After Thanksgiving, I will decorate for Christmas. As a Christmas decor purist, I find “post-Thanksgiving” the best time to decorate. I cheer for stores like Nordstrom’s that wait until after Thanksgiving. Usually, my decorations appear by early December.
Gratitude at Thanksgiving
My resistance to decorating before Thanksgiving stems from what has become known as the spending season instead of the holiday season. As a society, we move right past the gratitude holiday into the spending holiday. Kudos to REI who closes on Black Friday and encourages us to get outside.
As I simplify, I actually enjoy the holidays more. And I mean all the holidays including Thanksgiving. We focus on the time with family and strive give to those with throughout the year but especially at the holidays. I think it helps our story get better and better as a result.
So if you’re wondering, “How can my family create a holiday season focused on what matters most?” Start by setting priorities around your most meaningful traditions. Choose just 5 holiday traditions that truly serve you. And let the rest go! If you have time to do more, great, but don’t make yourself crazy trying to do it all and create the perfect holiday.
For example, I like to decorate. But we own just four boxes of decorations and I downsize a little each year. I carefully scrutinize every item. And that is my secret to decorating, start to finish, in just one day. I love that I can decorate in one day and enjoy the rest of the holiday season after its done.
Questions to Help Declutter your Decorations
- Would I buy this today if I saw it in a store?
- Is the decoration labor-intensive to set up?
- Does it take up a lot of storage space?
- Would I miss it if not displayed?
- Do I love it enough to dust it?
- Would I like something else instead of this item?
- Will this be difficult to take down in cold weather (outside)?
Over time, I reduced the number of bins from 15 to 4. The bins are of the same style and shape and stack neatly together.
For years, we simply owned too many decorations. Now, it’s easy to pick an evening to set up and tear down. My son likes to help and he’s good at carrying boxes too.
Decorating is just one part of our holiday season. We take time to enjoy the experience instead of feeling like we failed when things are undone.
Here are the things I kept and why I love them.
Real Tree
As long as our travel schedule will allow for it, I like to get a real tree. We only have to store the base and pedestal. I do not own or store an artificial tree. If we’re traveling a lot at the holidays, we opt to not get a tree. Keep in mind that not every holiday has to be the same or have all the same traditions. It is ok to change things up especially if it helps you simplify.
The Nativity
This is the first decoration out and the last to be put away. I smile at it each day, proving less really is more.
Advent Calendar
My son’s favorite decoration is this simple Advent Calendar. No candy, clutter, or tchotchke.
Decorating Challenge
This year, my decorating challenge to you is to decorate in one day and stop at the end of the day, now matter what. Set up only your favorite decorations and enjoy!
Donate the extras. Now is the only time of year you can donate Christmas decorations.
I’d love to hear about your experience.
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I’m on your team! My husband and I did all of our holiday decorating in one afternoon and we even donated 2 boxes of decorations that they deemed “done”. As I get old all the bells and whistles don’t seem as important.
Team Decorate in One Day! I’m planning to do so Saturday morning. It’s been a busy week. But I’m looking forward to decorating over a cup of coffee in my PJs.
It’s interesting to see what size and type of tree you choose! Frazier fir, I recall. Looks about 5 feet. Your son’s handprints from 2010 are precious! I am also fan of those Rubbermaid bins.
usually fraser fir or I borrow an artificial
We have 10 bins, but I have a number of large items and many many meaningful ornaments. We’ll peel away 2 daughter’s ornaments soon I’m guessing to go home with them…We decorate in about 1/2 day if daughters are here which thankfully, is usual. Always watch ELF after the tree is up. Love christmas in my house, would not meet your minimalist level but I know you’d say ‘do you’?
It sounds like decorating is a shared family experience. One that is a meaningful tradition too. As long as there is still joy in the process and space to store the 10 bins easily, then I wouldn’t argue against it. My space really only lends itself to 4 bins. More than that is difficult to store. It sounds like you love all the pieces you put up. My only advice is to look at all the items with a critical eye each year and downsize accordingly. Merry Christmas!