Decorating for the Season

“Don’t let stress from the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas take away from the gift of being able to be present and thoughtful as you move around in this busy, yet important season.”

Many of us like to decorate for the holidays. Some of us go all out and some of us like to keep things simple. Whether you fall into the former or latter category, there is something about decorating for the holidays that creates an element of excitement, reminiscent of childhood to some degree. There are a few things to consider as you go about making your room(s) or entire home ready for the upcoming season. 

Fresh greens go a long way. There’s something uniquely magical about the smell of Christmas that a tree, wreath, or garland emanate from their branches. Even if you don’t do a real tree, the layering of garland makes a cozy, simple, yet very festive addition. Getting a real tree and using its trimmings is a fast and easy fix as well. Pick your theme before you start decorating. While it doesn’t have to be a complicated theme, simply picking 2-3 colors that you want to repeat throughout your decor ties the look in nicely, while still giving room for playing around with different accents in ornaments, dining ware, table runners, and maybe pieces from childhood that have meaning. Lighting is essential during the holidays, in my opinion. From the plethora of cozy Christmas lights, to as many candles as your home can accommodate, the glow will enhance any decor and any experience, really. I love pulling out special pieces (nativities, ornaments, calendars, nutcrackers, tableware, etc) and making my theme around them. If I want to keep things more minimal, I simply add garland, a welcoming door wreath, and lights around the house to create a warm background for my festive items. If I want to deck the halls to the max, I love to add lights to my house plants, hanging sculptures or picture frames, set a full on Christmas table that harkens all my special China or holiday ware; I might even create “Christmas corners” sporadically throughout the house, which involve little sapling-sized trees with holiday themed decor at their base. Whatever it is you choose to do, remember that the preparation is meant to be meaningful and joyful. Don’t let stress from the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas take away from the gift of being able to be present and thoughtful as you move around in this busy, yet important season. 

Anna Scott
December 1, 2019