There’s an undeniable magic in decorating a new home for its very first holiday season. It’s an experience that carves out fresh memories and establishes beloved traditions, much like discovering the first blooms of spring in a new garden – a delightful surprise that makes you want to shout the news from the rooftops! This year, our focus has been on transforming our recently downsized home into a sweet and festive haven, brimming with holiday cheer.
Our journey to this holiday season began with significant changes, including a deliberate process of downsizing and simplifying our lives. This meant approaching holiday decorations with a fresh perspective, understanding the constraints and opportunities of a smaller living space. The challenge was to create a festive atmosphere without overwhelming the new footprint. As we’ve openly discussed on our podcast, one of the biggest decisions involved our previous, generously-sized Christmas tree. Despite the sentimental value, its considerable width (a 5’5″ base!) simply didn’t fit into our new home without severely impeding the flow. Making the decision to donate it, even after it made the long journey with us, was surprisingly easy given our commitment to a simpler, more efficient lifestyle.
Initially, we entertained the romantic idea of a real Christmas tree. The thought of not having to store a bulky faux tree sounded like a minimalist’s dream come true! However, as we delved deeper, we realized that the stand, lights, and beloved ornaments still require storage. While less than a full artificial tree, it certainly wasn’t “nothing.” Our local fresh tree options presented another challenge: they were either too wide for our cozy rooms or, if narrow enough, often just a mere 4 feet tall – charming, but not quite the majestic centerpiece we envisioned. This exploration led to a delightful compromise: a petite potted tree, adorned with felt ornaments and twinkling lights, now gracing an upstairs nook. It was a steal at just $20 from the garden center, and the best part? We can plant it in our backyard once the holidays conclude, extending its life beyond a single season. This sustainable choice perfectly aligns with our new, mindful approach to decorating.
Yet, the desire for a more substantial tree lingered. The hunt began for a faux tree that struck the perfect balance: realistic appearance, a narrower profile suitable for our new space, but still tall enough to make a statement. It truly felt like a “Goldilocks” quest – one tree was the ideal height but too wide, another the perfect width but too short, and many simply looked too artificial. After much searching, we finally found one that was ‘just right,’ offering both beauty and practicality for our new living arrangements.
Our magnificent faux tree now stands proudly downstairs, nestled beside our bedroom’s fireplace. We initially imagined it illuminating the upstairs family room, but after testing both locations, the smaller, real potted tree felt more at home upstairs, while the larger one cast a warm, inviting glow by the fireplace. This setup felt intrinsically right, perhaps because it echoed years of tradition from our previous home, where the tree always stood beside the hearth. Most evenings, we gather in this room, the fireplace aglow with candles, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere perfect for family time. This new placement for our main Christmas tree allows it to become a central feature of our evening routines and holiday celebrations.
A wonderful bonus of this downstairs location is the spectacular view it offers from the street. The tree’s soft glow is perfectly visible through the window, creating a welcoming beacon for passersby. This charming curbside appeal adds an extra layer of magic to our holiday house tour, something our upstairs windows couldn’t quite achieve due to the deck’s placement. When it comes to the tree itself, we were incredibly fortunate to snag this 6.5ft beauty for just $99 during a last-minute sale. It was the last one in stock, making it feel like a truly serendipitous find! While this exact model is currently unavailable online, we’ve discovered a very similar option with excellent reviews, for anyone embarking on their own quest for a lifelike artificial tree.
The realism of this particular faux tree is truly remarkable. I regret not capturing a more detailed close-up shot, but the branches possess an incredibly authentic design that’s my absolute favorite feature. Standing before it in person, you’d be hard-pressed to believe it’s not real, even upon touch. I’ll be sure to share a super-close-up in an Instagram story to showcase its incredible authenticity, which rivals our previous tree’s realism – a quality I deeply appreciate in artificial Christmas trees. The tree originally came “potted” in a faux-cement planter, which was perfectly adequate but leaned a little too “English Garden” for our aesthetic. To infuse more warmth and texture, we simply placed it inside a woven storage ottoman we already owned (minus its top, of course). This simple adjustment instantly transformed its look, making it feel more integrated with our home’s cozy vibe.
Crucially, this placement offers ample space to navigate around the tree, allowing us to easily close curtains or access the cabinet beneath the window. Unlike our previous home, where a significant portion of the tree was often relegated to a corner, this arrangement allows us to decorate all sides. This means every single cherished ornament that once adorned our much larger tree fits perfectly on this one! It was a truly magical moment of realization during our family decorating session, a joyous outcome we hadn’t dared to hope for.
One of my greatest holiday decorating anxieties was the thought of having to severely pare down our ornament collection. So many of them are deeply meaningful, handmade treasures, and the prospect of letting go of them felt far more daunting than parting with a large fake tree. The sheer relief and joy of realizing every single one fit on our new tree was immense. It truly felt like a heartwarming testament to thoughtful downsizing for the holidays – a successful exercise in balancing sentiment with practicality. We managed to consolidate all our holiday decorations into a single large plastic bin, which neatly tucks away in our kitchen’s utility closet, alongside our HVAC system and paint cans. Many of our other festive accents are pieces we’ve cherished for years. The elegant white planter housing our “Christmas bush,” the beautiful wooden dough bowl overflowing with shiny ornaments, and a collection of white bottlebrush trees all emerged from storage, alongside the adorable felt ornaments adorning our smaller tree.
In essence, this holiday season saw minimal new purchases – only our new faux tree downstairs and the fresh potted tree upstairs. The clever design of our downstairs tree, breaking down into three manageable pieces that store neatly under our bed, is a game-changer for organization. And with the intention of planting our real tree outdoors, we’re confident that all our decorations will have a designated, stress-free storage spot come January. This feels like a significant win, a successful completion of our “first holiday season of living smaller” test. And despite the streamlined approach, our home radiates an incredibly festive and joyful ambiance, proving that thoughtful choices can lead to abundant cheer without excessive clutter.
The upstairs potted tree is a canvas for the delightful felt ornaments our children have lovingly collected over the years. This tradition mirrors the “upstairs tree” we used to decorate in our previous home’s bonus room, which explains why its presence here feels so naturally right. It’s positioned on a console table near their desks, making it a special focal point in their “zone” for schoolwork. With our family continuing home-learning, this tree lights up every morning and stays on until bedtime, providing a constant source of cheer and comfort throughout the day.
Rest assured, every corner of our home now whispers “it’s festive in here,” thanks to carefully placed elements. My collection of feather, glass, wood, and bottlebrush trees has found perfect homes, even extending to the bathroom. There, a small window ledge proudly displays a freshly clipped evergreen branch from our yard, nestled in a gold cup, alongside a simple candle and two charming ceramic trees that have been with us for years (similar styles are available). It’s a subtle yet impactful touch of holiday spirit in an unexpected spot.
The kitchen, too, has been imbued with holiday cheer. Our two white shelving systems now host a charming display of trees – can you spot all six nestled among the dishes and decor in the image below? These tiny vignettes add sparkle and warmth to a functional space, making everyday moments feel a little more special. If you’re inspired to add similar glowing accents to your own kitchen, these options come highly recommended. For those who appreciate natural textures, this shop offers lovely wooden trees akin to my pink ones, and this feather tree provides another elegant touch. Across the room, on our other shelving unit, which we’ve moved to the opposite wall, two more bottlebrush trees add to the festive landscape. By pure coincidence, our mischievous elf, Raychard (a name lovingly bestowed by our daughter years ago), decided to make a surprise appearance there yesterday, adding a playful element to our kitchen decor.
And just when you might think our collection of bottlebrush trees was complete, there’s another vibrant one adorning the kitchen table, adding a cheerful splash of color to our breakfast nook.
Upon entry, our console table welcomes guests with a pair of glowy glass trees. These charming accents, equipped with battery-operated twinkle lights, are particularly enchanting in the evening, casting a soft, inviting glow that’s visible from outside. This touch of warmth and light creates an immediate festive impression as you step through our front door.
The absence of a mantel for the children’s Christmas stockings over the fireplace is a temporary situation. For now, we’ve playfully looped them over the door handles to our laundry nook, adding a touch of whimsy to an otherwise utilitarian space. Our goal is to install a new mantel before the holidays – even if it’s a makeshift solution for the time being. We’re actively working on this project, so a progress update might be coming your way soon!
Peeking through the front door, you’ll spot our charming “boots with the fir” display still gracing our front porch. These festive red rubber boots, filled with vibrant faux evergreen branches, are now in their fifth year with us and have adorned three different porches, including our previous home and our beach house. This year’s twist? They’re enjoying an exotic life beside a lemon tree, occasionally visited by tiny lizards – a testament to their adaptability and enduring charm.
A notable absence from our outdoor decor is a traditional wreath. Unfortunately, I missed my annual wreath-making event in Richmond with my favorite ladies – a cherished five-year tradition. However, this year presents an exciting new DIY opportunity! I’ve ordered a wreath form and plan to create my own using the abundant magnolia leaves from our property. I’m genuinely excited about this creative endeavor; it could be a stunning success or a glorious disaster – only time will tell! Beyond the red boots, our outdoor festive flair includes our year-round string lights, visible on the right of the photo, and a newly wrapped tree adorned with leftover string lights. John, with his keen eye for lighting, used these outdoor lights, which were previously used on trees on either side of our front porch at our last house. The result is so captivating, I’m tempted to keep it illuminated all year long!
So, this marks our initial foray into decorating our new home for the holidays. We’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of a DIY magnolia wreath and a fireplace mantel for our stockings, along with some fresh garland to drape over a window or two. Our signature battery-operated candles (similar options here), a must-have for every window, contribute additional outdoor charm. Seriously, who else is with me on embracing this magical glow year-round? It brings such joy and warmth.
P.S. For a nostalgic look at our previous holiday decorations, explore this post for all the details, and this one for a full rundown of how we decorated the pink house for the holidays.
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