Decorating my cottage for Christmas has always been one of the great highlights of my year.
Let's just say that for someone who loves decor, Christmas is basically the superbowl of of decorating.
The opportunity to dress the house in lights and color and totally transform it for a few precious weeks, to celebrate the magic of the season, is magic in and of itself.
There are stockings to hang and trees...so many trees...to fill and lights to string.
Every room truly becomes a wonderland.
Most years, I couldn't wait to pull out the buckets, unpack the ornaments and put up the big tree.
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| Christmas 2014 - Simple And Rustic |
And while the overall design and plan of attack was basically up to me, the process had always been a full on family affair.
Sure, it made things messier.
There were more cooks in my decorating kitchen, so to speak, but there was also a level of excitement and wonder that made the whole operation so much more enjoyable.
Well, this year, for the first time in almost three decades, my Christmas nest is empty.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not sad. My fledglings have spread their wings, flown the coop and are thriving on their own.
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| Christmas 2022 - Decorating The Hallway |
They're happy, so we're happy...and we truly are...embracing this new chapter in our lives and all the freedom that comes with it.
However. That happiness is the bittersweet kind. The honest truth is my holiday house is quieter.
It's no longer filled with the same level of anticipation.
Those tiny voices that used to gasp and giggle as they opened boxes and unearthed seasonal treasures are cooing in their homes.
The tiny hands that used to hang macaroni ornaments on my tree are now picking out new ones for their own.
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| Christmas 2020 - Dreaming Of A White Christmas |
I remember trying to find my footing that Christmas after my mother died.
I tried to summon my Christmas spirit, but it never quite got off the ground.
I can't say this year is quite the same.
I was actually excited to decorate, but when I pulled down the bins, the idea of opening them up and taking out all the stuff, just didn't feel right.
So I didn't.
The urge to spend days unpacking trinkets I haven't loved for years, but put out anyway, because the kids were fond of them was gone. And it was very freeing.
I wanted to pare down, focus on activities beyond decorating and, maybe, spread my festive decorating wings and try something new.
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| Paper Tree Resources |
Instead, of draping every single surface in my home in evergreen and garland, I made a light wreath for the hallway and I purchased a few strands of those dangling curtain lights and hung them in the windows.
I bought several of those cheap honeycomb Christmas trees, a total throwback to my own childhood, and put them all over the house.
And I picked up four unfinished wooden houses and placed them on my plate rack in the kitchen.
I had planned on painting them, but there was something about their raw appearance that told me to just leave them be.
In the bedroom, I added more paper trees. They were just so easy to open and plop down, they made decorating simple.
And added a unified, simple elegance to every room.
They're pieces that work well with my existing bedding, so I can do a little mix and match...
Now, in December, depending on the day and my mood, and all winter long.
The living room mantel that had been covered in evergreen since the new set arrived in late October, was joined by only one tree this year.
Well, one evergreen tree.
You guessed it. Those paper trees made their way in here, as well. Clearly, I'm addicted.
When I finally did open the buckets, I only pulled out a handful of items.
My most precious ornaments and a few of my favorite Santas.
And things my mother gifted me throughout the years.
Treasures that really meant something to me, and to my kids, who cherish the sentimental pieces as much I do.
The ones that have made me smile for decades, whenever I caught a glimpse of them.
Best of all, I didn't stress, I barely spent and I didn't overthink any of it.
After all, isn't that the way decorating should be?
Well, I think so.
Especially at Christmas.
❤️
How did you decorate this year?
Merry Christmas, Friends!
I don't have kids myself, but I have been scaling back a little each year as I get older. I still have a pretty decorated main floor, but the rest is pretty minimal; just enough to say Christmas. I am finding I am wanting less, and am tired of putting things away and replacing them with seasonal items. Now I want them to just fit around mostly, except the mantel and a bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteI agree about replacing seasonal items, Pat. I used to pack away all of my tried and true favorites, until after Christmas to make room, but I'm just not as interested in that anymore. Maybe I'm getting old...hahaha...but honestly, I really like my streamlined decor and I find myself sitting in rooms admiring the lights just the same!
DeleteThis rings so true with me. It's different when the kids aren't home. I have several totes of things that I haven't used, but there are those sentimental pieces that still come out every year.
ReplyDeleteI love the paper trees! I've not seen them around here.
I really thought I might miss some of those other, less sentimental pieces, but I don't. Maybe next year they'll make an appearance again, but for now, I agree, less is more!
DeleteIt all looks so pretty Kim with your signature red. Your tree is so beautiful. That is one thing about Christmas and having the tree up. So pretty at night to see the sparkle of the tree. Have a great week. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris! I really had fun decorating with those red paper trees and adding more red flowers and glass ornaments to my big tree this year. I guess I can never have too much red…or too much sparkle!
DeleteAs we have gotten older, I am leaning towards more greens and a natural Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I will use ornaments I collected over the years. Next year. But I will decorate the rest of the house the same with tons of greens and pinecones and nature. This way it stays up all winter. The only thing I have to put away will be my beloved bottle brush trees. Everything looks pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cindy! I love the sound of your natural decor. Green is such a great color and yes, I love that it can stay up all winter long. I will have to put my beloved paper trees away, but I think I might keep the lights up for a while...to chase away those January blues!!
DeleteOh all your decorations and ornaments are so pretty
ReplyDeleteI feel the Christmas Spirit seeing all your precious decor
Thank you so much for the visit and taking the time to leave such a kind comment! The decor is different from most years, but I really do love the look.
DeleteYour home looks absolutely beautiful, so warm and comforting. My husband and I went through the empty nest phase almost 13 years ago and it was hard. Last year before I put ornaments away, I put in a box all of the ornaments that our daughter had received from relatives through the years as she had just purchased her own home. They are now on her tree for her to enjoy and us when we visit. We have downsized to a small tree but it has been hard to cut down on decor. I guess I will get there when I'm ready! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much...and yes, I should do the same with their ornaments. They really should have them! I guess I was ready to cut down on the decor (for this year anyway, I'm a fickle decorator!), but I definitely haven't felt ready to give up those ornaments yet! This empty nest thing is not easy!! Haha!! Merry Christmas to you and your family as well...and congratulations to your daughter in her new home!! How exciting!
DeleteThe honeycomb Christmas trees, oh I love them too. And memories from my childhood. We had so many different honeycomb decorations for all the holidays. One of my favorites was a big turkey that sat in the center of our dinning room table. My sister and I would fight on who got to open up the honeycombs.
ReplyDeleteLove, Carla
Oh gosh, Carla, yes! It was the same at our house. I remember using paper clips to hold some of our honeycomb decorations open, after the clips disappeared. We had a bunch too, but I think I remember the bells from my sisters' wedding showers best! They were everywhere!! Love the sound of that turkey though...might have to find one of those!! xo
DeleteYou home is beautiful---right down to the sweet little trees and unadorned houses. It's perfect, Kim.
ReplyDeleteWhen the kids are gone-It does change, doesn't it? I wasn't going to "do much" this year for Christmas because we will be at Mayo for 7 to 10 days starting the 16th....so....I left many bins in the basement. HOWEVER, John loves Christmas so I decided to deck the halls (and walls) so to speak. I did not drag all my Spode out this year but I did decorate just about every room. I got a beautiful new tree from King of Christmas and I am just in LOVE with it. I did all red ornaments on the tree this year...nothing nostalgic this time. I put out my beautiful white/gold porcelain nativity on top of the grand piano and underlit it wihte twinkling lights under a "snowy" blanket of Christmas 'fluff'.
My Lulu is coming home for Christmas this year and I decided to do more than I had originally planned because she always loved Christmas so much at my house.
You may have scaled back for now with your fledglings far afield, but just you wait until those little nesters bring home some baby birds. You will flood your home with sweet little Christmas traditions all over again! xo Diana
Merry Christmas---xo Diana
I love your honeycomb trees! I remember those from childhood! I mostly do garlands, ribbons, and lights everywhere! That and a tree in the living room. However I sprinkle a bit of Christmas in every room, whether it’s through a plaid shower curtain, or a small silver tinsel tree tucked on a counter.
ReplyDeleteIt’s feels just right and can last for weeks after Christmas!
Deanna Rabe
I'm very happy for you that you moved through this so gracefully - and your home looks amazing and peaceful. Hugs to you from another empty nest. (:
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and festive home Kim. And also very very tasteful. I absolutely love all the pops of red everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThings change as our children grow up, move away, and begin their own lives. That's what they're supposed to do, right? Your home looks beautiful, Kim. The paper trees are just darling and I love your Santas. Sometimes, 'less is more'. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete