Holiday decor can be overwhelming and expensive, making it difficult to enjoy the holiday season in your own style. To simplify Christmas decorating, consider using a minimalist approach, choosing only one or two main surfaces or areas of your home to decorate, and leaving them at that. This could be just your tree or a few items on your coffee table and dining table.
To simplify Christmas decor, create a wishlist, set a small budget, decorate slowly, use only your favorite items, and go for statement pieces. Boxing items in smaller containers by section or vignette can help keep the magic alive during the season.
To simplify Christmas decorations, identify what stresses you out, decide what’s important, and choose your key traditions. Keep key statement pieces, put away small items, and keep season-less statement pieces. Start early, as decorating takes time and planning becomes easier and less overwhelming. Choose a simple color scheme, stick with sentimental holiday décor, set rules to keep decorations at a minimum, and plan to travel for Christmas.
When decking the halls becomes more of a job than a joy, it’s time to focus on what matters most. By following these tips, you can create a beautiful festive atmosphere for your home and simplify your holiday celebrations while keeping the magic alive.
📹 How to Simplify Christmas Decorations
It’s almost December and if you’re like me, you’ve already got your tree and decorations up. To elevate any added stress that …
How do you decorate without feeling cluttered?
To create a personal space without clutter, consider incorporating unique pieces that speak to your individuality, such as vintage finds, handmade items, or family heirlooms. Focus on quality over quantity, choosing statement pieces that hold sentimental value or showcase your style. Mix different textures, colors, and patterns to add visual interest while maintaining balance. Experiment with layering rugs, throw pillows, and artwork to create depth without overwhelming the space.
The key to decorating with personality lies in finding what resonates with you and incorporating those elements into your home thoughtfully. By striking the right balance between personal touches and simplicity, you can create a unique space that feels like an extension of yourself.
How to get rid of Christmas decor?
The internet and social media offer numerous resources for donating Christmas decorations. You can either donate them to a donation center or share them with friends, family, or neighbors. National thrift stores and donation centers like Goodwill and Salvation Army sell donated items, but it’s important to note that these charities may not know where your donation went. Online options can connect you with neighbors to donate ornaments and trinkets. The best time to donate is before the holiday season.
If you’re on Facebook, check out a Buy Nothing group for your local city. This group allows you to post pictures of your unwanted Christmas collection, which others can comment on and gift to. Members often share backstories about the item’s purpose or use, allowing you to see the impact of your gifts and connect with your community.
How can I decorate my Christmas without clutter?
The 5 Golden Rules for a Clutter-Free Christmas are a guide to help you maintain a clutter-free home during the holiday season. These rules include saying no to stockpiling, loving or letting go of items, limiting the amount of items, using or losing items, and storing with your future self in mind.
Christmas decorations are a popular time for families, friends, and colleagues to visit, showcasing the interior design of your home. However, the best part of Christmas is not the clutter, as there is never enough space for holiday decorations. Gift-wrap supplies and the Bethlehem display can be overwhelming, and a game plan is essential to keep things organized.
To achieve a clutter-free Christmas, follow these rules:
- Say no to stockpiling; rent a storage unit if you have too much.
- Love or let go of items; less is more; use or lose items; and store with your future self in mind.
- Store with your future self in mind; contact us for more tips on organizing and maintaining a clutter-free home.
How do minimalists decorate?
Minimalist interior design is a global concept that encompasses elements such as simple lines, monochromatic or neutral color palettes, limited furniture, and decorative objects. It is often associated with Scandinavian or Japanese interiors, where a less-is-more ideology is embraced. However, minimalist homes are not just about clutter-free rooms with white walls and minimal furnishings. The aesthetic is more about clean lines, limited ornamentation, a neutral color scheme, and natural materials.
This guide from AD provides an in-depth understanding of minimalist interior design, including its history, elements, and how to incorporate it into your home. The minimalist home design is often compared to Scandinavian or Japanese interiors, where a less-is-more approach is embraced. However, there is more to minimalist interior design than just this, such as the contrast between dark wood and light floors in a home designed by Ishka Designs.
How can I make Christmas more simple?
To enjoy a simple Christmas, focus on making memories with yourself and those you love. Instead of focusing on things, create meaningful experiences that make the season special. Examples include filling a thermos with hot cocoa, admiring the Christmas lights, reading books with kids, or reflecting on your own life. Alternatively, create a holiday playlist and bake something sweet, gift it to neighbors or friends, volunteer your time, and watch a Christmas movie marathon. By prioritizing these experiences, you can keep the season simple while still enjoying yourself and those around you.
How can I decorate my room for Christmas easy?
Hang your favorite decorations in your bedroom, such as ornaments, garlands, wreaths, window stickers, and stars, to add a festive touch to any space. Consider using garland, paper chains, baubles, fairy lights, or tinsel with added extras to make your space unique. Dotting pockets of Christmas decorations around the room can help summon the festive spirit, even in sleep. If you have a four poster bed, consider using it as a frame for a garland or two.
Interior designer Vanessa Arbuthnott suggests dressing your headboard with a fresh garland of foliage, which can soothe you to sleep. Secure it properly to prevent it from falling off during the night.
How to subtly decorate for Christmas?
The text emphasizes the importance of decorating only if you want to, ignoring rules, choosing a simple color scheme, choosing natural holiday icons, choosing big things over little things, not forgetting texture, treating Pinterest like a wild dog, and taking everything down to put it back up again. Decluttering for Christmas can be daunting, as it can lead to idea overload and difficulty making decisions.
The author, who is not a decorating expert, shares their experience of wanting to punch their husband for their house’s lameness and recognizing that it was his fault. The author suggests that by following these guidelines, individuals can create a more cohesive and enjoyable Christmas decor.
How do minimalists decorate for Christmas?
Minimalist Christmas textiles, such as sheepskins and knitted throws, create a cozy and minimalist Scandinavian Christmas decor. These items can be enjoyed even after Christmas, making your home feel cozy and cozy. Other items include tableware, home accessories, cookware, lighting, rug and textiles, and furniture. There are also sale, new arrivals, brands, special offers, and inspiration for creating an elegant and minimalist Christmas. With everything from pillows and textiles to atmospheric seasonal decorations, you can create an elegant and minimalist Christmas atmosphere.
What is too much Christmas decoration?
Overcrowding your home with too many holiday decorations can lead to time drain, safety concerns, and added stress during the holiday season. If you spend more than a day or two hauling and packing away decorations, it may be time draining. The process of setting up and taking down decorations can become a major chore, especially if spread throughout the home. Instead of filling every corner with holiday cheer, focus on one or two areas where your decorations can make a significant impact. Hiring a professional service to handle set-up and take-down can save time and create a more cohesive and enjoyable holiday display.
📹 6 Easy Ways to Simplify Christmas
How to Simplify Christmas – 6 Minimalist Family Tips Decluttering Christmas Decor: …
So glad these are being posted now! I am about the decorate tomorrow because I love to enjoy everything for 2 months. This year, I went from multiple large Christmas bins down to everything but the tree in one medium bin!! Excited to see how it all looks with less decorations but everything I do have is my favorite.
Shannon, I tossed our Hallmark boxes too bc I felt just like you and your mom. What a relief to have them gone now; all of the ornaments now just nest in a wicker basket inside of a Rubbermaid tub. The only different thing that I do is, I decorate super early..as in Nov 1st! It’s just bc I feel like I’m waiting all year for Christmas and I cannot contain my Jesus Joy any longer😊 Also, I am like you in that we have such a minimal home with barely any decor so the Christmas decor actually just brightens up the LR area and it doesn’t stress me out to see a few little decor pieces. I also only use ribbon instead of those sticky bows and plain white wrapping paper for all occasions. This way, we always have the “right” paper bc it goes with anything. And we reuse paper bags but I wish I could sew or enjoyed that as you do. That’s a wonderful talent! Those bags are beautiful! Lastly, we get a real live 🌳 that we can recycle sustainably bc it is a family tradition and our most favorite one. The experience of going to get the tree is our favorite Christmas 🎄 tradition and bonus, no artificial tree to store! Blessings to you & yours!!
I’m the same! We always decorate the day after Thanksgiving. While lots of other ppl are running around like crazy on black friday I stay nice and cozy with my family❤ it makes me happy and we do minimal, traditional decorations. We know where each thing belongs and I don’t get irritated by all the decor before Christmas even gets here lol!!😂
I have simplified my decorations to about four bins. However, it’s decorations for all over the house, which is about 1400 square feet. Last year, decluttered all the broken things, which reduced my bins by one, giving me a new place for our tree. I also use cloth bags for presents. I can’t see, so I buy mine and keep them all year. I like that so much better than paper trash.
I use reusable cloth bags too! I made them in a variety of sizes and fabrics that I bought after Christmas one year. I love them. So much less mess and they still look pretty under the tree. I also like having them tied with real ribbon because I think it looks prettier, but it is also safe for my cat. You don’t want to spend your time at Christmas policing the presents so that they don’t get eaten by your pet. It has saved us so much money on wrapping as well. Haven’t had to buy paper, tape or ribbons for over 10 years now.
I have been minimalist for longer than it has been fashionable. Being a single parent of two children I had to focus my budget very hard. When your budget is tight it focuses your mind to be creative and careful. Necessity made me environmentally friendly refusing, buying from charity shops way before it was popular upcycling furniture and selling unwanted items. I started a tradition years ago when my children were young to buy one new bauble for our tree each year which we all chose to commemorate the year.
I have switched out my binns for ikea storage bags as more lightweight & see through it helps getting them up & down from attic. I’m determined to start going through then again soon . I did a big declutter last year as my daughter got her first new home & was happy to take a bulk of the deco. I would be happy with 4 ikea bags. I keep getting sucked in to buying I must restrain myself. I admire how Shannon uses the same decor each year as they are sentimental I wish in hindsight I had of done this when had traditional decor but I usually switch colour schemes every few years and it’s too costly. I think I may go back to traditional decor next year & keep it all for next 90 odd years lol. I’ve learnt so much through perusal these minimalist articles and love Shannon’s website & a few other you tubers I’m on a learning journey of only I could go back in time . I got sucked into wanting to keep up with the new trends, how ridiculous. But I can go forward and try to stop this bad habit now. I too am starting to become overwhelmed by clutter I’m starting to plan and buy with intention and not impulse but ideally I want to go one better and just make do with what I can work with I have plenty. I do love donating nice things to charity though so someone else can appreciate these things. I have an abundance of things and it’s not things that matter it’s family and friends that matter most . X
I agree with all of this. Our limit of storage is a hope chest that is in our living room year round. It holds the tree and it’s decorations, kids Christmas books, holiday table linens, and our reusable cloth bags that I’ve made. Having that limit really does simplify decorating. We have a small amount of Christmas mugs and a couple small trays we keep in our kitchen throughout the year. Our kids really love using the mugs for cocoa and cider throughout the winter. I may buy one new thing each year if it really appeals to me, but redoing my tree or other decorations every few years is not my thing. Some years we add a small decoration that symbolizes something significant in our lives from that year. We keep our outdoor decor minimal, a vintage sled on the porch, a bell wreath and a really wide ribbon bow on our main front yard tree. I decorate after Thanksgiving and like it all to be put away by New Years. I still do like paper wrapping so I buy 1 roll of paper in a print that works for Christmas as well as the rest of the year by using different ribbons. I can’t imagine a time in the future where I would want more than this to decorate with.
We celebrate the solstice & yes, I love to decorate! That doesn’t have to mean excess, though. I prefer natural decor such as having live tree and garland. We return them to Barrie when we are finished using them & a bonus is that I don’t have to store it! We do have ornaments, which I go through and declutter every year, and a few handmade decorations. I also enjoy decorating with pinecones, so we take the kids out to find their favorites, we use them as decor, & then we toss them back under the pine trees when the season is through. I really like your cloth wrapping idea, but my family seems to enjoy ripping through the paper. 🤷🏻♀️🤣 Happy Holidays, Shannon! 🌲
Tip: If you don’t have ornaments (or if you don’t want to drag your boxes out), look around your house to see what you do have and use that to decorate your tree. It doesn’t have to be traditional. I used to do that sometimes, pre-decluttering. One year I filled the tree with flower picks and straw hats that I had used as decor. One year it was my teddy bear collection. Another year it was my porcelain dolls. I had a different theme each year for several years. When I took the decorations off after Christmas, I put them back in their normal homes. The only thing I had to put back into a box was the tree.
We used to live in a 3 bedroom apartment and then a 2 bedroom condo with our family of 6. I got our Christmas storage bins down to 3 (including 1 bin for books, 1 for lights and garlands, and 1 for ornaments and decor). A few years ago we moved to a huge home with plenty of storage space but I have decided to continue to limit our bins. Last year I went through and decluttered what we didn’t put up and what I was over or what was broken. I also decided to major on the natural for the future – I will have natural garlands and wreaths from outside and that way I can ditch them out in the woods once January 6th has passed and it’s time to out it all away for next year. I loved this article and really appreciate these tips. It’s so important to identify what works for oneself – less is more during the holidays.
I’ve been minimizing my Xmas stash every year. Last year was a biggie though. However, This article made me realize even more ways to cut back. Especially sewing my own gift bags. I always hated how many bags, wrapping and bows I always stored away each year to use the next year, then wouldn’t use them! I have now vowed to never buy anymore disposable anything for the holidays. All reusable or natural that can go back to the earth (pine cones, nuts, dried berries, etc) with some sparkly paint of course. I think I might give up my artificial tree this year too. I think I want to go back to a real tree (no more setting up and taking down and packing away a plastic tree) Biodegradable and renewable has become my motto, no more plastic Xmas. I love your way…don’t buy anymore ornaments each year. I have to stick to that. Great article.
To the people who say those Hallmark ornaments might be worth money some day: they’re mass produced, there are a LOT of them out there, and more and more every year. They’re not worth much (or they might only be for a moment, if you have the right one and you are willing to sell while it’s in demand) and your kids and grandkids don’t want to spend their time trying to find buyers for them. Ask me how I know…
I have friends who like to start putting Christmas decorations up just after Halloween. In fact one friend has a Christmas tree up already and has three more she puts up in her home. She obviously loves Christmas.😂 I’m on the other side of things although I love Christmas. Usually I don’t get things up until the week before Christmas mostly because I’m not 100% well and my husband and grown son just aren’t as excited to put up decorations as I am. I don’t have the energy to do it by myself so it’s usually the bare minimum. I do like to see a house all decked out but the thought of having to put things away as well is just too overwhelming for me. This year I’m going to pull all of my totes out early and really go through them and declutter as much as I can of things I don’t love anymore or haven’t used in years. If I declutter as much as I want to I know it won’t be near as overwhelming for me in the future. I find that many people, mostly women, find it hard to resist all the beautiful and cute things that come out each season and usually buy something new every year. I want to display a lot less but beautiful pieces that I love. Hopefully after Christmas if all goes well I will have a lot easier time putting everything away.😊❤️🙏
I bought a smaller tree so I don’t need as many decorations & just kept my favourites. Like you Shannon, I have 1 tub and I can’t have what doesn’t fit. I also use brown paper & recycled Christmas ribbons to wrap gifts as well as a few reusable bags. I also like to gift minimal presents – my favourite are items that I make or experiences. Now that my daughter is an adult I don’t do advent calendars but instead an advent candle which I burn each night 😊
I loved the tip about taking the ornaments out of the boxes to save space. What an aha moment! I’m not planning to sell my ornaments anyway, so why should I keep the boxes? Silly me! I giggled about your decision to not decorate every room in your house and keep the decor in one main room. When I was a child that was how my mother decorated. She was a minamalist and our decor was simple and pretty. No decor in the bathroom or bedrooms. It wasn’t until I was married that I put a candle in the bathroom. I think you and your family are on the right track, spending time together, reading books, making cookies, going for walks, talking and listening to one another is what makes life worth while, and the decor and excitement for the season is an added bonus that ramps up the memories. Have a wonderful holiday!
Thanks for the article. I have 1 bin with christmas decor – but my favorite decor are “eatable, burnable and compostable” – candles, food, coockies, candy, treas, flowers and so on. I have a few really sentimental items but I don’t really like the idea to store too much decore from year to year. (I really like your “wrapping bags”, though!)
We’ve just easing out of lockdown and even though I’ve stopped buying much over the past few years (even before the pandemic), the temptation to hit the shops and buy more shiny new things is real! I did treat myself to a new tree this year after my 20 year old tree had worn out. It arrived yesterday, my eldest son and his partner were over last night and helped start decorating it. It’s a month early for us, usually we do it around 1 December but I find December to be overwhelming anyway so it’s good to get it up, be reminded that I have enough and not be tempted to buy more .
I had to google when thanksgiving is (I’m in the UK) and realised its in November?! Are people really decorating for Xmas then? And yet you say that’s late?? In the UK people think you’re a bit crazy if you decorate before Dec 1st. And because like you, the extra decor makes me a bit stressed (even though I LOVE it too…) we usually don’t decorate until 2 weeks before Xmas. And I like to take it all down on NYE.
I understand the downsizing and minimalizing. My favorite holiday is Christmas/Yuletide. It’s my “thing” so to speak; as it seems minimizing is yours. I used to put up a full-size tree in every room of the house. Including children’s rooms, bathrooms, laundry room – everywhere. Not only trees but many of the extras: snowmen, Santa’s, village, Teddy Bears etc. I had index cards and numbered boxes, tubs and trees. I LOVED it!!! All aspects of it. I am 62 and don’t do as much anymore. I have let go of many items, just recently 4 trees. It has been a few years since I went through the boxes. I plan on going through all the current boxes and letting go of several more items this year. But I will Never be down to just 2 tubs. lol The kids aren’t able to come home this year so I am going small. Just the Santa’s, Snowmen and one Christmas tree.
I began decluttering in 2014 when we were going to move house (we ended up staying put!) I think I had a total of 3 Christmas totes? I’m down to ONE tote and the tree! And ‘no thank you!’ to any new decor! I don’t want to store it! Last year (because we had 3 new kittens!) we had only a table top tree and we used a fraction of our Christmas ornaments and honestly, that was more than enough!
I like to decorate minimally. We usually put decorations up at the beginning of December, and take them down the first week of January. One thing that I do is put a few decorations up at a time. Then I don’t feel so overwhelmed. Another thing I have done is ask my kids what is important to them at Christmas (decorations and other things.) Then I can drop the things that nobody feels that strongly about with no guilt.
💐 I absolutely HATE decorating and un-decorating the tree!!! I dread struggling with the heavy tree from the garage and back and trying to put the heavy parts together while it’s scratching my arms! SO, This year I got a new stand online that has wheels on it. My husband and I will wheel the tree in, decorate it and LEAVE IT DECORATED!!!!! 😁. When the time comes to wheel it back into the garage, I will wrap it in that sheet plastic that’s used for painting projects and tape it in place. I think Christmas should be made as easy, beautiful, and enjoyable as possible! 😊👍🌸
I really liked some of your ideas! I too limit my decorations but it’s 3 smaller clear bins so they aren’t too heavy for me and it’s easy to see which ones have lights, tree skirt, etc. I throw away ornaments that I never got around to repairing and find joy buying 1 ornament when I travel so decorating my tree reminds me of those memories. When the boxes get too full, it’s time to pair down but that doesn’t usually happen because of inevitable breakage due to me or a dog. I like to put the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving. 🙂
love the drawstring bag idea! I don’t have any for Christmas but I have a birthday bin that has colorful synch bags and for large gifts I have some fun pattern pillow cases and just tie it up with ribbon or scrunchies. I also bought a reusable birthday table cloth and a really good quality birthday banner made of thick felt and I bought a set of 2 per number candle holders so I only have to use one or 2 candles at a time. and they are made of aluminum so they will last a long time. I can’t wait to get my Christmas bag stash taken care of. 😊
Being Canadian we already had Thanksgiving in October so November very much becomes a part of the Christmas season. That being said I usually wait till after Remembrance Day on November 11th to start putting any Christmas decorations up and then slowly over the weeks I do a little bit of Christmas decorating, wrapping and shopping as things go along. You are so right about getting rid of what you do don’t use right away instead of holding on to it, I think that is such a good rule of thumb!! 🙌❤️Thank you!
I love the idea of the cloth gift bags. I have paper gift bags I’ve been reusing for over twenty years. 🤣 I do make a point of putting one small, lighted Christmas “something” in each room. I love walking into a room with the holiday glow. The bathrooms have holiday night lights. The kitchen has a strand of window lights with my baking Santa and nutcracker on the sill. The guest room has a holiday candle holder with battery candles. It makes the whole house cozy. Less is definitely more relaxing.
I have been getting rid of decor I don’t really like o er the past few years but then purchasing one or 2 new items because if I’m only going to have a few things I want to really love them. I mostly just decorate the living room and maybe the shelf in the entryway. The kids like to put lights in their rooms.
My husband begged me for years to get an artificial Christmas tree because he disliked the mess of a real tree. When my father-in-law went in a home, we inherited his artificial tree. We have used this tree for the past five years and it stresses me out every year. It takes up lots of storage space. It is pokey and I always scratch myself up getting it up and down. My husband and I have put our backs out lugging it about. I finally told my husband I will not have something that I resent so much for our holidays. He agreed and we donated it to someone who would appreciate. Wow, that feels so much better. I’ve got my Christmas bins down to two totes so far. I like your tip about getting rid of the separate boxes. I will be doing that when I get the decorations out soon.
We do like to decorate but like you I don’t like a lot out as I start feeling overwhelmed with it all we’ve just bought a 4 ft tree snowy remote control lighting with corns and berries on it from QVC as my cat keeps going up our 7ft one so am going to give myself a break this year and just put this smaller one up it was expensive but so worth it if my cat looks at it and walks away 😂
We have only 2 christmas bins now. One is for our downsized 4ft. Tree with the lights. The other bin holds the ornaments, wreath and now only 1 garland for the fireplace. We have a small wrapping zone in our laundry room which contains our cloth wrapping and bows. This will be our 6th year saving time and money on just the presentation of the gifts. We enjoyed the cloth bags so much for christmas, we decided to have a few for birthdays as well. Easy for the kiddos to participate. Now i enjoy decorating with family in an hour, perusal christmas movies, baking and only focusing on shopping for a holiday meal and our downsized presents list.
I love trees that have meaningful ornaments. Ornaments are actually one of my most favorite Christmas gifts to receive I have ones from my childhood on there and my kids will have their own collection that will go with them when they move out. My mom has an amazing tree with lots of ornaments and it’s the best part of decorating. I couldn’t imagine having a Christmas tree with a color scheme instead.
Loved your article helping your mom with Christmas decor last year. You two are always so much fun to watch! Simplifying holiday decor has helped me enjoy the Christmas season as I get overwhelmed with it in our home. The older some of us get, our clutter tolerance level goes down. Taking it down and putting it away would make me sad in the past. In recent years, I look for items to let go of when it comes out and also when it is put away. On the other side, I really enjoy other people’s decorations and look forward to seeing all the beautiful and fun things they display 🤩🎄 Thank you for this article 💕
I keep the decorations to just the handmade stockings and a few things on the mantle, plus the tree. Like you, I stick with the traditional.most of the ornaments are cross stitched or special in some other way (everything from ornaments our son made in school to an ornament that was my mom’s from when she was a little girl. We don’t do outdoor decorations.
I totally agree about it being a pain to put the ornaments back in the boxes. It just makes the whole process more time consuming and less enjoyable. I’m going to be decluttering my Christmas stuff soon and am going to keep in mind that the goals are for it to take less time and to make the whole thing an easier, more enjoyable process.
I’m in the UK and when I was growing up the Christmas tree went up on Christmas Eve and came down on Twelfth Night. It was a real tree so any longer and it would have dropped a lot of needles. All the baubles and tinsel were kept from year to year. I have them now including the ones that survived from my mother’s childhood plus some that we bought before my Mum passed hers on to me. Most of them are glass and very beautiful. I’ve never really understood the idea of Christmas decorations being in style or changing them every year. I have one box for decorations and a smaller one for lights.
I decluttered a lot of Christmas decorations, a few years ago. I have one bin that holds all my ornaments, and decorations that I put in my living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The decorations are minimal but enough to give the holiday spirit. My door wreath and 3 small window wreaths are in a canvas wreath container under my bed. Storage is at a premium in a small senior apartment, I downsized to a 4’ tree. It sits on an end table in my living room and I am all set. Whatever is left in the bin when I finish decorating, I declutter. If I don’t use it this year, I won’t need it next year! I have no desire to purchase anything new, or store anything else. 🎄
Creating experiences, not clutter is what one will remember when reminiscing about life. I have to declutter my xmas decor now, for the past few years we have barely put up anything xmas due to bringing bin after bin up from basement to main floor, I said it was just to much work for a couple of days, plus its just me and my husband now so xmas it not the same as when the kids were small.
I like decorating for fall because we don’t have much fall time here in AK. Since our winters are so long, I keep my Christmas decorations up until after Russian Christmas in January and then some for winter decor. I also use things from nature I make myself like wreaths and porch pots of greens and branches with tiny lights. Our tree is full of very sentimental ornaments unique to our close friends and family. I like the idea of making fabric gift bags!
My very simplistic decor is so minimal, it all fits in a small christmas gift bag. I like to focus on holiday music, baking cookies and goods. Holiday cooking, scented candles, holiday movies with holiday snacks. Wearing Christmas sweaters, thinking of my neighbors, sharing, kindness. Its not at all about decoration for me. Its, the feeling, the scents, the taste and goodwill to mankind. You just can’t buy that and look at it, you must live it and help others experiance it. Many years ago, I met a lady who was going thru a very hard time during Christmas. She only could afford 1 decoration, a candle. That moment stayed with me.it was so profound that it started me on my journey. She embodied for me that Christmas with that 1 candle what Christmas in its true essence was. Hope. That was the core. All the tinsel and gold are a distraction to the solemnity of the reason for the season.
I have some special ornaments that all three of my kids had when babies or small and some other special ones .I know one day I will inherit my grandparents and my moms and dads so I am not buying anymore. I have one adult child that will always live with me. I have been on my minalmalist journey seriously since 2019, but got really serious around March of 2020 when the country closed down. Happy to say I will be 55 in a few days and I think it’s better late then never to become more minalmalist. I had everything from knick knacks to home decor for every holiday, to much clothing ect .Happy to say I went from 10 boxes / bins of Christmas down to 4 .But one holds all my Christmas kitchen baking ect and one holds all my Anna Lee dolls. I never thought that I could get that much done in two years .I’m older and don’t feel like putting a million things away .want to enjoy my new grandson and family this holiday.Oh yeah and my other holiday boxes instead of three for every holiday no kidding.One holds our Halloween, valentines, saint Patrick’s day and Easter. Fall i have a bit more, cuz I DIY my crafts and my wreaths and I don’t know why but besides Christmas it’s my favorite time of year for decor. Although we are quite minalmalist now. WE decorate the day after Thanksgiving, at least we start, and we keep our Christmas decorations up until January 6th .Epiphany, little Christmas or three kings day.
OMG the red classic balls that come in those boxes where you have to yank hard to get each one out? I saw you put all those in a big plastic bag. I need to research that more… that would save my sanity! We have a lot of Christmas stuff, but we absolutely love the season. But it’s a good reminder maybe this year we can let some things go that don’t bring joy every year.
I love to decorate for Christmas but I also don’t like to too early. I don’t overdue it and I try to keep everything, other than the tree, off the floors so I don’t have to move a lot when cleaning or vacuuming. I will also use things that I may already have out, like white milk glass by putting gold Christmas balls in and placing on the table or candle holders with Christmas candles or laterns with lights put inside, etc.
I like minimal Christmas decor also. We put lights up on the outside of the house and a wreath on the front door. Inside we put up a Christmas tree and I decorate the mantel. The extra clutter would stress me out otherwise. I also keep my decor colours somewhat minimal so that they don’t clash too much with my decor colours. This is easier for me to do as my children are grown so the children’s themed items are not here anymore. Also…. your mom is hilarious!!! 🙂