Your Bokeh shot for today. The word bokeh, by the way, comes from a Japanese word. Some of you were wondering about that.
Question: How do I decorate for the holidays in a very small cottage?
Answer: More and more sparingly.
Last year, when Don had to be away at Christmas, I made the decision to decorate sparingly. No large fir in the den because I would have to take it down and carry it out of here all by myself. So I used our little 2 foot white tree in the living room, hung a few bottle brush ornaments and wreaths and that was it. I’m not counting the wreath on the door and the outdoor lights, which are always part of our Christmas.
It worked. It was lovely and festive and peaceful.
I found it very liberating.
I have a lot of Christmas ornaments and decorations. A lot: three big tubs full. I stopped feeling that I had to use every single one of them several years ago. But last year was revelatory. Spare is now my middle name.
We have a small cottage. I like color. I collect pottery and books and all things vintage and it’s all on display because we don’t have an attic or a basement in which to store those things I might want to shuffle out of the rotation. Besides, I like to see the things I love and collect. I don’t want them stored away. All that is to say there is a lot of visual stimulation around this place on a daily basis. There’s lots to see. There’s lots of color. I’m very careful about how I display things because it’s important for the eye to have some place to rest. So vignettes (a word I am more than a little tired of) are at a minimum.
Christmas = even more visual stimulation. Therefore, in my humble opinion, in order for it to be powerful, striking and yes, there’s that word again, peaceful, spare and simple is the way to go.
No themes. It’s Christmas; that’s theme enough. No new design every year. That costs money.
We don’t need a new look every year. We need our look, our traditions.
This is the little tree I bought several years ago at Michael’s. (I think I have to rearrange some of those ornaments!) Anyway, it’s pretty, it’s simple, and it works with the look of the living room. I love the way it looks at night.
I have four of these bottlebrush wreaths and I love them, but this year, for the first time, I’m only using two of them. One hangs above the piano, along with an aqua colored glittery tree.
I bought this Debbee Thibault angel many years ago but it had been stashed away in a drawer. Why, I don’t know. I rediscovered her the other day and thought she would be the perfect simple touch for the piano.
The other bottle brush wreath is on the china cabinet in the kitchen.
That’s it for the living room and kitchen (which are, for all intents and purposes, one big room.) Except for the snow globe, which I’ve already shown you. It’s on display on the blue bench.
In the den?
Our noble fir. It’s decorated with lots of vintage Shiny Brites, some ornaments from my childhood, and my favorite bottlebrush ornaments. I made the tree skirt when we were living in San Diego.
Getting the whole tree in a shot requires some minor gymnastics – the den is a small room. We always buy a real tree because we love the scent of a fir tree. We love the imperfections of a real tree. Every tree we buy always becomes ‘the perfect tree’ not because of perfect lines or perfect height, but because it has its own personality. This one turned out to be wider at the bottom than we had planned for – a delightful surprise. With a real tree, every year’s tree is a surprise. I like that.
The tree, by the way, is the only decoration we spent any money on. Everything else we had on hand.
That’s the only decoration in the den. Quite frankly, that’s all that needs to be there. It’s statement enough.
That’s it, my friends. No decorations in the bedrooms or bathrooms or even on the stairway. I’ve wrapped the railing before with a faux fir garland, but this year? No.
Simple. Spare. And for us, more meaningful.
I leave you with a shot of yesterday’s snow.
The amazing Peter O’Toole has left us. He just may be my favorite actor. I’ll miss your incandescent presence here on earth, Mr. O’Toole. Thank you for sharing your brilliant talent with us. Rest in Peace.
It’s time to watch My Favorite Year again.
Happy Monday.
Love your trees with the vintage ornaments. I am really enjoying seeing the white trees this year. My grama used to have a pink one and I thought it was so strange as a child, I would now love to get my hands on it.
I wish you could get that pink tree, Dawn. I bet it’s beautiful.
I like a real, needle-dropping tree. Each year the fun part is throwing down the back seats of my car, sliding the passenger seat forward and stuffing one in through the trunk. It’s worth it. Your tree in the den looks great, Claudia.
Thanks so much, my friend.
I appreciate your take on Christmas decor Claudia. While I love looking at the themes and all the abundance of decor posted on many blogs, none of that is for me. As you said, “the theme IS Christmas” … my sentiment exactly. While I do decorate with more than you have, it’s just my living room and entry. My decorations are out for 3 weeks each year – it just wouldn’t be Christmas for me if I didn’t put my same decorations on my tree each year, or without my little Christmas village, my snowmen, my Santa’s, and my nativity. My prized tree ornament is a very tattered paper ornament that first hung on my great-grandma’s tree in 1916. It wouldn’t fit into any “fancy theme”, and my tree isn’t finished until it’s hung in it’s spot of honor each year!
P.S. I LOVE your tree!
I bet that tattered paper ornament is simply gorgeous and priceless, Debbie.
Hi Claudia!! Everything looks beautiful and very festive!! I love your trees!! Your cottage looks peaceful and bright!! Our tree is up also with all of our favorite ornaments on it!! It wouldn’t be Christmas without them!! I just love that little angel sitting on your piano… she’s simple and perfect for the cottage!! Have a great Monday!! Francine
I’m so glad I found that angel again, Francine!
Your trees are lovely Claudia. I am not about themes at Christmas. I have the same wreaths hanging in my kitchen. Peaceful is good. Wishing your family a Merry Christmas, Olive
Peaceful is very good, Olive. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Looks perfect to me and we share the not going over the top aspect when it comes to adding Christmas decor. I love just adding ‘Christmassy things’ to already standing vignettes, and of course the tree – gotta have a tree of some type. I have the faux one in the gazebo outside, the little vintage metal one in the living room, and the small live Fraser fir in the diining room.
Your angel is so adorable Claudia – glad you found her hiding place!
Whoa! I think that’s enough snow for a while – send a little our way please, just a dusting on Christmas Eve will be perfect!
Hugs – Mary
I’ll send a little your way, Mary! I like the idea of adding a tweak or two to an already standing vignette. Just enough to show it’s Christmas. xoxo
Your trees are both lovely Claudia. Thank’s for the pics of the snow, love them. I find myself wishing for a simpler life with fewer things to clutter up the house and I do get rid of stuff now and then, but I have a long way to go to really simplify. I have a whole walk in closet full of Christmas decor and it does seem silly to hold on to so much stuff when we only display it for a few weeks a year. I promise myself I won’t put out so much stuff every year and I always break that promise. Maybe this summer when I won’t be babysitting for the first time in years I’ll go through and pare down. That’s my goal, we’ll see. It was cool here last night and will be tonight but in a few days it will be in the 80’s again. Enjoy your day!
Oh, Janie, I have a whole bunch of things I should get rid of. It’s an ongoing process!
Its lovely Claudia. I too have been more sparing with my decorations in recent years. We go away fro a few days so we do not have a big or even a real tree anymore. I still need to go in the basement and clear out all the decorations we no longer use. It feels so much more peaceful with the simple decorations.
I think one thing I’m going to do this year is sort through those bins and donate the things I know I will no longer use.
Like you, I put out less and less as the years pass. This year the tree, creche, and a few angels. Love it. And I have never seen bottle brush wreaths! Yours are just wonderful.
I will miss Peter O’Toole. As the old guard passes there is no one to take their place, but the young ones make their own place. I think my favorite Peter O’Toole movie is “My Favorite Year”. Haven’t seen it listed on TV in a very long time, but maybe it will be in the next month. I hope so. In that movie and of course “Lawrence of Arabia” there is so much background in his eyes. Just a little sadness there but nothing overwhelming in it. If you don’t look, it can be missed. Truly a great actor.
I got those bottlebrush wreaths at Big Lots about 4 years ago. I love them.
Yes, O’Toole’s death is, to me, the end of an era.
xo
Your live tree in the den is so beautiful! We don’t put up a big tree anymore, but when we did, it had to be an artificial one as I’m very allergic to pine – and, so was Phil.
Oh, so sorry you are allergic to pine, Melanie.
Your decorations are very warm and welcoming. Thanks for sharing them with us. I always feel that it is an honor, and a priviledge, to be welcomed into someone’s home.
It is fun to know someone else who enjoys “My Favorite Year.” I love this movie, which entertains with both laughter and tears!
It is one of my favorites. I love it!
I think you did, indeed, find your theme, Claudia! It is “Peaceful”.
In these times it seems that Peace should be a theme we all embrace. All the glitter in the world can’t out-do that theme!!
You are so right, Chris.
Tree is looking great Claudia! Is shiny brights a trademark name, or is that just what you call ornaments? I have some vintage ones from the 50’s…you know, with those large indentations?. Patio furniture in the snow…what’s not to love?;)
Shiny Brites was a brand name, Donna.
Thanks…did not know that! ;)
Your little cottage seems perfect all year round, but I love how you have decorated for Christmas. So much easier not to go overboard, to just enjoy the holiday. Love your bottle brush wreaths. Gorgeous!
Thank you, Susan!
Beautiful trees Claudia..both beautiful in their own way..My favorite part of decorating is the trees also..otherwise just a few simple touches here and there..Thanks for sharing with us once again..
You are very welcome, Nancy.
Hi Claudia: We don’t even have a tree this year! I have decorated with our family nativity and a few baubles here and there, but since the entire week of Christmas will be spent with our daughters family, we just didn’t see a reason to decorate a lot this year. Each year I’m putting out less and less and giving away family favorites to our children to use in THIER family traditions. It is really quite nice not to have the barrage of color every moment of every day.
Blessings,
Betsy
No sense doing a lot of decorating when you’re going to be away, Betsy!
Claudia, I thought your bottle brush wreathes were vintage! A year ago I got the cutest pink tree at Big Lots, prelit, too. So it’s also in the house this year with a big tree. I tried to scale back but my daughter commented on there being a lack of Christmas around, so it’s back. Even tho my daughter is an adult now, I think sometimes its important to keep the old memories and celebrations the same for them in these difficult times many of us are facing. I’m sure your live tree fills the house with excitement for the holidays.
Especially when you have children, Annette. I think they like the consistency of family celebrations and traditions.
I love it Claudia! I put less out this year, too. But less is still more than I really need. This has been a slow process for me. I’ve been working on that ” less ” concept for 4-5 years. I still have a long way to go, but I’ll get there. One of these years I’m going to get it down to the tree, the fireplace mantel and the dining room table. I’ve giving things away to charity, to my kids, to my niece. Once my son gets out on his own, I will have my kids go through more of these things. I just can’t possibly use them all, but since there are memories attached, I don’t want to get rid of them until the kids have a chance to claim them.
I don’t know who I’ll pass my ornaments on to, my friend. Maybe a niece or nephew.
Thank you for sharing the lovely pictures of your decorating in a small home. I too live in a small home and we have one tree about 4 foot high. With leftover Christmas fabric that I had I made some bunting to hang off our kitchen cupboard. It looks great and rolls up easily to put away:). Thank you for your snow picture it looks so peaceful and calm, I have never seen snow so please let me keep the illusion of no shovelling being freezing and locked inside LOL.
We’re expecting 2 – 4 more inches tomorrow, Janine.
I love all of your decorations but that little white tree with the sweet ornaments and print skirt is my favorite.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
It’s a pretty little tree – I got the tree because I won that tree skirt in a giveaway! I had to have a tree to go with it.
Your decorations are splendid! My only purchase this year was a poinsettia. Funny, I think that is what I bought last year too!
A poinsettia is the perfect purchase for Christmas, Kelly.
Enjoyed seeing your Christmas decorations. Elegant and cozy is what I would call it, and all you. :) Your little found angel is precious. Isn’t it wonderful rediscovering things?
I will miss Peter O’Toole very much. My favorite film of Peter’s is “The Lion in Winter” with the magnificent Katherine Hepburn and the young but already brilliant Anthony Hopkins. I’ve seen it so many times I know this film by heart. Next favorite is “Becket” with Richard Burton. ‘Delicious’ and ‘Rich’ are the words that always comes to mind watching the two of them work together. Peter was so decadently elegant in Becket. And his rages – oh the rages! :D I loved him when he raged in any of his films. I’m so sorry that he is gone but am so grateful for what he left with us. May he rest in peace.
Have a good week.
~ Cassandra
He was the last of a breed of actors – trained in England, at home on the stage and on film, with glorious mellifluous voices, capable of great emotion. The more I think about him, the more I miss him.
It was like listening to a great piece of music whenever they spoke…O’Toole, Burton, Olivier, Guinness. There was a tribute to Peter O’Toole on NPR yesterday containing part of an interview he did with Terry Gross a few years back. She asked him about how he had memorized all of the Shakespearean sonnets and he recited one from memory. Oh that voice, that voice! If I hadn’t been driving I might have swooned. :D I think I need a Peter O’Toole movie marathon in the near future.
Thanks for sharing your Christmas home, Claudia. You have the right idea, in my opinion. I think a lot of us join the “less-is-more” decorating camp as we get older. Plus when you only put a little out, you only have a little to pack up again. I feel the same about Peter O’Toole. Had a mad crush on him after watching “Lawrence of Arabia” on TV with my dad when I was probably about 12. The crush lasted about 2 days but my respect for his talent never faded. Felt truly sad when I heard the news. Just saw on the news tonight that Joan Fontaine also died this weekend. Sad sigh…
Yes, Joan Fontaine, Eleanor Parker (also a great actress) and now Peter O’Toole. Profound losses all.
my favorite year..creator…..I never tire of either and will watch both soon in his honor
Me too, Suzan. I’ll add How to Steal a Million because I love it – seeing Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole together in an elegant caper movie is heaven.
Claudia,
I love your decorations. I love the simplicity of them. Over the years I have gathered many many decorations and the idea of putting them all up is daunting now that I’m employed full time and over 50. I’m going to give myself the freedom to simplify this Christmas. Ahhhh. I feel better already!
We don’t have any snow yet :( that would be the best decoration of them all.
Clara
Oh, it will feel great, I guarantee it! Simplify.
Fabulous , Claudia! I loved every shot, and that tree is breathtaking! How I wish I were not allergic to live trees. That one just embodies Christmas I adore it!
xo
Sheila
Thanks so much, Sheila!
Your blog today makes me feel better about how I decorate………thanks!
ps. I love “Man of La Mancha”
You’re very welcome, Nancy!
Just beautiful, Claudia. I love the simple look. It might be hard to believe when you see how many decorations we have, but probably 90% of them are my mothers. She is the Santa collector, and hard to believe but she gave away and sold three-quarters of what she had. I have learned there are some things I have to do to keep a semblance of peace. Change is very slow with her, and not well received.
If you looked at dining room day of my Holiday Home Tour, you would see my holiday decorating preference.
Beautiful tree, Claudia, and I agree: Christmas itself, is theme enough!
xo
Poppy