If you've gotten your space decluttered, and you're thinking you'd still like to decorate for the holidays, but don't want to clutter it all up again - I put out this challenge to you today - plan your decorating to reflect a more minimalist lifestyle. Here's a few examples:
1. Bring in some holiday colors in things like pillows or small throw blankets over the sofa. You could bring in a piece of artwork or even a platter with holiday colors/themes to put over the mantle or on a wall. Perhaps a small vase or glass with a few carefully chosen flowers like poinsettias or white cotton balls still attached to their natural stems. They can be fake flowers too if they look good aesthetically. And when it comes time to decorate something large like a tree, keep it simple. Maybe just lights and nothing else, or maybe just a few intentional ornaments leaving lots of green space between them.
We do a themed Christmas every 2 years. This year our theme is "beach". Our simple ornaments will be clear plastic bulbs with sand we've collected during out travels over the last few years. We'll add only a handful of intentional, carefully chosen, beach-themed ornaments to add a splash of color, but as I said, only a few.
We'll bring in the beige, white, light blue, and coral pink colors in simple things - pillows or candles or maybe just the wrapping paper we choose to go under the tree - but even then, we're not overdoing it on material gifts, either. Our focus will be on making a dinner that's casual and relaxing, beach-themed foods and beverages, and boardwalk type snacks. Nothing stuffy, fancy, expensive, or overdone. Clutter is the last thing we want in our space.
If you don't need to do a large tree, or if you have no small children coming over, then there's no need to feel guilty about skipping that tradition this year. Forget everyone else's expectations and simplify your holidays. In the picture on the left, you can see a few oversize branches placed behind a sofa with a small wreath over head is simple, inexpensive, and looks very high-end. Bringing nature into the home during the winter is a great way to keep it simple but add that touch of warmth and interest this time of year. In this photo, you could choose festive intentional pieces to go on the tables, or change out the shade on the floor lamp. Maybe you could put a sprig of greenery around the top of the lampshade? The rug appears to be an area rug, so that could be changed out for warmer colors that would work from for 5 or 6 months.
Maybe all you need to decorate is the fireplace (even if it's just a decorative one in a small apartment or condo). Bringing in simple decorations like the stars in the photo on the right, a simple word like "noel" on the mantle in natural wood, a few candles (even those battery operated ones), a simple string or two of either lights, greens, or decorated garland, and simple wood pieces and twigs in the fireplace...simple, inexpensive, easy. If you actually USE your fireplace, then obviously you'll need to keep the bottom cleared and don't hang anything across it that could catch fire. I'd stick with only what's on top of the mantle and maybe add a tall, skinny vase on either side with simple long twigs. If you live where you can just go outside and pick your own, that's even better! If not, there's lots of options in department and craft stores - even dollar stores have them sometimes.
Homemade decorations can be simple, inexpensive, and yet fill your home with warmth. Here's a simple idea that has endless possibilities...pick a candle, real or battery operated, in the color of your choice, then put it in a simple glass vase that's just a bit larger, again, shape and color are up to you, then surround it with natural things that are the right seasonal colors - they could be cranberries, lentils in orange and green, black beans that are sold dry in bags, sea glass or colored stones found at any dollar store, twigs, candy corn, whatever comes to mind.
I hope today's challenge gets you thinking about some easy, simple, minimalist ideas for your own living space. It doesn't have to be expensive, cluttered, or all over the place. Keep it simple. Enjoy the process. Have fun with this.
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