When I was a little girl, even a teenager and young parent, I entertained all sorts of ideas about the perfect Christmas. Setting up house with a gigantic Christmas tree, matching ornaments that hung just right on that tree, as well as the garland that hung expertly along the handrail at the stairs. Glittering centerpieces that made company smile and stockings dangling at the fireplace to compliment a roaring fire.Kind of like Martha Stewart meets...Superwoman, I guess.
Because as I got older and our Christmas tree didn't quite stand as extravagantly as I'd pictured, and it exposed many bare spots because we didn't have quite enough ornaments, I'd sometimes think I wasn't doing this perfect Christmas thing quite right. Somehow my Better Homes and Gardens (love that magazine by the way) presentation was...lacking.
I can't say I've completely grown out of this temperament. I like order, and presentation, and making faces light up when they come through my front door. But I did realize that kind of perfection didn't matter so much as long we we were still bringing the holidays to our home and reminding ourselves of the true spirit of Christmas.
So what brings Christmas to your home by way of decorating? Which category do you fit into?
Themed
All santas or snowmen, a specific theme that spreads through your home and dangles from your Christmas tree.
Eclectic
A little bit of this and that and whatever you've collected over the years that makes you happy.
Color Coordinated
This is where I fit. Decorating with specific colors. Here's my collection in this photo. Bold color and sparkles, the best way to go - at least for me :)
Sentimental
A mix of your favorites from the past, particularly gifts or kids ornaments, things that have been made or passed down.
I'd love to hear more about your Christmas and how you bring the holidays to your home.
***centerpiece photo by amanda schutz
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11 comments:
I've never much thought about it, but I suppose I'm color coordinated. Everything Christmas in my house is silver, gold, or maroon.
Like you, Cindy, I prefer things a certain way. We decorated our tree yesterday and the kids helped. When half the ornaments end up at the bottom of the tree and three silver balls are inches from one another it's hard to obtain that perfect look. Instead I'm accepting a new kind of look--the child-inspired one! ;)
I'm definitely of the color coordinated variety.
We lived in Germany for a number of years early in our marriage, so our Christmas decorations have a decidedly German theme. We have tiny little wooden ornaments on the tree, a Nürnberg angel on top of it, and numerous nutcrackers, pyramids, and such on every flat surface. My favorite pieces are the handcarved Holy Family figurines we bought from the woodcarver himself in the town of Oberammergau, where the Passion Play takes place.
I like it, Heidi! We have balls and icicles hanging all over the bottom of our tree and it looks really lopsided :) But the kids don't care. My four-year-old keeps saying, "I love our tree. It's so beautiful." Oh, and silver, gold, and maroon sounds pretty!
Susan, me too! I love color.
Keli, that sounds fun. And how great you have ornaments that remind you of a particular time in your life. Every time you see your tree, you can reminisce.
We're sentimental eclectic.
I have old ornaments and decorations from my mother's side of the family that go on our tree every year. We also put up all the decorations the kids made in school. It brings back fond memories for us and them.
Cindy,
I'm definitely the sentimental type:) Hope you're enjoying the Advent season thus far!
Mel
I like an eclectic mix of new and old, treasured family mementos, and other homey things. :) I gave up on the Martha Stewart look a while back too.
Hmm, I think I'm everything but themed, lol. I like having my colors coordinate, but I've got an eclectic mix of things, including ornaments I collected as a little girl. Fun post, Cindy! :)
I don't have a theme, I just chuck it all on the tree and hope it stays there until the new year. Drives my mum nuts.
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