Seasonal: Winter. Back to the Classics
This year I felt a tremendous shift in my winter decor as I leaned, for the first time (I am embarrassed to say so) to real, live adornments for the home. Cedar boughs draped the entry and winding staircase railing; an incredibly tall and magical live tree stole the show. A much more pared-down, classic, and seasonal aesthetic layered the house in warmth and tradition. I reached for thick, antique gold velvet ribbons, dried orange slices and vintage bells. I beaded wooden garlands. I dried oranges. I went into the forest and foraged for cedar boughs. In the end, it all came together beautifully.
This was more labour-intensive but also something I enjoyed being a part of. I involved the kids more than ever and it felt more personal. We selected trees for the great room as well as the playroom. We made wreaths. I even dabbled in a garland for the mantle. It may not have been perfect, but it was personal, and that makes all the difference.
The advantage to taking down decor and starting again from scratch seasonally is that you get to approach everything with fresh eyes the following year. With that in mind I thought I would re-visit our winter decor with several changes I would like to keep in mind:
I used a mauve velvet ribbon this year for many accents throughout the home because I had excess of it, however, I feel it would be an easy thing to alter yearly and am excited to see the impact that shift can make.
I wish I had created an advent calendar versus the kids begging for the store-bought chocolates per day. It’s a bit more pressure out the gates but worthwhile.
Next year I need to order the pieces I love and wish to add to our “ yearly look” ahead of time, while also getting rid of those that have been sticking around far beyond their welcome. Go for what you love and plan ahead so you can execute it the way you hope to. When in doubt, trim the excess.
At the end of the day it’s the memories that remain and the decor is merely the backdrop. But if it sparks joy for you, then indulge yourself in creating a world of memories for yourself and your family that you’re proud to have captured for years to come.