Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Decorating
It can be so easy to get caught up in the overwhelm of transforming our homes with the perfect Christmas decorations. You may have caught glimpses of elegant flocked trees on magazine covers, finding yourself ready to trash your old decorations and place a Crate & Barrel order. Or perhaps you are untangling a mess of handmade ornaments and wondering how you could ever get rid of a single one.
We can start holiday decorating by understanding that there are two different approaches, and then finding how we can blend them together based on our own values and personalities.
Honoring Tradition
One of the beautiful things about decorating a home is the story of how you acquired the things that you have. This is often why it is hard to get rid of holiday decorations. The memory of your son making a handmade ornament thirty years ago might outweigh the importance of a perfectly coordinated tree.
If you want to refresh your look, but not ignore the significance of your past holiday decor, consider finding a specific place to put the things most meaningful to you. This might be a tree in the family room with just childhood ornaments or a corner hutch with a Santa Claus collection. You are then able to honor the past, while creating space for something new that might be more aesthetically pleasing to how you decorate your home currently.
Honoring Beauty
If you find it a burden to go through sentimental holiday decorations, it is okay to embrace a new look and purchase perfectly coordinating decorations that bring you joy!
When you’re just starting out in a new home or refreshing all of your decorations, start with a few places that will bring the most impact.
Entryway: This space should greet guests and invite them to share the holidays with you. This can be very simple, like hanging a few strands of lights on garland and placing a wreath on the door.
Main Living Area: This is often where you’ll place a tree or have some garland with lights. When it gets colder and darker in the winter, the primal part of us longs for light and warmth. Nurture that by bringing in cozy blankets and some sparkling lights and candles.
Kitchen: This is where the daily living happens, especially when you’re hosting guests. A small Christmas vignette of a silver tray with cranberries or colorful bulbs will make this space festive.
By blending both approaches to holiday decorating, we can release the burden that can come with holding on to the past while wanting to embrace something new. Share your holiday decorating with us - #WDGholidayhome