Each year we use the same Christmas decorations and add a little something here and there. It startles me to think that families have a new ‘theme’ each year with different colours and loads of brand new decorations. I can’t even cope when the stores do that, even though I know most of their stuff is rented and at least last year’s theme is this year’s theme for a different store. Unless they’re into commercial-style renting, this isn’t the case for households. Do they just throw all the white stuff out when they’ve decided to go pink?
Anyway, I’m probably veering too close to the ‘what do you do with all that stuff?’ territory that got me in huge amounts of trouble earlier this year. But I can’t help but wonder, especially this time of year. I’m uber-conscious of all the utter crap we humans produce so that other humans can go ooh-ahh for five minutes before putting it in the bin because they are decluttering. I’m guilty of all this myself, I know I am, but I never consciously throw away something perfectly useful and I try very hard not to buy a new something useful when the old thing is still going along okay.
So, back to Christmas decorating – over the years I’ve collected a vast array of greenery and red things and even though this year I was desperate to have a neon pink Christmas (I kinda started the neon thing last year), I held back and just rejigged all the old stuff, adding a hit of neon here and there. We’ve had the same star for the top of the tree since I first met Bart and each year it’s a big ceremony when the star goes on.
I was also tempted to do a creative new Advent calendar, but I know the kids would never forgive me if I ditched their beloved ‘socks’.
I like it. I like that Christmas looks much the same with a little rejiggle each year and I’ll be there is comfort in that for the kids. I like to extend Christmas throughout the house, not just confined to the room the Christmas tree is in. I put a little motif above each doorway and the kids have their own tree in their room and other places throughout the house.
We have also slowly been growing our outdoor light collection too and this is the first year our house looks ‘lit’ at night. I find it ridiculously exciting to come home to a solar-lit home that flashes loads of Christmas spirit off and on, off and on all night long… I planned to post a few pictures, but we’ve been out every single night and by the time I come home I’m too tired to get the camera out. Ah, Christmas, huh?
What’s your Christmas decorating style?
Toni says
YES!
We didn’t have any Christmas traditions when I was a kid, and I hungered for them.
I started mine with my own family.
We have the same stuff year after year, and the kids greet it all with delight and nostalgic reminiscing.
One thing I do buy new each year is an ornament each, to put in their stocking.
When they leave home, they’ll get a ‘starter kit’ of their own ornaments for their own tree.
Hugzilla says
That is such a gorgeous idea. Love the special ornament in the stocking, love the starter kit.
Maxabella says
I love this idea too! x
Maxabella says
This is just the most gorgeous thing, Toni. A ‘starter kit’ for Christmas is a beautiful tradition. See, you’ve made some already! x
Lila says
My christmas style has become very lax. No one in the family is into it besides me so it feels a bit futile.
That and I find it hard to shell out money for things only on display one month of the year. It’s fun but it creeps into not a productive use of my money territory!
Maxabella says
This is why I try not to spend a lot, Lila. It seems a bit useless, but I do love it so. It would be hard if no one appreciated my efforts, though! I can see why you’ve become lax – decorating at Christmas isn’t really for one person. x
Helen K says
We have the same theme each year, and one or both kids join me to choose a couple of new ornaments, so we add each year. So our tree is a collection of things made over the years (including a couple of additional ‘craft’ projects from school) and additional decorations, and as for other parts of the house, progressively we add bits and pieces (some handmedowns as my grandmother downsizes, for instance). I like the tradition of bringing out things that become treasures in their own right (and it seems like they are only up briefly before they are put away – I guess I’m not much of a constant changer of our home!) Kids love this, and husband is happy with anything, really, so it all works out well!
Maxabella says
We seem very similar, Helen. It’s surprising how different I can make the house look each year, editing our ‘same old stuff’ and adding a little something. x
Bri says
I use the same decorations each year. My tree is resplendent in red and gold. I use red and gold as a nod to the Summer Solstice which is just before Xmas and in this way I can honour my own pagan path and the Christmas traditions I was raised with. My kids know we have a solstice feast on the day of the solstice and they know as much about Christmas traditions as any other Aussie kid. The 17 year old wasn’t impressed with me asking him to help decorate the tree this year. I guess most 17 year old boy-men don’t care much about decorating fake trees with sparkly bit and pieces. The 8 year old girl loves it though.
Maxabella says
That’s a wonderful idea, Bri. I love a merge of traditions and faiths and all that. A big melting pot of yum. I actually met Bart on the Winter Solstice so we celebrate both Winter and Summer Solstice every year. I think I have a little (lot) of pagan in me! x
Bec @ The Plumbette says
I have two trees. One green one and one vintage silver one that I inherited from my Grandma and I alternate between the two and change the colour scheme because pre kids I bought all the decorations and store them in a trunk that Jacob made in high school. I haven’t shopped for new decorations in years but I’m glad I invested in three or so different colour schemes so I can alternate each year.
Maxabella says
I think I just need more storage options. I would love to have ‘two sets’ and change them up like that. Same as having one set and adding to it, really! x
Sasha @ From the Left Field says
I like your sentiment of sticking with a theme that the kids feel comfortable with and then adding a little re-jig to it each year. We have the same decos, mainly because I’m too lazy to update. But we do add in a little one from the kids each year. And we make sure any homemade decorations they’ve crafted at Kindy get put up around the house. They love seeing their stuff, and it’s a gorgeous keepsake. Even with paint splattered all over the decoration in a drive by shooting style. 😛 x
Maxabella says
My favourites are the decos the kids make (and the ones I made as a child too!). The more homemade and old and tatty looking the better. That’s what Christmas is all about to me. Merry Christmas, Sasha! x
Holly Hollyson says
No Bron, I have to agree, we have the same decs each year, just with a few added replacement type decorations. Yours are all so lovely, loving the chalk board.
Maxabella says
See, the chalkboard and the light box and most of the stuff we have is not ‘Christmas’ stuff per say. But it goes well! I am very happy with my pops of fluro pink this year. I might find it hard to give those up! x
Erin says
Decorating style is umm basic;) Was gushing over a pic of a tree on the net yesterday and said to husband, “why doesn’t my tree look like that?” Realised the answer is cause my daughters, 13 and 10 put up and decorated the tree. Actually considering that they did a good job, prob better than me anyhow. Certainly better than their brothers decorating style which is to toss the tinsel on in literal ‘blobs’.
Maxabella says
The kids always decorate the tree. I may or may not ‘switch things around’ a little bit afterwards. It’s just all about balance… 🙂 x
Bele @ BlahBlah says
Oh, my, cheeses, I would never forgive you if you gave up the advent socks. They’re handy and drop dead gorgeous, too boot (puns may have been intentional, but let’s move right along…)
Stuff, gahhhhh… I’m just hoping it becomes really sexy to use the same old same old and we can all have competition about who has the most beaten up Christmas decs. Ahh… a girl can dream. Happy Christmas to you and yours beautiful lady. Bele xxxxxx
Maxabella says
Wouldn’t it be lovely if we call got off the ‘styled’ roundabout and embraced the daggy again? Sigh. I want the eighties back. And yes, MERRY MERRIES to you all, Bele. We WILL get together in the new year, yes indeedy! x
Julie says
Hate the idea of a new theme each year! What a effing waste of money and stuff. Plus where are the memories? Some of my fav decorations are the older ones/ Each yes I do buy one new thing, this year Jarvis picked a dancing reindeer, and each child gets one new decoration, I got handmade stars from a local company That We Do, with each child’s name and 2014 stamped on them.
Maxabella says
I love That We Do – they made the gorgeous Maxabella Loves Christmas bauble that Tessa gave me for Christmas. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves! Happy new year! x
Julie @ Off to the park says
I love your decorations Bron, the advent calendar is too cute! While I’d love to go all out and by a bag of new decorations each year (I love those cute little mason jars filled with fake snow and ornaments), we tend to leave it to one new decoration a year. This year we bought an advent calendar Christmas tree, the girls went on a special outing to the Christmas shop at Myer and bought a snowflake decoration (because it looked like Frozen!) for the tree. I also like decorating areas around the home, not just our lounge room where the tree is. I hope you have a Merry Christmas Bron! xx
Maxabella says
It’s so nice to make getting a new ornament such a special occasion, Julie. I hope you algae a lovely Christmas and – happy new year! x