Today, I had the joy of helping my daughter and grandson decorate their home and Christmas tree for the holidays. My daughter, who has had the opportunity to travel quite a bit, has an extensive collection of holiday decorations. As we went through each room of her home designing themes and setting up each area, I observed how difficult it was for her to tell just when enough was truly enough.
In holiday decorating, just like in decorating for day to day life, there is a line between having a home tastefully appointed and having it over the top. It is so tempting to bring out every piece that has been collected and to try to crowd it all into a home to be displayed. But what happens is that the look is so overwhelming, the individual pieces cannot be enjoyed.
If you are like my daughter, and find yourself with a huge collection, don’t feel compelled to display every item, every year. Rather, choose a theme and work with pieces that will complement each other. Create simple vignettes that showcase your favorite pieces.
When you bring out your holiday treasures, pack up some of your other home accessories to make room for them. Seasonal decorating doesn’t have to end with the winter holidays either. As you pack your collectibles, label the boxes with their contents and after the holidays, think about what you would like to display in the spring. Later, you might wish to change the look a bit for summer, fall, well… you get the idea.
Holiday decorating is great fun for all. Maximize your joy and take pleasure in your collections by stepping back and taking a look at your design, keeping in mind that sometimes, enough is enough.