After Thanksgiving, I decorate for Christmas. As a Christmas decor purist, “post-Thanksgiving” is my favorite 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 everyone to get outside.
As I simplify, I actually enjoy the holidays more. And I mean all the holidays, including Thanksgiving. We focus on time with family, simple traditions, and giving to those in need, especially at the holidays. I think it helps our story get better and better. So if you’re trying to figure out how to create a holiday season focused on what matters most, I have some suggestions.
Start by setting priorities around your most meaningful traditions. Choose just 3-5 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.
I like to decorate. But we own just four boxes of decorations, and I downsize a little each year. And that’s my secret to decorating in just one day. I love that I can enjoy the rest of the holiday season after it’s done. Here’s how you can do the same.
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 it were 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?
Over time, I reduced the number of Christmas bins from 15 to 4. The bins are of the same style and shape and stack neatly together.
For years, we 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. Here are the things I kept and why I love them.
Real Tree
As long as our travel schedule allows, 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 usually choose to skip the tree for that year. 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 that less really is more.
Advent Calendar
When my son was little, this was his favorite decoration. I still set it up in his room for when he comes home. It’s a simple Advent Calendar with 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, no matter what. Set up only your favorite decorations and enjoy!
Donate the extras. Now is the best time of year to donate Christmas decorations. Please don’t burden donation centers in January with your poorly timed Christmas donations.
Are you taking on the decorate-in-one-day challenge?
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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!
I decorated in one afternoon and used only the ornaments that we absolutely love. As I pull out ornaments I purge them that year. I think I’ll take a second look through because I have many that are not being used. So why do I keep them?!?
I review our ornaments every year too. I also have just one bin as my boundary which helps keep my collection in check to just what we like the most. Nicely done on your part!
I was just thinking this myself! What I don’t finish in a half day, not that important anymore. I think my family will have a harder time adapting to this scaled back model, but they aren’t offering to decorate or take down! 🤗
Well in that case, I would definitely do what you enjoy! You’ll love that in January you can put everything away easier too. Enjoy my friend!