That she blows! Or perhaps I should say, “thar she glows!” Either way, we finally got the tree up.
This year’s decorating plan followed three simple rules:
- Use only things we already had at home (no running out to buy more—too time-consuming).
- Avoid anything pointy, hard, or breakable for the little one’s safety.
- Embrace color—lots of it, matching the playful feel of our tabletop tree in the living room.
So we gave our full-sized tree a fresh, colorful look using items on hand—mainly leftover paint chips I save for projects.
I keep old paint chips for crafts, and this year they became tree ornaments. I cut each chip into strips, which usually yielded two or three ornaments per chip, then punched a small hole and threaded twine or string to hang them. The result is a cluster of modern, colorful icicles that cover the tree. The fact that these ornaments were free was a delightful bonus.
The other major decorative element was several spools of ribbon from the gift-wrap stash. I found the center of each ribbon, draped it over the top of the tree, and let equal lengths fall down each side in an upside-down V. It’s a simple technique that creates a big visual impact without any fuss. For a soft base, the “tree skirt” is actually three faux sheepskins from Ikea—now a bit of a holiday tradition for us.
There was even enough leftover ribbon to tie a little bow for the top of the tree. Pretty sweet—our tree felt especially feminine this year.
You might notice a couple of things in the photos. First, we hadn’t quite caught up with our advent calendar when these shots were taken—Clara and I were too excited after putting the tree up to wait. Since then we’ve hung a dozen advent ornaments and are back to the one-a-day rhythm. Second, we did a quick mantel arrangement in the kitchen to keep the festive spirit flowing throughout the house.
On the floor by the mantel I placed a couple of vintage-feel feather trees I picked up years ago, and on the mantel itself I arranged two white ceramic birds—like peaceful holiday doves—that came from an estate sale. I also included the little thrift-store rocking horse I painted for Clara to add a homemade touch. The stockings are a recent find from a few years back; this year we hung them a little differently—backwards for some playful variety.
It may look at first glance like there are only three stockings and Burger the dog was left out, but he wasn’t. John and I actually share a stocking labeled “Mom and Dad,” and then there are Clara’s and Burger’s stockings.
To add a cozy focal point, I tucked a basket of faux presents into the fireplace. They’re not real gifts—just crafted pieces I made to look festive—and they help balance the mantel vignette.
One of the things we love about the recent kitchen-to-dining-room doorway remodel is that the big tree is visible from the kitchen now. It peeks around the corner of the opening and brings a cheerful holiday view while we work or cook—something we wouldn’t have enjoyed before the wall came down. Demo day was worth it.
It’s lovely to have holiday decor spread across three rooms: the big tree in the dining room, a decorated mantel in the kitchen, and the tabletop tree in the living room. Christmastime feels layered and bright around here.
There’s still more to share: I have a holiday frame gallery project to photograph, and for the first time we decorated the exterior of the house too—with lights, stars, a homemade wreath, and some bright red ceramic-look reindeer. We went a bit bolder than usual this year. I’ll post photos and details as soon as I can shoot them and write everything up.
Psst—We’ll be back with a kitchen update tomorrow. We’re working on lots of detail-oriented tasks, like resizing an old cabinet to match the rest of the kitchen and create a spot for a built-in microwave. We’re moving as fast as the projects allow!
Update: We’ve put together a list of favorite holiday decor finds—many budget-friendly options under $15—that we’ve been loving this season.