang them with gold cord near the tips.

Hand Stenciled Gold and Red Wall Border

The walls in the Hartford house were covered in hand stenciled patterns, a big part of the gilded look Tiffany’s team created. You can fake it without touching your walls. Stencil a long strip of brown kraft paper with a simple leaf and flower design in gold and red, then hang it like a border above a shelf or doorway. It comes down in seconds after the holidays. For more painted pattern ideas, browse these painted wall designs.

You will need: a roll of brown kraft paper, a leaf and flower stencil, gold and red craft paint, a stencil brush, painter’s tape, removable hooks.

How to make it: 1. Tape the paper flat on a table and tape the stencil on top. 2. Dab paint with an almost dry brush, then lift and move the stencil along. 3. Let it dry and hang the strip with removable hooks.

Tiffany Style Faux Stained Glass Window

Louis Comfort Tiffany was famous for glass that glows like jewels, and his firm decorated Twain’s rooms. Bring that glow home with faux stained glass on a plain window. Draw a holly and leaf pattern with black dimensional paint, then fill each section with glass paint in emerald, ruby and amber. When the sun comes through, the entire room turns warm and colorful. The faux stained glass guide we shared earlier explains more tricks.

You will need: a clear plastic sheet or window film, black dimensional paint, glass paints in green, red, amber and blue, a paper pattern, a cotton swab.

How to make it: 1. Lay the plastic over your pattern and trace the lines with black dimensional paint. 2. Let it dry, then fill each section with glass paint. 3. Once dry, peel the design off and press it onto a clean window.

Mark Twain Christmas Letter From Santa

Here is the sweetest part of the story. In 1875 Twain wrote a letter to his young daughter Susy, signed by Santa Claus from his palace in the Moon. Write one for the children in your life on paper you age yourself with tea. Mention the toys they asked for and a few family jokes. Roll it, tie it with red velvet and add a gold seal. For another fun way to surprise kids, try these Christmas Eve boxes.

You will need: plain white paper, a strong cup of tea, a baking sheet, a fountain pen or fine marker, thin red velvet ribbon, a gold sticker seal.

How to make it: 1. Brush cool tea over the paper and let it dry flat for an aged look. 2. Write your letter in fancy curly script and sign it from Santa. 3. Fold or roll it, tie with ribbon and press on the gold seal.

Mark Twain Christmas Jewel Tone Tree

Victorian homes loved rich, deep colors, and Twain’s rooms were full of them. A Mark Twain Christmas tree skips pale pastels for emerald green, burgundy and antique gold. Mix shiny and matte ornaments, then add a gold bead garland to pull it all together. Wrap gifts in the same colors and the tree and presents look like one big plan. For more bold color ideas, see this maximalist Christmas decor.

You will need: emerald green and burgundy round ornaments, antique gold baubles, a gold bead garland, burgundy velvet bows, green and gold wrapping paper.

How to make it: 1. Start with the bead garland, draping it in loose loops from top to bottom. 2. Add the big gold baubles, then fill gaps with green and burgundy. 3. Clip velvet bows on last and stack matching gifts at the base.

Billiard Room Inspired Game Night Corner

Twain wrote in a billiard room at the top of his house, and he loved a good game. You can give that spirit to a quiet corner of your home. Set up a small table with a wooden checkers board, toss a red tartan throw over an armchair and add a tray of cocoa mugs. A pine garland with gold bows on the shelf behind makes it festive. For more ways to dress up a chair, see these Christmas chair swags.

You will need: a small side table, a wooden checkers or chess board, a red tartan throw, a brass tray, mugs, a short pine garland, gold ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Pull a small table next to your coziest chair. 2. Set up the game board and drape the tartan throw over the chair arm. 3. Add a tray with mugs and hang the garland with gold bows behind.

Conservatory Corner With Poinsettias and Ferns

The Twain home had a conservatory where he loved to play with his children. Make your own leafy version in the sunniest window you have. Group red poinsettias in brass pots with big Boston ferns on a tiered plant stand. Add a white wicker chair and a velvet pillow, and you have a bright little hideaway. Keep poinsettias away from curious pets. For more plant stand styling, see this Christmas ladder decor.

You will need: red poinsettias, two or three Boston ferns, brass or gold painted pots, a tiered plant stand, a wicker chair, a green velvet pillow, gold ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Set the plant stand near a bright window. 2. Slip each plant into a brass pot and tie a small gold ribbon around it. 3. Place ferns up high and poinsettias lower, then add the chair and pillow.

Mark Twain Christmas Embossed Tray

Rich Victorian rooms often had raised, textured walls that caught the light. Paintable embossed wallpaper gives you the same look for a few dollars, and a small piece is perfect for a tray makeover. Cut it to fit the bottom of a thrifted tray, glue it in, and brush gold paint over the raised parts. It looks like an antique from a Mark Twain Christmas parlor. For more raised metal looks, try this foil embossed art.

You will need: a thrifted tray, paintable embossed wallpaper, decoupage glue, a foam brush, cream and gold paint, a soft cloth.

How to make it: 1. Trace the tray bottom on the paper and cut it out. 2. Glue it in with decoupage glue and smooth out bubbles. 3. Paint it cream, then lightly brush gold on the raised pattern and buff with a cloth.

Carved Mantel Look on a Simple Shelf

Twain’s library mantel was hand carved and shipped all the way from Scotland. No fireplace? No problem. Add two dark wood corbel brackets under a plain wall shelf and it suddenly looks like a carved mantel. Drape it with a thick pine and cedar garland, weave in gold ribbon and tuck in red berries. Two brass lanterns at the ends finish the look. Find more pattern and style ideas in this William Morris Christmas.

You will need: a wall shelf, two wooden corbels, dark wood stain, a pine garland, gold wired ribbon, red berry picks, two small lanterns.

How to make it: 1. Stain the corbels dark and, with adult help, mount them under the shelf. 2. Lay the garland across the top and let the ends hang down. 3. Weave ribbon through and tuck in berry picks.

Brass and Glass Lantern Cluster

Gaslight and lanterns were part of every Victorian evening, and a group of brass lanterns still brings that warm feeling. Fill three lanterns of different heights with pine sprigs, gold baubles and pinecones instead of candles. Tie a big velvet bow on the tallest one. Set them on a bench by the door or on a hall table. If you want light, slip in a battery fairy light string. See more entry ideas in this winter porch decor.

You will need: three lanterns in different sizes, pine sprigs, small gold ornaments, pinecones, a burgundy velvet bow, optional battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Lay pine sprigs in the bottom of each lantern. 2. Add pinecones and gold baubles in layers. 3. Tie the bow to the tallest lantern handle and group them together.

Velvet Tied Book Stack Gift

For a family that loved stories, books were the best gift of all. Make a writer’s gift by stacking three or four old cloth bound books and tying them with a wide velvet ribbon. Tuck in a sprig of holly and a little brass bell. It works as a present for a reader or as a pretty decoration on a side table. Thrift stores sell old books for pennies. For more shelf ideas, see this Christmas bookshelf decor.

You will need: three or four old hardback books, wide burgundy velvet ribbon, a holly sprig, a small brass bell.

How to make it: 1. Stack the books from largest to smallest. 2. Wrap the ribbon around both ways like a parcel and tie a big bow on top. 3. Slip the holly and bell under the knot.

Riverboat Paper Boat Ornaments

Before he was a famous author, Twain worked as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi. Honor that with little paper boats folded from old sheet music. They take a minute each, and a few dozen fill a tree with charm. Brush the edges with gold paint for extra shine. Hang them with thin gold cord so they float on the branches of your Mark Twain Christmas tree. More music page projects live in these Christmas piano decor ideas.

You will need: old sheet music or copies, gold paint, a small brush, a needle, thin gold cord.

How to make it: 1. Cut the sheet music into small rectangles and fold each into a simple paper boat. 2. Brush the edges with gold paint and let them dry. 3. Thread gold cord through the top with a needle and hang.

Mark Twain Christmas Staircase With Velvet Bows

A grand staircase was the heart of any Victorian home, and a garland there makes the entire house feel dressed up. Wrap a lush pine garland down the banister and add big burgundy velvet bows every few feet with long ribbon tails. Tuck a few gold baubles into the greenery. Use zip ties or soft wire, never nails, so the wood stays safe. This is pure Mark Twain Christmas grandeur. For more garland tricks, see these Christmas garland arch ideas.

You will need: a long pine garland, burgundy velvet ribbon, small gold ornaments, zip ties or soft florist wire.

How to make it: 1. Attach the garland to the banister with zip ties every two feet. 2. Make big bows with long tails and tie one at each tie point. 3. Tuck gold baubles into the gaps.

Mark Twain Christmas Gold Moon Ornaments

Twain’s Santa letter came from the Palace of Saint Nicholas in the Moon, so a moon ornament is the perfect wink. Cut crescent moons and stars from chipboard, paint them antique gold and edge them with fine glitter. Tie each with thin burgundy ribbon. Kids can help paint, which makes them a fun family craft for a Mark Twain Christmas tree. For more floating ornament ideas, see this Christmas ceiling decor.

You will need: chipboard or a cereal box, a pencil, scissors, antique gold paint, fine gold glitter, craft glue, thin burgundy ribbon, a paper punch.

How to make it: 1. Draw moons and stars on chipboard and cut them out. 2. Paint both sides gold, then dab glue on the edges and sprinkle glitter. 3. Punch a small opening at the top and tie on ribbon.

Victorian Reading Nook With a Tiny Tree

End where Twain was happiest: in a cozy room full of books. Pull a velvet armchair near a window, toss a tartan blanket over it and set a tiny tree with gold ornaments on the side table. Add a cup of cocoa and a favorite book, and you have the best seat in the house. It is a small, simple way to bring Mark Twain Christmas warmth home. For more grand house holiday style, see this Downton Abbey Christmas.

You will need: an armchair, a tartan blanket, a small side table, a tabletop tree, small gold ornaments, a mug.

How to make it: 1. Place the chair at an angle near a window or bookshelf. 2. Drape the blanket over one arm. 3. Set the tiny tree on the side table and decorate it with gold baubles.