We did it — we unpacked all our Christmas decorations and officially decked the halls. Because we keep our holiday storage organized, setting up the tree and decorating the house is always straightforward. Ornaments that belong off the tree (in hurricanes, bowls, etc.) live in labeled zip-top bags so they’re easy to find and put in their spots:
All the tree-only ornaments go into an under-bed storage container. It’s simple to pull the bin out and set it at the foot of the tree for decorating. The hard-sided container protects fragile pieces so we don’t have to wrap everything in newspaper — they sit snug and safe until next year.
We love a good before-and-after, so here’s the living room before we started:
And here’s the result. “Finished” is relative — we’re already planning to add some lime green accents to brighten our silver-and-white palette.
We like to introduce a few unexpected touches: a starfish tucked into a random branch, sheer silver bows to fill dark spots instead of garland, and of course a disco ball or three for a playful twist.
It’s amazing how the whole room lights up when you add a tree. The moment we plugged in the lights the place felt instantly festive. When John put on Christmas tunes and whipped up something warm and cozy, the holiday mood really took hold.
That “something warm and cozy” was mint hot chocolate (we used a mix we love) topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings. John’s tip for clean chocolate shavings: chill the chocolate in the fridge first so it’s firm enough to grate without melting under the grater. Handy trick, and it made a lovely finishing touch.
One of our favorite swaps is using two sheepskin rugs from Ikea instead of a traditional tree skirt. They’re fluffy, inviting, and look adorable piled with presents.
Our tree is entirely artificial. While real trees have a certain charm and scent, we appreciate being able to reuse an artificial tree year after year instead of disposing of one after a single season. Both choices have their merits — choose what works best for you. Happy decorating, and stay tuned for more simple, budget-friendly ways to get into the holiday spirit.
Update: We’ve shared a curated list of favorite holiday decor items — many affordable options under $15 — in a separate post.