When it comes to Christmas decorations everyone has their own likes and dislikes. Some people like a Christmas tree that looks chaotic and fun and others like a tree that is colour-coordinated and neat and tidy. There’s nothing wrong with either style, after all – your home, your rules.
An Eco-Friendly Approach to Christmas Decorations
One thing that we’re trying to do in our house is making sure that the decorations we have are used over and over again. In general, we’re trying to create less waste & by re-using our decorations each year, we feel this is a great place to start. Although it is tempting to rush to the pound shop and buy metres of tinsel every year — the truth is that by next year, the tinsel will be damaged and look scruffy, so we’ll be out to the shops to buy some more — and the cycle continues. We decided last year that instead we would invest in high-quality decorations and ensure that they can be used time and time again.
Traditional Christmas Decorations
Last year we bought some really beautiful wooden Christmas decorations and we can’t wait to get them out again this year — and probably add a few more to build our collection. I created a really lovely Christmas display on our mantelpiece last year and everyone commented on how nice it was to see traditional Christmas decorations. We’re excited to start shopping to add to our collection. We stumbled across Erzbebirge last year and they have some stunning pieces, so we’ll be working our way through some of their traditional Christmas decorations without a doubt — I’ve already got my eye on a German nutcracker that I would love to give a home to!
Buying Christmas Decorations as a Gift
As so many of our friends commented on our traditional Christmas display last year, we plan to gift them some collectable decorations as presents this year. It is so hard to know what to get friends and family each year; conscious that they already have everything they need, we try not to buy presents that will contribute to landfills. Wooden decorations like the traditional German ones are designed to be brought out year after year, so giving them as a gift seems like the perfect idea.
Christmas Traditions
Of course, you probably already have your own Christmas traditions and these shouldn’t stop. For example, my mum displays on her tree Christmas decorations that we made as children; and she loves doing this every year. We’ve always had a fish and chip supper on Christmas Eve and bubble and squeak on Boxing Day — traditions that we love and will always continue. What we love about investing in Christmas decorations that last is that these become part of our Christmas tradition and is another part of the holiday celebration we look forward to!
As you can see, a touch of traditional Christmas cheer brought to your home by new, yet traditional Christmas decorations have the ability to bring the old and new together within your home and seamlessly link back to a simpler time when Christmas was a wholly family-focused time. Often enabling this simple approach to Christmas can unify a family, and bring them closer together at a time of year when memories are made and bonds are reaffirmed. We strive so hard to achieve this throughout the year, having wonderful Christmas memories to fall back on can smooth many a family disagreement or upset.
Ensuring your family has a great understanding of each member’s needs may take more than a traditionally decorated Christmas, but it is a great way to pull the family together and have some family fun.
Do you have any Christmas traditions?
*Collaborative post
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs, including Wannabe Princess and Under 5s. Specializing in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and early years development,