A Minimal Christmas!?!? How do you decorate for the holiday? - YouLookFab Forum

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A Minimal Christmas!?!? How do you decorate for the holiday?

Runcarla

Veteran

Seems like an oxymoron, LOL! DH and I are funding a rec room reno in the new year, and are working with a designer to source new furnishings over December. That is enough retail therapy and a big enough gift for us this year. We will do some small items (books, socks, etc.) but nothing extravagant this Christmas. With frugality and recycling in mind, I approached my outdoor decor challenge. I used items acquired over the past 4 years (birch logs, pine cones, gold balls, burlap bows). Instead of greenery, I used bare stick trimmings from a bush in my garden. DH put up the white mini lights along the eaves. We will light the house for the first time tonight (Dec. 1).

I spent some time sorting and organizing my stationary box and sourced enough random Christmas cards and suitable envelopes to meet my needs (25) without buying more. I'm stocked for wrapping paper, ribbons and tags. I recycle Christmas cards received the previous year as tags.

This weekend I will sort through the boxes containing the holiday decorations. Before I put them away last year, I did a cull, and went from 3 large Tupperware boxes to 2. I hope to be able to decorate a tree and source enough Christmas 'stuff' to make displays for 2 table tops.

Do you do a minimal Christmas, or are you all in? Do you add to a traditional collection, or do you start new? What is your holiday decor style? Bonus points for posting pics!

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41 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

kerry

Veteran

We’re the thick of it today! I admire your repurposing, recycling and upcycling efforts. Smart! And looks great.

Each year we add to our Christmas collection. My daughter is almost 9 so we’re still in the heart of the whole thing. Plus, I love Christmas! I don’t go in for tchotchkes everyday but for Christmas I like a bit of whimsy.

We have some standard yearly spends that I’ve tried to become more economical with through the years. We still go all out on a real 8-foot Fraser Fir. Two years ago I bought a fake wreath for the front door - saving $ on buying a real one each year (and it lasts longer). We have one planter at our front door. I used to go fancy and $ for the filler but this year I bought a fresh greens planter at Costco for $30. Other spends this year include an indoor planter also from Costco, a new red plaid tablecloth, a fun pillow, and some felt garland. Oh and I also bought Christmas tea towels. Today, when we pick out our tree, we’ll probably buy a few new ornaments for the tree - a yearly tradition.

Our Christmas budget line is a hefty one AND my daughter’s birthday is in December!

Pictures to follow when we’re finished decorating.

Fun!

Runcarla

Veteran

OH! Kerry! I'm with you on a real tree. We get ours closer to the 25th. DS#2 is a December baby. When he was school aged, we always did a BIG birthday party. It was well attended. By the 27th, parents were going nuts and happy to drop off their kids for an afternoon! LOL!

Anonymous

Our Christmas has become minimal over the years. I still put up a tree, but only select ornaments go on. I also have a few Byers Choice pieces that I put out every year. Outside only a few light up decorations as we decided we did not want to spend a lot of money on replacements for ones that have ceased to light up. I also bought a box of Hallmark Christmas cards earlier in the year for $1.00 - clearance from the previous year. who will know? I also am very selective as to whom I will send a card - elderly friends and family always get one since I know many of them love to receive them.

I still do, however, go crazy baking cookies and give these away as presents. I have a list of people who are anxiously awaiting and a few keep asking me if I have started my baking yet. It was just Thanksgiving people, I need a break! My DH and I do not exchange gifts and get a mutual gift instead. This year it was new Keurig cafe brewer. We were bad and opened it as soon as it arrived. He loves his espresso and I love my latte!

JAileen

Veteran

We got a fake tree a couple years ago. We’d always had a real tree, but we had a mishap with the tree stand leaking all over the floor, and so we threw in the towel, and got a fake one.

We have practically no outside decorations except for a wreath on the front door made of bells. We do have a Colorado blue spruce in the backyard that we put lights on. This year I made ornaments for it out of can lids. I love this tree because not only was it a volunteer in our front yard that we transplanted, but now, at about seven feet tall, it’s also so perfect that it looks fake!

I bought a small Norfolk pine and put tiny tiny tiny lights on it, and a Christmas cactus. We’ve been married for eons, and so have accumulated a lot of things over the years.

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rachylou

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Really lovely, Carla!

I guess I’m a ‘medium’ decorator. When my dad was alive, we did more. Me and my dad would go get giant trees for my parents’ house and my apartment. My dad had made a pine cone wreath back in the 70s, and we had lighted wreaths for the windows. And we’d hang pine boughs all over. I sewed up stockings for everybody. We have a huge collection of ornaments grown over the years by my mum.

Anyways, my mum isn’t into it now. So it’s just my tree. My tree is totally fake and acid pink. My colour scheme is set in stone - pink, teal and black. Because of the tree and because I commissioned a glass tree topper in those colours many years ago.

So not adding anymore in general. However, will say that last year, I did sneak outside lights onto a tree in my mum’s front yard. And I have plans this year to sneak lighted tree lawn ornaments in. Hehe.

Oh right, and we have always decorated late. Third or fourth week of Advent. Sometimes Xmas Eve! But we go to the Epiphany.

And last but not least, the motto for gifts is Quantity Not Quality! Lol. Lots of tiny things from the Dollar Store all individually wrapped. Yes.

rachylou

Veteran

And... wait. So there’s a funny priest I follow on Twitter. He commented a little girl said, ‘You know how you like text everyone on Christmas Day...’ And he was all, ‘No, no, I do not!’ Lol. Ya. Texting is my Christmas Cards.

Oh right... and my whole extended family recycles magazines and newspapers for gift wrap. They’re quite clever with it.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Carla, did you move and not bring Christmas decorations? I love your outdoor decorations, and the snow makes the scene even more perfect.

I sorted through ours as I packed. I was left with 3 very large totes for Christmas, one for Halloween/DS’s birthday & the rest of fall, and S/S didn’t even fill one. I guess when it’s pretty outside I don’t feel the need to decorate indoors.

Danusia, that’s great about you two kids not being able to wait to open your present.

I sure hope we are all settled in our own place and get the stuff from the storage locker by spring/summer! Until then, all holiday decorating will be sparse. I’m trying not to duplicate what we have there. Here’s what I’ve gotten:

A live tree, with some ornaments that will blend nicely with our others, some that are chocolate, and some red jingle bell mini wreaths that are actually napkin rings, but I have them on the tree this year. Also fairy lights—our lights from the US won’t work here. This is a tabletop tree. I agonize over what to do with the tree after Christmas—even if it’s in a pot, where do I put it? If Berlin has good solutions, we’ll keep getting live ones, but I’m more and more comfortable with fake ones and may get a Balsam Hill or the like next year.

Christmassy pillowcases for throw pillows. I did not store throw pillows, but did keep covers that work the rest of the year, so we’ll change them out with these.

A red throw blanket with white stars. I don’t think you can have too many throw blankets here.

A few pieces for a centerpiece, but that hasn’t really come together yet. Not really duplicating anything there either, but I think it’s too much gold, so am still working on it.

A string of paper stars that we put over lights. (See picture)

DS was grumbly about decorations all over town when it wasn’t even December yet, so I’ll surprise him when he comes home from school sometime this week and have the living room decorated.

What really says Christmas to me is baking cookies, and there is an event at his school Thursday, so we won’t have to eat all of them ourselves. He and a certain girl from school can’t decide if they are dating or not. I might ask if she wants to come decorate gingerbread cookies. He thinks that sounds like forcing her to work, but she likes to cook.

Rachylou, DS’s presents aren’t quite Dollar store, but almost. Now that I’ve paid the deductible to replace the computer he left on a train and he’s gotten an expensive ticket for a concert in February, he doesn’t expect much. I think he’ll be surprised at how much he’ll get, even though it will still be modest.

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rachylou

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I want stars just like that for outside!

I like cardamom cookies, and dulce de lece sandwich cookies and olive cookies at Christmas.

Sal

Veteran

I am yet to put them up but maybe today!!

We bought an artificial tree two years ago - I prefer real but my son's hayfever plays up terribly with a real tree. I use the same decorations each year with one or two additions. Outside is just a wreath on the front door. I am quite sentimental about the decorations and they are not all matching. I do like to add a few each year slowly. I usually go for a red and gold and green theme - in fact I always do. But there are some silvers and whites mixed in as well.

I also convert old cards to tags - and now try to use paper rather than plastic wrapping for presents. Often it is brown paper with recycled ribbons.

I do have a nice nativity scene made from wool that I like to put on our mantle. Sometimes my son makes lego Christmas scenes too.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Our Christmas decor has been pared down since our girls got married over 10 years ago. They each took a couple of shoe boxes with their own ornament collections, which decreased the load on the tree for a time. I still buy or make a few ornaments each year. We also put small mementos on with red ribbon ties as ornaments, such as a lug nut DH got at a NASCAR race, doodads from key rings, little souvenirs from travels, and art pieces from grandkids.

Other than our artificial, prelit tree, I put out a small, one piece nativity scene, and a small collection of Santa figures. When the girls were home, we also had an angel collection on the piano, a collection of Christmas mice on an end table, snowmen on the coffee table, and a large multi-piece ceramic nativity set on the china hutch. Window clings and wreaths were hung, mistletoe on the light fixture, and candles on dressers and bathroom counters. Stuff everywhere. It was fun and the girls loved helping, but I really like the simpler plan.

Outside we have a fake greenery garland on our porch rail with colored lights. That’s it.

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Suz

(website)

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Carla, your decorations are so pretty!

We're minimal, and even more so this year, because I didn't bring anything with us except our stockings when we came west. I will miss the glass ornaments I inherited from my mother, most of which are more than 50 years old!

Today I went to the thrift store and bought a few ornaments, and also some lights for the tree. We get a real tree later in the season and keep it up until early January. It will be simple this year. We are only filling stockings, no other gifts. But lots and lots of good food!

Runcarla

Veteran

Suz - you can make garlands from colourful promotional brochures cut into strips and looped, and gingerbread cookie stars. I believe you celebrate Hanukkah? You could make Star of David gingerbread cookies to hang on your tree!

Anonymous

Carla - your outdoor urns are gorgeous ! I love a rustic/organic/tasteful look for the outside of a house. I haven't done my outdoor pots yet, and fear it might be too late (soil is already frozen ) . We are moving this coming summer and won't be needing outdoor decor anymore, so I'm not investing any more $ in doing my pots. I'll have to come up with something though - you've inspired me:)

A rec -room reno is so great - you must be excited! In terms of indoor Christmas decor, I admit to having a TON of decorations . Not a good thing. Two years ago I really culled it, but I still have a lot. I collect things, switch up themes every so often, and generally love holiday decorating. What can you do?

Bonnie

Veteran

We're too busy moving to even think about decorations but I suspect we may put up a tree eventually. We have an artificial tree and lots of beautiful glass ornaments that we have collected throughout the years. We always put a Dept. 56 village under the tree with a train chugging around the track. We send a holiday letter and cards to our widespread relatives and friends. Haven't thought about gifts yet but I do have enough leftover paper and ribbon that came with us on the move, so that's one less thing I have to buy this year. Your decorations look beautiful and festive.

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kerry

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Couldn’t figure out how to edit to add pictures to my post upthread. Here’s our efforts today ...

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Style Fan

Veteran

Your pots look lovely Carla. I like how you are recycling your cards. Great idea. We have a very minimal Christmas. We do not exchange gifts with our families except with Mr. SF's children, grandchild, my nephew and each other. This happened a few years ago and has really been a big change in my preparation for the season.
I don't get home until the middle of December. I usually get a wreath for the front door (I will get that in Montreal) and I will maybe do some pots with greenery. I do a bit of decorating inside. I like to use fresh greens and flowers. Years ago I would start planting amaryllis blubs so that I had a nice display. I can't do that now because I am not home to care for them. I have boxes of decorations but I don't use a lot of them. We don't get a tree and I don't feel inspired by the decorations. I still want to keep them.

pil

Veteran

Love the gift tag idea, Carla, I should try that! My grandmother used to recycle cards to make her Christmas cards. Pinking shears and paper punch holes with a bit of ribbon. I still have one around here somewhere.
We don’t do tons of decorations, mostly because I hate the effort involved in taking them down!
These little pipe cleaner figures and ceramic reindeer were my husband’s grandmother’s. They’re fun and sentimental so I put them out. Also my grandfather’s ice skates and these vintage ornaments usually end up as table centerpieces.
My mom knit the boy’s stockings complete with bell on Santa’s hat.
Fake tree from the box under the stairs...

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Stagiaire Fash

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Pil, Is that grandpa’s skate blades in the middle of that swanky looking swag? That’s pretty neat! Your comment got me thinking about ways to use my mom’s skates from the early 50s decoratively, but hers have boots.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Aw, I like seeing everyone's decorations! The last couple of years we have been pretty minimal because we were traveling for the holidays. So it's been a few years since we got a real tree, and I think we'll do that this year -- next week when my husband is back home from the ranch.

In our "minimal" years I've been using my mom's little artificial tree (we bought it together a couple of years before she passed away), set up on her uncle's desk in our dining room atrium (it's all open to our living room, as you can kind of see in the photo with the mirror). I've been playing around with decorating it only with a fraction of the huge number of ornaments I have. They've accumulated over the decades -- from some that were gifts from teachers and students when I worked in a school, to ones I collect on our travels, to ones inherited from mom (and from her mother before her). I have a lot of my parent's old ornaments, even though my sister and I split the collection in half. I am hopelessly sentimental about the family Christmas decorations -- some of my fondest memories of time together are holidays, and some of the decorations are really beautiful, like those fragile old vintage thin glass ornaments.

Note: These photos are not from this year! I haven't done a lick of decorating yet.

Pics 1-2 On this particular tree, I chose to use white lights and some strings of Japanese lantern lights, and went with all of our bird ornaments as the primary theme. I have a big weakness for bird ornaments!

Pic 3: I also stick these garlands around a painting that is on our fireplace -- a holdover from how my mom used to decorate around the mirror in picture #4 with lots of artificial greens, back when that mirror hung in my parents' living room. It was always fun to come up with an arrangement and switch it up a little each year. I still have her collection of those fake greens.

Pic 4: These dogwood light branches actually stay in that vase year-round, but at the holidays I plug them in for extra sparkle.

I also put out more candles this time of year and then try to remember to light them.

If I get really motivated, I may make a Christmas village again this year. I did one a couple of years ago and had fun with it (can't find pics at the moment). All of the items in it were inherited from my mom (some I think were my grandmother's -- they are clearly much older than I am!).

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shiny

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Yes, we're minimal, but my parents are coming for the holidays so I wanted to do a bit more this year. Daughter came over yesterday to help me sort through our decorations and put some up. I gave her anything that was red, as I don't think it works in our new place, and she has nothing for her new place. And also gave her our old fake tree, which is the wrong size for our place.

Daughter is also making me a holiday-themed table runner, placemats, and napkins as my present this year, and maybe even a holiday themed throw pillow -- so I think it was a fair trade.

Hubby is very adamant against ever having a tree again, but we may make a wall tree with Christmas lights just for fun, as daughter showed us some ideas from Pinterest. And may get a couple of potted table top trees we can then plant later in the common area behind our condo.

Pics below -- what we've got so far...

pic 1: need more batteries for the lighted table top trees. The material under is the table runner fabric DD picked out.

pic 2: disco snowman in the kitchen

pic 3&4: entry way. May add a potted tree here.

pic 5: dining room: I made that Santa years ago when my kids were toddlers! That was during my crafty stage. When we have holiday dinner on the table I'll be swapping the decorations around, with trees on the console.

pic 6: office area -- the bust got a santa hat.

pic 7: coffee table: all the gold ornaments after we got done sorting. Still working on styling this table.

pic 8: mantel: has old stocking holders which don't fit the theme so I'm probably spray painting them gold.

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Kate

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I haven't done anything inside yet, but DH has started lighting up the 30-foot crape myrtle outside with tiny white LED lights. It's our favorite thing to do, and a neighborhood favorite.

I have a very large rustic wreath I made years ago that always goes up on the door, and we put up a Christmas tree. We always have a live tree, and a big one, since we are blessed with 10-foot ceilings in our old house. We'll probably get around to putting that up next week. Like Janet, I am very sentimental about family ornaments and we have a lot of them, as well as plenty we have collected from our travels in our 39 years of marriage.

I don't do a lot of decorating inside apart from the tree, and most of that is done with fresh greens, bare branches, berries, and pine cones. I do have candle arches that I put in the upstairs windows.

Anonymous

Wow - shiny - I love your condo decor. Right up my alley. And that picture above your fireplace is stunning !

shiny

Veteran

Thanks Lisa! That picture is 3D. Check out this close up...

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Anonymous

After a serious downsizing I Tend to apply Flylady's thought that one just needs to decorate the door, the table and the mantle, Nothing else really matters, Christmas touches in right places are all you need,
We did not move any artificial trees ( I had 3) because there is not much storage room. We will probably get a small real tree if we have one at all.
My " theme" is Swedish with what my grandfather called trolls and straw yulbucks and red hearts, although I did not move the big Yulbucks.
I also put out a Fontanini crèche for the grandchildren. They like to move the camel caravan a bit closer to the stable each time they are here.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Joy, you don’t really need to decorate anywhere. But still, doesn’t the flylady want a tree?

Murph11

Veteran

LOVE the look and scale of the entry pots, Carla! I always start out minimal, then keep adding items from our holiday collections until there's a little something in every sightline

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texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Great recycling ideas Carla - and they look great too! We are very minimal. I like neutral colors and use things like a large glass vase full of silver and white ornaments, a simple decorative swag on the front door, a mini tree (bare natural looking little tree with burlap covered base) in a wall alcove, some large Nordic style heavy white cardboard snowflakes hang in a few windows, a few white lights around the windows and my burlap covered reindeer and metallic cone tree. A mirrored candy "vase" and similar. I don't have many pics.

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Anonymous

I think it looks nice! Due to the furkids mr suntiger and i havent had a tree in years, so ornaments are hung from my ceiling fan chain. And i have a wreath i made years ago. We dont have two legged children yet so we dont do much to celebrate. But im really really appreciating all the people with the extravagant light displays, which cheers up my hour commute on country roads
@ Janet i love the bird tree!

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Anonymous

Fashintern, if your goal is a nod to the season, no tree is needed. A tree can be very stressful and don't get me started on storing tree ornaments and lights. Because of small grandchildren, we may be better off with no tree or something very simple and kid proof.

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