Deck the Halls All Year ‘Round

Does anyone else have a love hate relationship with Christmas/Holiday decor? You love how it looks and how it makes you feel, but you just don’t have the time or money to make it all that you dream of when the holidays come around. Oh, just me? Awkward…

Regardless though, this is how I feel. Y’all, if you could only see our house in my head. It looks soooo good. In real life though, there are just a few nods to Christmas scattered around because we are in a new to us (rental) house and I don’t have what I’d like for Christmas decor in this home. More on the rental house in a future post. But here’s the thing, I don’t really care that much. I am making a conscious choice to not give my precious time to that this December or to spend money we should be budgeting for other things. Here’s the exciting part though…

You can have a home like that anytime of the year.

But seriously, you can! Let’s take a look at Christmas Decor and see what we can learn about making a cozy and beautiful home.

1. Lighting Matters
   I would say one of the top reasons homes feel extra cozy during the holidays are the lights! Whether it’s the candle lights (real or fake), the twinkle lights, or the Christmas lights. Lighting plays a massive role in how we perceive a space or how we feel in a space. While cozy and dimly lit spaces aren’t appealing to everyone or during every part of the day in every season, you can be way more creative with your lighting year round. Lights are actually a fantastic way to create routines within the home and signify whether it’s time to gather, cook, eat, read, rest, etc.

2. Green is Good
   Why is a green Christmas tree so uplifting?? Besides the lights and ornaments….because it’s green. And in the midst of the sparse and brown winter, unless you live in FL, it reminds us of life. You guys, you can have this all year long! Plants are so good for our homes, for so many reasons. They clean the air, signify life, and make lovely decor. Not to mention that caring for plants goes all the way back to Genesis, so no wonder it feels to good to tend to plants! This is also another way to create routine within our homes, as we care for the plants. My two favorites, because of how indestructible they are, are pothos and snake plants. They are pretty amazing. Let me know what you’re favorites are! Now, for the black thumbs among us… First of all, no judgement. Even the green thumbers have likely killed a plant or two before. Listen though, fake green plants still have those benefits, just not the cleaning the air or creating routine. I mean, in theory you could rotate your fake plants once a week to create routine and give them a little mist? Hey, whatever works for you!

3. Handmade is Beautiful
   Something classically Christmas, is handmade anything. Handmade cookies, handmade ornaments, handmade gifts, handmade decor, handmade cards…they all have this special warmth to them. They mean something and they are unique! There is something to be said for handmade decor throughout your home, all year long. Handmade elements add character and charm. It’s what makes your home feel like your home, and not a Hearth and Hand display. And I’m knocking that brand, or any other home decor brand. Those collections are full of beautiful pieces! Just don’t let store bought and mass produced items be the only thing you use in your home. If you do, you are missing out! You don’t have to be the one to make the items. It’s always great to support makers and craftsmen! Heck, you can always support me. I love a good custom piece!

4. Purpose is Powerful
   Something that’s special about Christmas is how unified our homes feel. It’s as if our entire home is enveloping us in a layer of cozy and the walls are whispering, “Merry Christmas!” It’s because more so than in any other season, we tend to focus in on one thing: Cozy and or Christmas. And we use all sorts of elements to create this feeling. Think about the Christmas themed dishes, pillows, blankets, lights, candles, etc. There is something powerful about a unified purposed for a space. You can have a unified purpose in your space all year! You just have to start by figuring out what you want your home to be: uplifting, nourishing, comforting, refreshing, calming, energizing, etc. Or you can think about how you want your home to feel: cozy, peaceful, happy, vibrant, bright, cheerful, calm, sophisticated, restful. Once you figure out what you are going for, it’s much easier to be purposeful in how you decorate and use your spaces.

So there it is… hope you learned something. Now go deck those halls!