Can I go minimal for Christmas???

[Klunick]

I have had my Christmas decor out for a little over a week and I'm calling the Christmas declutter a success. I look around the living room and kitchen and it's not coming off as cluttered. Everything was intentionally placed unlike in past years where I would put things somewhere just because they needed to go somewhere. Even with the tree up and decorated, I don't think it looks any more cluttered than the rest of the year. I don't see anything that I wished I had decluttered or that I think I might declutter after Christmas is over. I am really liking the way the house looks and I don't think it will stress me out so much that I will want everything down and put away by the time Christmas rolls around.

[Tybee]

I have had my Christmas decor out for a little over a week and I'm calling the Christmas declutter a success. I look around the living room and kitchen and it's not coming off as cluttered. Everything was intentionally placed unlike in past years where I would put things somewhere just because they needed to go somewhere. Even with the tree up and decorated, I don't think it looks any more cluttered than the rest of the year. I don't see anything that I wished I had decluttered or that I think I might declutter after Christmas is over. I am really liking the way the house looks and I don't think it will stress me out so much that I will want everything down and put away by the time Christmas rolls around.

That sounds like you decluttered perfectly!
I am putting up my artificial tree now and it looks horrible. The lights don't work and the branches are all clumpy. I've had it for 10 years, but seriously, it is not passing muster.

[happystuff]

Put my artificial tree up right before this past weekend. It looks great turned on, but when off... LOL. Not sure if it will last another year with us or not. Also put up the stockings along the non-working, covered fireplace mantel. They look so nice!!! That and my little string of solar outside lights are it. I'm liking the simplicity this year.

[Tybee]

Showed tree to husband and he agreed it's a no-go. WE are cutting the lights that work off to have a strand or two, and will walk out and look for a possibility in the forest later today. If no suitable candidate, will buy another artificial with lights, I guess.

[Klunick]

We always get a real tree but they are getting pretty expensive. This year's cost me $120 which actually seems like a good deal because it's at least 7 feet tall and very full. Most on the lot we're $165 and not as pretty.

[Tybee]

Very nice!

[iris lilies]

We always get a real tree but they are getting pretty expensive. This year's cost me $120 which actually seems like a good deal because it's at least 7 feet tall and very full. Most on the lot we're $165 and not as pretty.

it is a nice size and shape.

[Klunick]

it is a nice size and shape.

I had to do some pruning at the bottom and cut off some low hanging branches and then cut some of the top because it was too tall for our ceiling. I always buy a tree that is too tall even though I try not to. Seems to grow on the way home. Haha!!

[HappyHiker]

Candles and hot toddies are our season's celebration. So simple and comforting--and warm.

[Tybee]

One trip to the forest and Lowes and Home Depot and we are salvaging the original tree. I stripped the lights off the top only because it was such a pain, and will just put lights over the rest and decorate very heavily and it will do for this year. The pretty trees were four hundred dollars, and we'd have to find our treestand to do a real tree, so we will make this one work.

My frugal Christmas.