Bay Tree House – a colourful and creative mid-terraced home in Edinburgh – has been crowned the winning ho-ho-home of BBC Scotland’s popular show, Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year securing a seasonal win against four festive homes in Auchterarder, East Renfrewshire, Greenock and Glasgow. An IWC Media production (a Banijay UK company), this special one-off programme also saw the debut of architect Danny Campbell who joined as a new judge alongside interior designers, Anna Campbell Jones and Banjo Beale.

Home to Katie and Jamie Morris, their six-year-old daughter Beth and Frida the cat, Bay Tree House in Edinburgh embraces a fun-filled, hand-made and colourful approach to Christmas. With creativity the heart of the homeowners Christmas designs, Katie loves nothing more than hand-crafting her own stockings and decorations with a little help from Beth and Jamie.

Amongst the festive design highlights, the home features hand-crafted colourful paperchains and stockings; home-made decorations crafted with remnants of wallpaper, fabric and paint leftovers; and an ‘Elf’ breakfast scene, inspired by the movie, featuring a mini train set, spaghetti, waffles and sweet treats. For this family, Christmas time is all about creating a multi-coloured, fun festive home where memories can be made.

The Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year judges – Anna, Banjo and Danny – awarded Bay Tree House full marks with a winter wonderful 30 points, beating off competition from homes in Auchterarder (Beit Al Milad), East Renfrewshire (White Lion Townhouse), Glasgow (Hops Cottage) and Greenock (1880s Apartment).

Homeowner Katie Morris is delighted Bay Tree House won the coveted Christmas title: “It feels surreal, like a dream and very exciting. All the houses were beautiful and all so different. We are blown away with the result!

“It was lovely meeting the judges. They are so friendly, enthusiastic and kind, making us feel at ease. Banjo made me laugh lots saying “You’ve won baby!” – he is exactly the person you see on TV. I think Danny in particular loved the ‘Elf’ breakfast as he has young children himself. Anna loved our use of fabric, wallpaper and paint scraps and was asking how we’d made our floral arrangements. Banjo even asked if we could adopt him so he could live in our home!

“We’re very proud to have the colourful winning trophy centre stage in our living room on our book shelf – it looks very much at home!”

Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year judge and interior designer, Anna Campbell Jones says: “Bay Tree house is a joyful example of a home decorated not only with masses of individuality but sustainably too, with lots of brilliant homemade ideas to steal. It’s a riot of rainbow colours that works perfectly with the design of the home whilst utterly transforming it for the festive season. I can’t think of a more magical home for a child to wake up in on Christmas Day.”

Interior designer and SCHOTY judge Banjo Beale agrees: “Handmade, home spun and full of fun, Bay Tree House is a perfect little Christmas home and, like the best presents, gives nothing away from the outside. Christmas needn’t cost the earth and this place proves it using remnant fabric and paper as decorations – a pure joy.”

New judge, architect Danny Campbell, adds: “Bay Tree House has a unique Christmas feel, beating the foraged and the flamboyant to the title! It had the architectural whimsy of a basement conversion and a handcrafted continuity throughout the home to make any parent jealous! It was a truly joyful and cleverly designed space with a sprinkling of childishness that really hit the spot!”

Scotland’s Home Of The Year, will return to BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer for a sixth series in 2024.

The four other festive houses featured in Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year 2023 were:

1880s Apartment, Greenock

Hannah and partner Gordon’s historic Greenock apartment is refined, traditional and curated. A welcome festive sanctuary, the couple love to play host to friends and family at Christmas time. Hannah’s decorations are inspired by the original period features of the home and the festive show-stopper is a 12ft Christmas tree which can be found in the grand wooden-panelled lounge. This year, the couple collaborated with their neighbours to decorate their communal spaces with a tree and some playful festive touches.

Beit Al Milad, Auchterarder

At Christmas time, Paul and Flo’s modern Perthshire home becomes a maximalist dream house, full of festive ornaments and keepsakes from around the world. After years of living in the UAE, Lebanese-born Flo and Paul fell in love with Scotland and, 10 years ago, moved with their three children – Michael, Matthew and Megan. Flo has been collecting Christmas ornaments and keepsakes from around the world for over 20 years, building up an impressive collection of beloved Christmas villages. Passionate about Christmas, the family start transforming their home into a winter wonderland from midnight on the 31st October and, on average, their home features more than 30 Christmas trees.

Hops Cottage, Glasgow West End

Nordic-inspired, sustainable and foraged are the perfect mix to create Scarlett and husband Gerry’s Christmas style in their traditional cottage in Glasgow’s West End. Scarlett wants their home to feel like an enchanted forest and forages for fresh materials such as pine and cedar from her garden and the surrounding area to create impressive hand-made garlands and centrepieces. Scarlett goes to great lengths to ensure that nothing is wasted. For Scarlett and Gerry, Christmas is a time for family and they delight in creating traditions for their two young sons, Rocco and Reddox, whilst encouraging them to get involved in decorating the home.

White Lion Townhouse, East Renfrewshire

Extravagant, glitzy and glamorous, Laura and husband Andrew’s modern townhouse in East Renfrewshire is the ultimate party location. Sharing their home with daughter, Lexi, the couple love nothing more than throwing a Christmas party. The family play host multiple times at Christmas for their extended family, inviting guests in to enjoy their home bar. When it comes to interiors, Laura goes to great lengths to ensure the home feels decadent and memorable – with neon signs nestled into traditional Christmas trees and show-stopping embellished table settings.