I’ve taken down the tree and nearly everything Christmas, but now, as every new year, I can’t decide what to put back out. What is “winter” decor? I’ll still keep out my plaid accent accessories – pillows, table runners, but after that, I’m at a loss. Put out the previous stuff? Maybe refresh old arrangements?!
When I decorated for Christmas, I actually took phone pics before I packed away the mantel arrangement; and arrangements from the coffee table, top of the piano, etc., so I could remember what went where. After 28 years of marriage, a lot of decorative items, about 1,000 books, numerous set-abouts, and myriad colored glass bottles have accumulated, and I can’t remember where they were before we shoved them in the closet, or stowed the many portraits and frames under the guest bed!
Since we cut our own tree at a tree farm this year, about 21 days before Christmas, we thought we could get away with displaying it in our living room. The living room has the highest ceilings, so we could get a bigger one! So, we did get a bigger one, but even with just 20 days inside… it was no match for our wood heater. By Christmas day it was absolutely CRISPY! And the ends of all the branches drooped!
As we live in a wood house, we are always very fire conscience, so the day after Christmas that crispy critter was OUT of here! Tonight, we burned it and it was a reminder of the fire hazard it was! Even after being outside several days – and being rained on a couple of times – it incinerated in about 5 minutes! It was a huge conflagration! Very scary to think of what could happen if we were careless!
Since Em is still home from college, she helped me clean up the rest of the decorations and pack them up. Still found a couple seasonal wall decorations we missed, and of all things, a little Christmas display in front of my sink is still up. Like I don’t look out that window 20 times a day. Sigh.
I need to get framed photos back on the walls, and that’s tomorrow’s task. In the kitchen is the only place I have managed to re-create/create a little vignette, using a vintage crock, some faux flowers, and greenery I already had for the fall decorations.
Though I usually prefer real greenery and flowers – it’s December 30th, so that’s a no go. I re-used some pomegranate stems and thistle stems, and added them to a bunch of eucalyptus stems I also already had, and I’m pleased with the new look. I grabbed a few of the aforementioned items and at least made one corner look like I am making an effort!
I really like how the thistle and pomegranate stems really stand out more than they did when the orange foliage overwhelmed them.
Found items like this darling antique ink bottle from my own house make arrangements like this personal, not just a bunch of stuff from the shelves of Target (though, I LOVE Target!) Magnolia designers wish they had some of the stuff I’ve found.
Have you taken down Christmas? Do you feel pressure to get normal life and decor back?
