Minimalist Christmas Decorations

The holidays are a hectic time for most of us. Between the planning, purchasing, prepping and decorating, it seems like there’s a never ending to-do list surrounding making this time of year merry and bright. One area I like to keep simple is decorating for Christmas. I host Christmas Eve dinner and this year is M’s first Christmas so there’s that pressure to have everything perfect and going all out for Christmas. The pressure to make memories that are extra special and other self-imposed standards can really add to the stress of the season. I’m sure other parents out there can relate. So how about this year, we just… don’t? Let’s normalize minimalist Christmas decorations.

This year I’m keeping things minimal; Focusing on key areas that will pack the most punch. I have three areas I’m decorating: The mantle, the dining table, and the Christmas tree. That’s it. None of this garland business draped around the house. No pretty lights outside or fake reindeer. I’m keeping it simple and focusing my efforts on a few places to give the house that cozy feeling without driving myself crazy.

The Mantle:

One of the reasons I purchased my home was because of the fireplace. As a kid, I always wished I had a fireplace around the holidays because it seemed so cozy. And my child self was right! I love having a fireplace now, so you best believe I’m going to decorate it for Christmas. For my mantel, I have a pre-lit garland, stocking hangers, stockings, and battery powered candles (that stay there all year). The only difference from my normal mantel decor is the Christmas themed garland, the stocking hangers and the stockings (not yet pictured). While the mantle looks full, it’s really minimal effort therefore, it meets my definition for minimal Christmas decorations.

If you don’t have a mantle, perhaps decorate a console table or prominently located bookshelf to be a focal point.

The Tree:

J and I have a faux tree that we use every year. Growing up I always had a real tree, but the hassle and price are just not worth it to me as an adult. Instead, I have a 6 ft pencil tree that I add tons of string lights to and reuse year after year. We have a pencil tree because our home is quite small and honestly a regular tree just doesn’t fit well. It’s to the point where we unplug and remove our floor lamp and replace it with the Christmas tree.

So as one of our main light sources in December, we use a lot of lights to make the tree shiny and festive. Our tree isn’t themed either; It displays all our favorite ornaments that we’ve collected throughout our relationship milestones and travels. M’s first Christmas definitely warrants a new ornament to document this family milestone.

The Table:

Apart from Jesus, gifts are typically thought of as the main event of Christmas. When I think of Christmas, I think of gathering around the table with my family and enjoying a really nice meal because food is the focus for us. I don’t bother with a ton of centerpiece decorations because they honestly get in the way of all the food we have. It’s valuable real estate. So, for my minimal Christmas table decoration, I focus on the plating.

I decorate my dining table on Dec 23rd in preparation for X-mas eve dinner. I use a white tablecloth, a festive runner, gold chargers (that I bought for my wedding), and I break out my wedding China. Having a few really gorgeous pieces goes a long way. The gold chargers bring out the gold detail in my plates and bowls. It makes it a little more special. Glassware helps make things sparkle and reflects lighting from the room to help things gleam.

The holidays are a very special time of year. My way of doing things may not speak to your heart, but if you are burnt out on the hustle and bustle you can fill your home with Christmas cheer with less effort by focusing on big impact features. I encourage you to do what feels merry for you and yours.