Think Small for Christmas
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mouse family add a fun christmas theme to a fireplace mantle. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)
Think Small for Christmas
Over the years, I’ve watched friends go all out for Christmas, decorating lawns after filing their homes with massive fake trees and garland, then spending months taking them down and renting storage units to keep them until next season.
I’m all for traditions but I also think it’s time to rethink our Christmas consumerism.
How about going small for Christmas decor, adding repurposed items with a favorite theme. Nutcrackers, snowmen and Santas are all easily available in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you love dogs, look for dogs as an ornament theme.
The little mouse mantle collection in the photo started several decades ago when I was traveling for work. They were fun to find at thrift shops and easy to carry home. I kept a photo of the collection handy to compare sizing and ensure the new items would fit in. I didn’t always find one but it was fun looking.
See the little girl mouse in the bed upper left? The ornament was 25 cents at a Milwaukee, Wisconsin thrift store because the bed had a missing leg. A little wood dowel and glue and the ornament looks brand new.
Frankly the little mouse scene has expanded slowly but the treasure hunt has been half the fun.
smaller door wreaths can be fun and easier to store. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)
Smaller Wreaths
Christmas wreaths can be overwhelming after the holidays. I see them discarded at local thrift stores and recycling centers.
What if you aim for small, easy to reuse artificial wreaths instead, something the kids can decorate with small ornaments and you can easily store.
I now keep my small door wreath collection on pegs inside a closet door.
framed christmas cards can easily set the theme. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)
Frame Christmas Cards
Christmas cards may be going out of style but you can still find them at grocery stores, pharmacies and the US Post office.
Look through the cards and buy a favorite one to frame. Better yet, if you get a favorite card in the mail or digitally, head to your local thrift store for an inexpensive frame. See how easy it its to add a touch of holiday cheer in book cases and table tops with a framed card.
And while you’re at it, go through your ornament collection and pick one to add with the framed card. You can easily make fun matches and give your Christmas ornaments a second purpose.
tiny christmas trees are versatile as table decor. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)
Miniature Christmas Trees
Finally rethink needing a large Christmas tree. I now have several miniature Christmas trees that store in a box and can quickly and easily bring the holidays to any room, literally in minutes.
The small miniature tree ornaments are fun to find through the year. Thrift stores and resale shops are good places to look.
Once the miniature trees are decorated, they can be used as table centerpieces, easily located in well-used rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms, and take little room to store.
By the way, the “toys” around the miniature Christmas tree are salt and pepper shakers and a couple of ornaments without their hooks.
The only challenge at my house is the ornaments are cat toy size so I keep a close eye on inquiring paws.
Why bring this up now? So you can shop after Christmas sales, one of the best times to find small Christmas decor for next year.
