Christmas is upon us…. or will be soon enough! With Halloween gone, Thanksgiving is right around the corner which assures us that Christmas will be here before you know it. And Christmas means…. decorating your home!
If you’re like most of us, you’ll dread going up into the attic or down in the basement to retrieve those dusty, heavy boxes. You know the ones. Old cardboard boxes with the black-marker words on the side stating ‘Christmas Decorations’ or ‘Christmas Lighting’ or…. well, you get the drift.
So, what makes Holiday decorating such a ‘chore’? Probably because you’re doing the same thing over and over each year without thought to…change! Well, this year let’s start thinking differently and make Holiday decorating a fun event. Let’s start with those boxes….
Open those boxes (with the family, I might add…let’s make this a family ‘project’) and examine exactly what is it that you have. Anything of great meaning? Heirlooms handed down through the years. Artwork done by children…grandchildren? Sort out what’s meaningful and what’s not (i.e. those store-bought stockings or garlands that can be gotten cheaply enough). When we’re helping client’s who are older and are going through the process of downsizing, we go through this exercise with them and help them to “let go” of the things that are just that… things, and preserve those decorations that are very dear to them. Now that you have a grasp on what you have…
Think about what areas of your home will receive the most attention. Living room? Entrance way? Family room? Decide on how much decorating in each room you’ll want to achieve. Big push for the living-room and maybe not so much in the entrance way? Maybe your family room will be the decorating center piece with less attention elsewhere.
Do you “Deck the Halls” or are you more of a “Silent Night”? If you said “Deck the Halls” then go big. Put it all out there! If you seek simplicity, you don’t have to put all of your decorations out every year. I mix it up. I have lots of tree ornaments, so each year I choose which colors to emphasize. Sometimes I just use all my clear glass ornaments and other times, I’ll use whites and red. If your taste is simple, just be sure to put out those lovely pieces that are dear to you? There is no right or wrong. If your Christmas décor doesn’t look like the beautiful displays you see at Macy’s… THAT’S GREAT! Your Christmas décor represents you and your family, with lots of memories and steeped with the traditions from your past. Remember, you’re decorating YOUR home with adornments that are near and dear to you and your family. Make decorating a family adventure. We can assure you that it will turn out perfect.
Now that’s not to say you shouldn’t add to your collection. If you’ve always wanted to change your ‘look’, there’s a lot of Christmas decorations that can be gotten for a reasonable price; (think Dollar stores) so at the end of the season, you can simply toss them and not shed crocodile tears over money. Then simply start over next year with new decorations. Let your mind and talents take over!
We are always here to help and no further away than your phone or an email. Wishing all our friends, new and old alike, a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Holiday Season!
