Timeless Christmas Decor Must-Haves I’d Buy Again
Timeless Christmas decor must-haves from 20 years of decorating: the tree essentials, faux greenery, lights, and accessories I’d buy all over again.
Timeless Christmas decor must-haves from 20 years of decorating: the tree essentials, faux greenery, lights, and accessories I’d buy all over again.I had a trip down memory lane recently, going through my images of my Christmas decorations from Christmases past. I couldn’t help but notice that so many items kept coming back time and time again. Whether I was into a natural Christmas that year, or I had a red and white theme going, or I was doing an all white Christmas, or simply trying to get away with not having a Christmas tree. Didn’t matter. The same things were used over and over again. But never in the exact same way twice (a girl loves her some new iterations).
It made me wonder. What would I do if I somehow lost it all? What if all those Christmas boxes and totes filled with my all-time favorites had been left behind when I moved countries? Would I buy it all back?
The answer is “no”, of course. New things are fun! But at the same time, those new things would be variations of my old favorites. That much I’m sure of. After all, they served me well for twenty years, and I am thinking they will serve me well for another twenty years too.
So maybe a list like this will be helpful for you, when you start your Christmas decor shopping this year. I’ve sorted my will-buy-again items into six handy lists. These are the things I would replace my old and familiar items with, if I had to buy new now. Oh, and I also added the one craft project I would do again for sure if I lost those. I’ve added it to the bottom of the list.
|| Christmas Tree Essentials ||
The Christmas Tree Essentials I’d Buy Again First
I know, what could be more essential for decorating a Christmas tree than ornaments? But in all honesty, ornaments didn’t make it on this list. They are too easy to change according to the latest style, color scheme or theme.
When I am thinking about Christmas tree essentials that I have and will buy (or make) again, I am thinking about the chunky blanket I have used to cover the tree stand, that string of star shaped Christmas lights that I have added on our pre-lit Christmas tree for extra glow, and that tree topper that just finishes off the look every year.
You can shop all the Christmas Tree Essentials here.
|| Must-haves faux greenery ||
My Most-Loved Faux Christmas Greenery
If you have browsed my Christmas archives you’ll know that I love a natural Christmas. Real trees, real greenery and real falling needles all over the place. Nothing beats the looks, feel and scent of real greenery. But…
We all start Christmas decorating sooner and sooner. Gone are the days when the Christmas decor didn’t go up until the second or third Advent. And when it has to last that long, faux greenery is the way to go.
Besides our faux Christmas tree, I’ll always add at least one big green garland somewhere (I still haven’t had a real mantel to hang a garland on, but I have hung them over doorways, draped them on my hutch and outlined our stove nook with them). And of course there are the Christmas wreaths, to hang on doors, walls, windows and use as a foundation for a table centerpiece. And let’s not forget the faux pine stems (pinecones and all) that are so great to use in craft projects and to tuck into centerpieces and vignettes. And the easiest accessory for making a Christmas vignette is a mini tabletop tree.
See my picks for faux greenery here.
|| Christmas Decorating Must-Haves ||
Christmas Decorating Must-Haves That Outlast Every Trend
When it comes to Christmas decorating there are a few items that are just basic essentials. In themselves, they don’t stand out, they actually blend into the background, but they are so important for creating a ‘look’. I am talking about the trays, tiered stands, cloches, lanterns and bowls. They are what you put your pretty decorations in, and on, and under. They are the foundation, the base and the podium to make everything look its absolute best.
Now, even though these items are the background, that doesn’t mean they should not be chosen with care. Choose once carefully and these items can move with you through all the seasons of decorating (not just Christmas) and for many, many years. They can be truly timeless. So worth it.
See my ‘I’d buy this in a heartbeat’ choices for seasonal decorating here.
|| Christmas Accessories ||
Christmas Accessories That Are Always in Style
Let’s talk accessories, shall we? The pretty decorations that we place around the house, on the table, in the centerpiece and on the window sill. These are what the shops are full of during the season, and where they try to convince us that we need ‘all new’ every year the hardest. Christmas accessories are, most definitely (alongside ornaments), the number one item where trends hit hardest.
But they don’t have to be. You can choose them carefully, examine them for their timeless character and reuse them in new ways every year. Take my little deer figurine. It was a thrift store makeover from twenty years ago, and I have used it every year ever since. If I somehow lost it, I would hunt a new white deer figurine down so fast (actually I already found a possible replacement, it’s in the list below). For me the essential accessories are: deer figurine, white ceramic trees, mercury silver oversized Christmas baubles, bottle brush trees, a little Christmas truck with lights, mini faux trees in pots, and wooden 3D stars.
See all my favorite Christmas accessories here.
|| Cozy Christmas Lights ||
Cozy Christmas Lights for Dark December Evenings
I live in the northern hemisphere. Around Christmas, night time starts at 4 p.m. and the day itself is usually gray. We need all the cozy Christmas lights we can get. The all-time best cozy Christmas light is real candle light. So definitely stock up on candles, tea lights and candle holders.
But sometimes a real flame is just not the best option. When you have small kids, or pets; when you want to place lights in difficult spots; or when there simply is too much of a fire hazard. That’s when you will need artificial light.
The artificial flame candles and tea lights have gotten really good in recent years. I have loads of them. I always need to have multiple of those teeny tiny fairy lights too, I stuff them in, around and under anything that will look good with a little light. And Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t hang my big paper star lamp somewhere.
See all the cozy Christmas lights here.
| Christmas Soft Furnishings |
Christmas Pillows, Throws, and Table Linens
For years, my most-asked Christmas question has been: where did you get that pillow? My deer pillow cover is about fifteen years old, and it came from the H&M Home collection. It comes out every year. Pillow covers are such an easy way to add a little extra Christmas cozy to your couch.
Add an especially soft and fluffy throw blanket and the coziness factor goes through the roof. And let’s not forget about the fabrics for the table. From table runners, to tablecloths and napkins. Fabric touches are so easy to use for that festive touch. Choose them in neutral colors and quality fabric and they last for years. Add flowers, ribbons and little extras to tie them into the theme of the year.
Find my favorite Christmas soft furnishings I would buy here.
The One Christmas Craft I’d Redo in a Heartbeat
And now for the one thing I have used over and over again and that cost me absolutely nothing. The one Christmas craft project I did many moons ago, and would absolutely do again if I lost them: my doily ornaments. Such an easy craft to do, but what joy have those little doily stars and snowflakes given me. They are a bit tattered around the edges now, but still going strong. They’ll hang somewhere in my house again (might be on the tree, might be in front of a window) this year too. For sure.
That’s my list. Twenty years of Christmas decorating, boiled down to a handful of true keepers (and a collection of doily ornaments).
What would be on your list? I’d love to know, so leave me a comment below.
Pin this post so you can find it when you start shopping for new Christmas decorations.
