How I Decorate For Christmas

by

Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. I’ve been busy over the past week or so getting my halls decked out for Christmas and today I thought I’d give you a peek into what the results are.

First of all, it’s important to know that I LOVE decorating for Christmas. I have one large closet in my house dedicated entirely to Christmas decorations and there is some overflow that has found its way into other areas of my home. In fact, it’s a source of eye-rolling acknowledgement among my family members that at some point in the not-to-distant future they may need to hold an intervention if I continue to add to my collection.

All of that is to say that I never decorate my house the same way twice, although there are some special pieces that make an appearance every year.

So here are some photos of my tree and what things I’ve pulled out of the closet this year:

Here is my tree.  I used my four foot tree this year instead of the 7 footer so I could set it up off the floor. This is mainly  a concession to my 18 month old grandson who likes to ‘closely examine’ bright shiny new things <g>. It’s also the reason the gifts are up off the floor.

Here’s a close up of the tree topper – it’s one of those special items that makes an appearance every year. We’ve had this one for over 30 years and it doesn’t feel like Christmas without it.

And speaking of heirlooms, this little bubble tree is another precious-to-me item. It belonged to my grandmother and is over 65 years old.

 

This little white ceramic tree with colorful birds is more recent but is such a happy little decoration that it makes me smile every time I look at it.

The picture above also shows one of my nativity sets. Here are a few more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This next nativity set is a wooden one I bought for my kids to set up and rearrange when they were little. They still look for it whenever they come over this time of year.

These trains are a decoration that had been in storage for a while. It’s 3 of the 4 Winnie the Pooh Christmas trains I have (I have a thing for Winnie the Pooh collectibles). Unfortunately I didn’t have room for the fourth. There’s also a close-up of one of the trains so you can get a better feel for what they look like.

 

And here are some clip-on Christmas critters that pop up in random spot throughout my house

I have a few more bits and pieces of holiday cheer scattered about but that’s probably enough for now.

How about you, Do you go all out with your decorations or do you sport a more understated look? Leave a comment related to my décor or yours and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a copy of one of my backlist books.

 

Website |  + posts

Winnie Griggs is the author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.
Three of Winnie’s books have been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and one of those nominations resulted in a win.
Winnie loves to hear from readers. You can connect with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

47 thoughts on “How I Decorate For Christmas”

  3. Your decorations are lovely.

    I have a 7ft tree in the family room, 4ft tree in the living room, I bought a pink ceramic tree last year–I think I’m the only person whose family didn’t have one growing up. My train is a card-holding train my husband’s grandfather made, but it’s in sad shape, so I put it up on my pie safe–don’t think my husband was okay with that, but it’s in need of repair and paint, and he’s in denial. I have a Willow Tree nativity set. I have a Lenox set of just the holy family, but I didn’t put it out. I even have a tiny tree in the upstairs hallway. Plus, I have wall decor and take down my everyday decor in order to put it up.

    It may sound over-the-top, but it doesn’t look that way.

    Merry Christmas!

  6. Last year I didn’t do much decorating for Christmas because I had just learned that I had breast cancer. This year I decided to pull it all out. Just like you every corner of my house is decorated this year. It is so heartwarming to enjoy ornaments and lights that I’ve loved for years. The only thing I don’t have out and is probably the most important item is my nativity set. But I have four grandkids and I would just tearfully be sad if anything happened to that so I will maybe put it out next year on my piano when the little ones aren’t as rambunctious. I loved all of your pictures Winnie and I wish you a very joyous merry Christmas.

    • Hi Kathy. I’m so glad you decided to go all out on the decorations this year – if you’re like me it truly warms the spirit to be surrounded by such joyous, happy elements. And I totally get it on keeping precious keepsakes out of the reach of precious toddlers 🙂

  7. Oh I so remember the bubble lights on my aunt’s tree as a child and of course they would get HOT and shut off! We no longer decorate much since we are empty nesters and travel for the holidays!

  8. You have wonderful decorations. I love those clip on’s. When the kiddos were here, we went all out with decorations in every room. We have always had a fake tree because both my husband and son were allergic to pines. In cub scouts/boy scouts, they were fine out of doors. But not cooped up inside. Now that we are empty nesters, I dont put out as much. Some of our favorite things. Have to have a nativity set of course. I mean that is why we celebrate. Mine is a precious moments set. We got it when the kids were small. And yearly we would add one piece to it. This is our second christmas with our two feral rescue kitties. Last year they just looked at it and sat under it. So presents found another place. This year, one likes to sit or lay under it, while the other just doesnt care. So I think we are safe. Keep them happy and everyone is happy. Merry Christmas .

    • Hi Lori. The clip ons were purchased when my kids were little and they loved finding creative ways to display them. ezven today my grown up twins like to hang them and vie for the honor 🙂 And I love that you collected the pieces to your nativity over time – what a great tradition.
      Merry Christmas!

  10. The only “decorations” I have out is my Nativity. I have it in a different place this year than years past, though. I’m happy with just it out. We used to put out a green ceramic tree, and I may do it next year. I won’t be home for Christmas, so I put out what I really wanted out to make it Christmas for me. I really didn’t want to come home and have to take everything down!

  11. I have a small house. So I have everything in one corner of the livingroom. A few Christmas towels hanging in the kitchen and bathroom. I love the bubbler bulbs. I remember having some on our tree when we were younger. Thank you for sharing your decorations and tree. It’s beautiful.

  12. Oh I just love your Winnie The Pooh train set!!! We have stuff around the house… light up items, stuffed figures, signs, trains and more.

  13. Our decor is pretty minimal this year. The tree is up and decorated, but that’s about it. We’ve never been huge on a lot of decorations, but this year it’s been more low key than usual.

  14. I have a fir and pine swag next to my patio door, outside, but haven’t brought any greens inside yet. I do have a Jack Sorenson print, a boy standing on his horse putting a star on top of a pine tree, hung above my sofa. A Christmas-print fabric teddy bear sits on the back of the sofa and the battery operated candles are on the window sill. That’s as far as I have decorated. I decorate in stages adding a little more each day or two and still have to set up the crèche. I don’t have a whole closet full of Christmas decorations but almost.

    • That’s one area where my decorations are lacking – outdoors. Mine are 100 percent indoor. But you’ve inspired me. Perhaps I’ll at least get a couple of wreaths for my doors….

  15. Enjoyed your pictures and your thoughts about decorating! The ceramic tree brought back memories. Some years ago I took a ceramics class and one of our projects was that classic little Christmas tree, although done with the green glaze.

    • Oh wow, how great to have made it yourself. I’ll be it’s a real treasure in your household. They only decorations I’ve made myself are about seven of those stockings on my mantle and a few cross stitch pieces.

  16. Eight years ago, my son and I bought a house together, and combined our households. HIs wife has an extensive collection of holiday decor, as do I, so it’s taken a bit of finding our way to combine the two collections. There is just simply not enough space to put it all out. Some years we put up some things , some years, other items. My favorite decorations are my brass stocking holders that I put up on the mantle. I have snowmen, angels, Santa, a church and reindeer. It’s really pretty glittering in the light from the fireplace.

  17. Winnie, my favorite of your Christmas decorations was your grandmother’s tree topper you inherited! I have really gone understated so far, but I may add more of my things. I just haven’t felt well, so I haven’t put any effort into it. Just enough that my grandson, who came for Thanksgiving with my daughter and son-in-law, would have a little bit of a Christmas feeling, since we did their Christmas while they were here. They flew here from Virginia to Oklahoma. Thank you for the chance to win one of your books!

  19. Thank you so much for sharing, Winnie. Your home is beautifully decorated. We have a small table top tree that is already prelit as well as decorated. We have out the nativity that has always sat out my entire life. A friend many years ago made a small tree for me with lights and small Precious Moments ornaments. It is sitting on the freezer since I spend so much time in the kitchen. Merry Christmas.

  20. I used to go all out, but the last few years have been too chaotic to do much. The Hummel nativity set we got the first year we were married (this figures remind me of Disney’s It’s A Small World) is a given no matter what else we do. We have gone away over Christmas week several years and had our daughter and her family join us, so we bring a small tree and decorate it wherever we are. I need to check our trees to decide which we are taking this year. We usually make many of the decorations when we get where we are going. One year it was moss, little pinecones, mushrooms, and feathers we found in the woods. This year it is likely to be sea shells and whatever else we find. I look forward to when the pandemic is over so we can have the family all together. Not all are vaccinated and I don’t want a full house in case someone is sick.

  21. Oh Patricia, I LOVE your tradition of decorating with found elements reflecting where you are and what you’re doing as a group. I hope your taking photos of your very unique trees each year. Merry Christmas!!

  22. I don’t decorate very much anymore. I just put a small tree on a table and put a few things out. My husband The Grinch wouldn’t even get out the mother and baby dear that I put outside this year. He says its to much trouble not that he does anything but set and watch TV.

  23. I love decorating for Christmas! We have a Christmas village we put up near the Christmas tree. The various houses and buildings light up and I have little figurines I put amongst it so it looks like a real village. Your decorations are lovely by the way!

Comments are closed.