I love seeing how others decorate for the holidays and new decorating ideas. But lately I have this unsettled feeling in my stomach when I see some Christmas home tours and Christmas tree reveals. Some of our favorite magazines and bloggers do it up every year like it’s their job. Okay, that is half true for some of them.
But, is it just excess?! Do we really have to change up the color scheme, or the theme, or every single decoration every year? It seems awfully expensive, time-consuming, and wasteful to me. At a minimum, there is just a lot of undue pressure. It is hard not to compare your decor to others. With the glossies and Pinterest, it is totally a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses-syndrome on steroids.
This is my take on holiday decorating.
It’s okay to use last year’s ornaments!
And the ones from the year before…and the year before that…and the year before that.
Below is my tree from last year and this year. Can you spot the difference? Other than my improved photography this year. Don’t bother trying…there is no difference.
Some bloggers view their job description as always creating new things to inspire you. I admit I used to feel that way sometimes, too. But, not anymore. I want to inspire you to make it home, make it you, but sometimes that means you don’t need to change a thing. New isn’t always better.
What feels right in my heart is not constantly bombarding you with new ideas you should be doing (and calling it inspiration), but rather to let you know how awesome you already are!
The awesome you is going to hang up the ornaments from last year and the years before and be proud of your pretty tree! The awesome you is going to slowly add to your holiday decor collection over the years…slowly add things you really love.
I believe if you really love your holiday decor, you won’t want to replace it every year. Instead, you will be happy to use it year after year after year!
I am elated with our tree this year, even though it looks very similar to last year. Instead of scheming to re-decorate my tree, I played with my camera and got the cool shot above with my cool new twinkling lights trick.
We have bins full of ornaments we have made and collected over the years. I couldn’t imagine starting with a fresh slate. There is so much tradition and memory attached to the ornaments we already have.
Around my oldest son’s first Christmas we started fresh. To be honest all we really had in the years prior to that was a hodgepodge of crazy ornaments from our own childhoods. We started fresh and small. That first year our tree was pretty light on ornaments…and thankfully it was a small tree. Each year we make or add ornaments to add to the tree.
If we buy new ornaments or decorations, we buy only ones we really love. Ones we want to carry with us wherever our life travels take us. Ones we want to proudly display on our tree year after year. There are a couple categories that we group our favorites into; mercury glass, white animals, star-like shapes, and teal or lime colors. When we add new ornaments we try to add into one of these categories, because they are what we really love now and will love far into the future.
Last year we made a big investment on holiday decor…a new tree. Our 6ft tree we got as newlyweds looked awfully small in our two-story great room. So, we bought a new tree…a tree we will love for many, many years to come. We chose a 9ft tree…tall enough to be jaw-dropping, but short enough to decorate with a step stool.
Last year we decorated our new tree with old ornaments from the past. Old ornaments that are still good. Old ornaments that don’t need to be replaced. Just added to little by little over the years.
Here is our tree from two years ago and the new tree last year. Can you see the difference, other than the tree and the colorful glass ornaments we made last year? Not much, right?!
We are in love with our Christmas decor and don’t feel the need to dramatically change it up every year. We enjoy setting up our tree as a family the day after Thanksgiving. Then, throughout the season we add an ornament or two, if and only if we spot something we love. And, I think our tree is awesome…year after year.
How about you? Do you collect ornaments you love year after year? Do you get excited to pull them out of storage and put them on display for this one special month a year?
Hi Jackie,
I totally agree with you. I really enjoy looking at the home tours but we absolutely love the ornaments and decorations we have been using forever. As a matter of fact, I look forward to the seeing the decorations at my parents house that they have been using since I was a kid. Maybe it is the comfort or sense of tradition but it works for me!
Happy Holidays,
Amy
Amy, Yes! There is such a sweetness that goes with displaying all those childhood ornaments steeped with history.
I totally agree with you. I buy our boys each a special ornament each year (my husband and I have all our ornaments from when we were little). Our family room tree is a hodgepodge, but it’s filled with memories and sentiment, which is exactly what I think it should be too.
Valerie, Love that! We are planning to start the same tradition this year and let the boys each pick out one new ornament.
Love this post and your tree is gorgeous! :)
While I do enjoy reading all the various blog posts about the various holiday decorating styles and trends, I wish there were more of them that talked about using what you have in new ways, rather than buying more stuff.
I also am a fan of the slow collection of meaningful decorating items, rather than just buying whatever is trendy. I love setting out pieces each year and remembering where I got them, who gave them to me, or some other associated memory. To me the traditions and history are part of what makes Christmas such a wonderful season.
Merry Christmas!
Oh yes, I noticed this too…and if other people want to do it that’s fine, but I love the traditions and the memories associated with many of our less matching ornaments (some given to me by my now-deceased grandmas) and that is more important to me than a whole new and different tree every year! (Though I could see getting a second littler tree to decorate just for fun…perhaps in another stage of life when I don’t have a toddler!)
Our family has the same tradition as Valerie. Our tree is just a beautiful mumble-jumble of stories and memories!
Jackie,
Thank you so much for this post! This is exactly what I needed to hear today. I am a little bit of a perfectionist and want things to be perfect and bigger and better each Christmas. I came across your blog months ago and absolutely love it, I look forward to reading every day. I love love love your style and what you’ve done in your house. I live in western WI and used to telecommute to a western suburb once a week so we live relatively close to each other. I have since quit the rat race to raise my two young boys. Thank you for all of your inspiration!!
I’m glad you feel this way. I like looking at trees in magazines but honestly, I usually look for a second and then move on. I never understood decorating a themed tree. We use the same ornaments that we have collected all our lives (some are super old!) and it’s always a treat to break them out every year. I love my husband’s old broken ornament from his birth year, my little splarkly unicorn from when I was a kid, and the aged glass globe from my dad’s birth year. We only add ornaments to mark big occasions. We get to add a ‘new baby’ ornament this year, and of course the classic kid-handprint! For me, Christmas is about tradition. Anyway, your tree is beautiful and I’m going to try your camera trick!
MB, That is so sweet to have those hand-me-down ornaments. Love!
Our family room tree is decorated exactly as it was last year…our small living room tree has a new colour scheme but that is because it’s only 3 ft tall and it takes very few ornaments – in fact I only purchased 1 1/2 dozen – 6 teal and 12 orange – for this tree – I don’t have the space to store any more new things each year…in fact, I need to get rid of 3/4 of the decorations we have since we just don’t decorate like we used to!!
Cheryl, The teal and orange sounds fun!
I couldn’t agree with you more! Growing up, my grandparents gave me an ornament each year. When I moved out on my own, my mom boxed up all my ornaments to take with me. Now each Christmas, I look forward to unpacking each one and thinking of all the memories each one brings. Having a perfectly themed tree is pretty but having a memory-filled tree seems more meaningful. Now that my parents are empty nesters, my mom is building up a new collection of ornaments for her “grown up tree” as she calls it.
Jen, Love it! Maybe you could help her make some ornaments for her new tree…making them together will instantly attach a memory to them.
Oh my, I totally agree with you! We have been married 43 years and I still use some of the decorations from our first year. They are special and I love them. Seems to me Christmas is about love and family and that is best embodied in traditions that reflect those things. “House Beautiful” says commercialism to me, but then that is jsut me. Have a joyful Christmas season!
Biv, Merry Christmas to you too!
Yes, yes, yes!!! Thank you for writing this. I was just telling a friend how tired I am of the constant “pressure” to be new & on trend every Christmas. I love what we have collected through the years, I love my red & green, and I love that our tree is OURS. Sometimes, when I’m feeling overwhelmed by constant new tree updates in the bloggy world, I remind myself that many of those bloggers were gifted all of their new ornaments/decor by the company that wants me to feel like I need to buy from them. That helps get over the urge to start fresh.
Catherine, You should always do your own thing and not feel pressure.
Love this post. We don’t buy new everything each year, but we do add an ornament on two from our trips or adventures each year, so the more generic ornaments get replaced with meaningful ones. I love to change things up but using what I have, ex: the living room is now red and gold, the dining room is all green and white, etc. whereas before it was a mishmash. I have neither the budget for all brand new every year nor a store sponsoring my holiday decor.
Claudia, Good for you. I think it is a great idea to mix it up with what you already have. I do that with decor in my home all the time. It is amazing how fresh a space can feel by swapping things between rooms.
My hubby has not been able to get down myn13 boxes of decor and yes, there are quite a few special ornaments I’d like to see again. My sis and I would buy each other a special ornament a year–not necessarily expensive but that fit our decor scheme or any scheme like our glass icicles. Forward to our five foot tree in a giant urn. I had to make ornaments and bought very very few. Money there was not!! So I shrunk down old hymnal pages of Christmas carols, accordion pleated them and attached to dollar tree snowflakes and added a few pearls. Or I copied a phrase in sepia and put that on a snowflake. Cones made of gold doily paper goods with excess my garland… But garland of lengths of my dads thin socks bleached and cut in strips and tied embellished with a bit of ribbon and a jewel off my daughters decor from a wedding something…a homemade star– it shone pretty. And was unique. I miss my boxes. My sweet hubby not well. So I make do. And I’m happy. I love Pinterest for ideas. I forgot about the painted plastic animals you did. That was a favorite accent. I may have to swing by Michaels and spray paint mine!!! But its just fun to redo it the same and then one day just redo it all …I did not know it but many women start over 100% each year. Oh I’ve lived a sheltered life!! Mine has changed and evolved though gradually over time
Gwen, Love that naturally evolution and all the love you put into making you decorations. I hope you can get them out soon!
Thank you so much for posting this! While I think themed trees are pretty to look at, most of them seem so impersonal to me. Our tree is decked out with ornaments that have been collected over the years and each of my boys get to pick a new ornament to add to the tree each year. The holidays are about family and what a great way to reflect your family by filling your tree with things that your family loves and has collected over the years.
Stephanie, I am with you. I love a pretty themed tree in a magazine or a store, but it doesn’t feel like the right thing for my home.
Jackie,
I couldn’t agree with you more! While there is much inspiration to be gathered from bloggers and Pinterest, my family and friends look forward to seeing our tree with our ornaments that have been collected through childhood, gathered on trips, made by tiny hands, and given by friends who want to be part of our tree. I would not trade this wonderful patchwork of memories for any award winning tree! The only thing I mix it up with is some ribbon and sprays. I look forward to many more years of the “same old tree” and believe our son will carry on this tradition with his growing collection as he strikes out on his own.
Sue, Sounds like a community tree…I love that all the people you love in your life contribute to it.
I so needed to hear this today. I am participating in a holiday home tour and I love to decorate. But I do use the same things over and over again. They are so special to my husband and I. Yet, this year I was feeling inferior because I wasn’t creating something crazy new and over the top. I completely agree with your reasoning and am going to embrace it too – unless I just want to change it up!
Megan, One blog post is not worth changing your traditions and what you truly love. I am sure your holiday decorating already rocks and is worthy of a tour just how it is!
I agree. It’s about the memories. Also, my kids are starting to get really attached to the ornaments and it is special for them too. Loved this post, Jackie!
Not the same Diana but I agree with you!!
Diana, Yes! I think my kids would be so confused if they didn’t see the same ornaments every year. We always try to teach them to take care of their things, to fix them when they are broken, and to appreciate what they have…I think our tree decorating tradition shares those values…and they see that!
We buy a new ornament or two a year and that’s it. I love that our tree is filled with so many memories! I have so many from my childhood that remind me how magical Christmas is for kids. =)
Thank you!!! I think trees are for the kids and it makes me sad when trees are done *only* to be pretty and not to be meaningful and fun for the kids. If people/bloggers need a pretty tree, they should have a separate tree that has all the kids’ ornaments on it.
Erin, I love thinking of the tree for the kids…it is their spirit that helps make the entire season magical!
Great post and I completely agree! Not only is it silly to buy new decorations every year, it is also incredibly wasteful. I also find it a bit much when I see people who seem to replace every pillow, picture, and knick-knack for the holidays. Who wants to store that much stuff just to use it once a year?
Carrie, I am with you there. The tree and stockings are enough. Changing out artwork and pillows is beyond me!
Hi Jackie-
Posts like this one are why I read your blog.
Merry Christmas!
Cindy
Cindy, you are so sweet! Thanks for reading!
I have our two daughters pick a new ornament every year and it represents them at that time in their life. They are 22 and 17 and look forward to it still. We also add to the tree with an ornament from the vacation that year!
Mary, I love that! We are starting that tradition this year and I hope my boys will look forward to it for many years to come.
I am soooo glad you brought up using what you have. I was starting to feel bad that I don’t have a themed tree or one with all the cool new colors this year. And I don’t have the money to go out and buy all new ornaments. What I do have are ornaments that are meaningful and make me smile when I look at them. Thank you for keeping it real when most bloggers would be forcing themselves and their families to have a brand new look every year.
Lisa, those ornaments full of memories are worth more than all the money in the world! Merry Christmas!
Great post Jackie!
~Sarah
I spent a few years doing the traditional “all the ornaments on the tree right now no themes” tree, and then a couple of years ago I decided I might like to start collecting ornaments in ~color sets. So now in general I decide on a color theme and just use those along with a few family favorites.
THIS year, however, my son is 7 and we have decided to do a dinosaur tree. I’ve just invested in some air-dry clay, dinosaur cookie cutters, and a few dinosaurs and dinosaur skeletons in the form of plastic toys that I can spray-paint and use as ornaments. We may also try wrapping some cheaper plastic ornaments up in fish-nets and adding scales to some solid-color ones! Dinosaur Christmas, here we come!
Mandi, that is awesome! The dinosaur tree that you are lovingly crafting with your son is not the same as the “themed” trees others are referring too. You are one awesome mama for helping bring his dinosaur tree dreams to life :)
I could not agree with you more! It seems so terribly wasteful to buy all new stuff every year. And what about sentimental things? And holiday traditions? One of the great joys of Christmas in our house is getting out the Christmas boxes and remembering each special ornament as we unwrap them. I keep a scented candle in there, and when we open the box one of the kids always gasps and says, “it smells like Christmas!” Our oldest ornament is the first to go on and the last to come off every year- a sweet little wooden bird handmade by a long-gone family friend, given to me as a newborn 38 years ago!
One more thing I wanted to share with you that I just love- a friend of mine with two young kids is starting her family’s own meaningful ornament collection, but what to do with all of her childhood ornaments? Her mom made them all into a huge, gorgeous wreath that gets hung over her fireplace every year. How cool is that?
Amy, Thanks for sharing. The wreath of old, sentimental ornaments is a fabulous idea!
I was wondering what to do with mine and my husband’s too, now that our 2 kids have so many ornaments! Love that idea!
Hear, hear, Jackie!!! I admit I’ve felt a bit of pressure this year, especially after seeing some spectacular home tours; I really felt mine was lacking. But there’s no way I could bring myself to buy all new items every year; it’s wasteful, and I’d miss my sentimental items too much! Thank you for putting this message out there; I completely agree!
Emily, Your style is anything but lacking!
Thank you for posting this. I was reading one of the blogger’s struggle they had wanting new ornaments and new decoration for her home tour. She was angry at one point because she couldn’t do that and lost site of what the season is really about. The whole time she was talking about how insecure she felt about her Christmas decor when she compared her home tour to other bloggers. As someone who has their own small business and blog, I would have considered it a blessing to have been asked to participate. It was a struggle for this blogger and I can understand that and feeling like it was not good enough. However, I think the tours should focus on creativity and talent with using last year ornaments and previous home decor than purchasing new decor every year. For some of us reader’s we don’t have the luxury to do that. I think the bloggers should consider that during these home tours and to find new and creative ways to display what they already have.
Renee,
I could see that being tough. Maybe that is one reason I shy away from doing holiday decorating tours. I definitely see how it might add some pressure. When in reality those tours are meant to help introduce readers to new bloggers, not to make the blogger feel pressured to redecorate everything. I agree that we should all focus on loving what we have and slowly adding new things we love over time.
I honestly love this post. I agree that changing your Christmas decor would be kind of fun and exciting, but who can really afford to do that every year?? The year before Hubs and I got married I went out and bought some Christmas ornaments when they were 75% off after Christmas. Admittedly I never really LOVED them but they were nice enough. This year I actually up-cycled those same ornaments by wrapping them in fabric and making them look rustic – which is totally up our alley. I could have spent a lot of money on buying new, rustic looking ornaments, but instead I spent a total of about $11 to cover 36 ornaments and now I really do LOVE them. Eventually, as the years go on, I want all of our ornaments to be individual ones that were handmade or given to us or gotten on trips, etc. I think those are the best ornaments – the ones with memories.
Runt, I love that you up-cycled ornaments you felt so-so about into ornaments you love!
I agree. I also re-use the same things every year and each year add a little bit to existing decorations. If anyone does change up their entire decor, I hope their blog is delivering the ROI! And even if it is, isn’t there a way to maintain blog content by reusing and building on existing things. To live a life for blog readers is not really living life, and certainly not the spirit of the holidays. But I can see how it could be seductive to do that. I think blogs could set a good example of decorating with responsibility for personal finances and not being wasteful.
Deb, In fairness to bloggers and magazines, many of them probably do get the ROI and are trying to respond to what their readers want. There are definitely always readers that want an endless stream of fresh, new ideas and certainly those that have the disposable income to redecorate every year. It just doesn’t feel right for me and my family, and it seems many of my readers agree. So, I hope I am one voice for the people that prefer slow decorating and adding things they love little by little over time. Thanks for reading!
THAT IS WHY WE LOVE YOU, JACKIE!!!
Aw, thanks Erin!
Jackie I completely agree with you about using the same ornaments for a more eclectic look instead of new “theme” trees each year. In terms of decorations I usually buy one or two little things each year since I’ve only had 6 Christmases in my own place.
When I moved out on my own my mom gave me a bulb from each of her sets along with a few of my childhood ornaments. That first year I bought a few larger sets, and now each year I *might* buy a new 4 pack of bulbs or a few fun single ornaments & not use every single bulb I have. I keep those extras for if we ever have taller ceilings so we can get a tree bigger than 6″ & to give to my future children like my mom did :)
On the contrary though Young House Love has changed their tree each year, but they usually DIY new ones & use some of their existing ornaments to create the new look so they don’t break the bank for their “theme” trees.
Kristin, I love that your mom donated an ornament from each of her sets to your new tree. That is such a great idea. And, I love what Sherry & John do every year for their tree…it is usually something crafty and cute that they do together as a family. My friend Heather from a Southern State of Mind shared a sock monkey themed tree today that is also fabulous. They have been collection sock monkey’s for her son and this year decided to make a sock monkey tree!
I always wondered why others always changed up their decorations year to year and figured it was more of a blogger thing to do than what most people do. Some of my fondest childhood memories are when the Xmas decoration boxes came it and we got to go through the ornaments and out them on the tree. Not seeing them for a year felt like an eternity and we’d be like oh do you remember this one….
We have a lot of ornaments that my boys have made or chosen over the years. This year my husband wanted to be different and put up the white tree and buy a lot of brightly colored ornaments for it. It IS super cute but I missed my old thing so I put up the green tree in the dining room and decorated it with all the sentimental things. Another blogger recently told everyone that she doesn’t put her kids’ ornaments on their tree. I was so heartbroken for them. To me, the tree is for treasured memories, not perfection!
I LOVE this post and totally agree! It’s taken us years to build up a collection of both meaningful ornaments and ornaments that we thought were pretty and matched our Christmas decor. I love looking at our tree and remembering all the stories and people behind the ornaments and don’t want to change a thing!
I love to change the theme every year. I always achieve a different decor but I never buy everything: I incorporate new things to my past years decor. I try to make a subtle transition between every theme to use things that I already have. Also, I buy new decorations in January to save money and I make a lot of DIY.
Elaine, That is great. I love that you rework what you already have and add to it little by little! Wishing you a happy new year!