I do not know very many these days that are into very elaborate decorating for the holiday season the way we used to do it. Please do not throw your ornaments at me for this statement!
Of course, there are those that still go all out like Denise McGaha, Pam Kelley, and Courtney Allison do with their over the top, fabulous results! But this post is for the majority of us that have either chosen not to go all out or have given away or trashed a lot of their decorations.
Now I can really hear you roar! Let’s be honest here, how many of us really love getting out all those stored boxes, sorting, arranging, and then taking it all down and storing it again?
As you can see by this feature photo of my living room, I do love Christmas and I do love to decorate my home for Christmas. But I have discovered that there are easier ways to accomplish beautiful results with minimum time, effort, and money. Plus for those of us whose families now live in other states, we get to enjoy the wonderful efforts of our adult families decorated homes at this stage of life. What a win-win!
Here are my tips for you:
1. Remember that the principle of scale and proportion is the answer for big impact with minimum effort. Why? Little decorations get lost in the myriad. Without large elements to draw the eye into the display, everything blends together. Look at my mantle and see how the oversized wreath is the focal point, with the other items decreasing in size in a descending order. The results are a timeless classic Christmas scene that took very little time. However, the planning was the key to accomplish everyone’s favorite Christmas decorated mantle.
2. Use real greens when possible mixing them with faux or silk or artificial items. This way we can enjoy the wonderful fragrance of Christmas that fills our homes. Where I put my foot down on using faux versus the real thing is for my fireplace wreath and poinsettias. I order my wreath and my poinsettias ahead of time to get just the right size and color. This way I can have the biggest bang for my buck.
Image from Denise McGaha ‘s instagram. Check out her blog as well here.
What a genious Courtney is to use fresh oranges and grenery for her outside holiday decor. Check out Courtney Allison’s instagram and blog!
3. Invest in significant items to enjoy and use year after year as Courtney Allison shows us what she uses in her bedroom decorations. She incorporates a stunning artificial tree of such gorgeousness, that I think is worth every penny and is a astute investment.
This is an investment Christmas Tree which is now on sale. Click Here for the link to purchase this stunning Christmas Tree featured on Courtney’s blog.
Replacements, Ltd. has beautiful investment Christmas China for the holidays. Click here for their instagram and here for a link to their beautiful china options.
If you have not enjoyed Pam Kelley’s classic design posts you are missing out! Relating this beautiful cache pot to Christmas, is also an example of investment buying for items that work the entire year including any season.
Pam Kelly features this beautiful antique Majolica Cache Pot investment piece which she used for her Christmas Decorating. Check out her Instagram here.
Hopefully with these three tips for your holiday decorating you can reconsider your normal for a “new normal” making life easier on you and those you love too.
We would love to know what are your tips and tricks for your holiday decorating? Have you changed your decorating routine or are you remaining true to your traditions? Your input is always so very helpful for all of us trying to accomplish more with less time, effort, and money. Life today is a whirlwind of activities and commitments. Streamlining, but not downplaying this favorite Christmas holiday is our goal. Please let us know your thoughts so we can share your decorating wisdom with all our wonderful readers we have checking out our posts.
Happy Decorating!
Living and loving life together,
Mitzi
By Rhonda Knoche December 3, 2018 - 4:59 pm
Mitzi, great timely piece! Last week-end I did most of my decorations which is very early for me since I keep them up until Christmas is done (12th day – 1/6). I, too, love live greens and it’s so Oregon with our fresh evergreens and holly I can clip right from my own yard. I’ve pared down from past years and keep what I love doing most.
– Outside (front): Green garland & twinkle lights hanging from my entry gable (thanks to my son’s help), big red pots with greens, holly, red velvet ribbon.
– Outside (back): Just as you said, fewer and larger impact feels best these days (vs. fussy, tiny bric-a-brac). Because my house is small and tight for a big live tree, I’ve chosen to use the deck as a visual extension. It’s seen from the new 10′ patio door from the kitchen/dining and other rooms. I kept the glass topped table with white sheer fabric and twinkle lights beneath, red chairs and my old large concrete angels on top with red ribbon. A fun little vignette to see:)
– Inside: Instead of the big tree, (and gobs of ornaments to get out and put back), I have 3 small artificial pre-lit table top trees, I decorate the mantle and, new to my tradition are the lit glass door cabinets at the top of all of my kitchen wall cabinets with changing colored back panels. I change them out each season and right now, it’s red with my polished silver (thanks to granddaughter), old Charles Dickens books, martini glasses, etc.
My new rule: Can’t buy one new Christmas thing, Rhonda! You’re trying to decrease the pack, not increase! So, not one new string of lights, no new decorations. Repurpose or forage in the back yard. Also, do whatever will simplify life and help thwart those post-holiday blues with the undaunting task of putting all that stuff away.
Mitzi, thanks so much for sharing what changes you’ve made in your traditions and sharing your beautiful holiday living room. Change is good and your piece also made me stop and put into words what my own changes have been.
By Dana Smyser December 6, 2018 - 9:44 pm
thanks Mitzi for your advice I’m a vintage nut who has hundreds of tiny angels and tiny pinecone men and vintage balls. The minute- ness of it all just wears me out before I start so it was good to see a simple approach starting with something large as the focal point I think I’ll try that !
I am a friend of Janie Chisholm‘s and saw your comment on her page and thought you might have some decorating tips I’m glad I checked !
By Mitzi December 11, 2018 - 5:18 pm
I understand Dana, it is a journey, isn’t it?