Yearly Christmas "theme"?

sarahtrg

My mother must've rubbed off on me growing up because she is a Christmas decor fanatic and like her I've started a tradition of having a different "theme" each year for Christmas whether it just be a different color scheme or what have you. My mother did a non traditional peacock theme with teal and purple wrapping and ornaments last year and I think she wants to try and do something that incorporates black and white this year. I'm not as adventurous, nor do I have the funds to start from scratch every single year like she does so I think I'm sticking with a rustic winter wonderland in a green and white color scheme (lots of evergreen branches, pine cones and natural wood art). I've done it for a few years now. While my mother has the means to buy everything new each year if she so chooses I usually DIY most things and always incorporate things I already have. 

Does anyone else do this (to any extent) or am I just part of a crazy Christmas family? 

doeydo

I love Christmas, but I don't think I could handle getting/making new things every year!

Disneygeek77

Every year no, but I suppose I change the themes every 8-10 years because I get sick of stuff.

I was on a gingerbread kick for a while, but I think I might start collecting cardinals and holly berries now. 

chibiyui

I'll probably switch themes in a couple to ten ish years because I know I'll eventually get bored with it, but I couldn't handle switching each year. 

Also, FI would have probably never proposed if I did that

SusanH.

I always thought CHRISTMAS was the theme!!!  Silly me!

 

cclejeune

I grew up just like you did- we've had a different theme every year for as long as I can remember! Usually they're fairly classic, and we have some favorites. Like this past year we did white and red ornaments on the three, and we've done that a few things. It keeps things fresh for me, and it's fun! 

So no, you're not the only one. And I'm definitely doing a theme this year!

sarahtrg

@cclejeune - have you decided what your theme is this year? 

cclejeune

I have! I'm doing a Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" theme this year- I'm going to frame a few printouts of original illustrations from the book, and we're going to do white lights with maroon and white ornaments, and I found some pretty lamp posts that look very antique-y that we're going to put outside on the porch. So it'll be fun.

What about you?

sarahtrg

@cclejeune - I'm adjusting the shabby chic theme I've had the past few years to be more of a rustic winter woodland theme in a mostly green, white and brown color scheme (lots of snowy evergreen branches, pine cones, burlap, natural wood art...). We'll see how it goes! 

Your idea sounds wonderful!  

cclejeune

Very nice! I love yours too! *logs that idea away for next year* 

LaxWife

I grew up the same way! In my family house, we always had two trees - one was the nice "themed" tree that my mom would curate each year (she didn't quite change the WHOLE theme each year, but she would swap out colours, or bring in new elements to go with the "trends") and then we had the "ugly" tree which was downstairs, featuring all of our hand made ornaments growing up, old DIY ornaments from friends and family (my grandma is an avid crafter), etc and all of the ornaments my mom got as a teacher (you know, a million wooden "#1 teacher" ornaments).

It maybe sounds a bit excessive, but it is actually really fun to do it this way. I think when we have kids we will do the same. I am a designer, so obviously aesthetics are important to me - but it is nice to have a tree that holds memories, and those more sentimental Christmas items.

Every year, all of the kids still get together to decorate the "ugly" tree - which isn't really that ugly - and we have such a fun time remembering the ornaments, who they were from, looking at old pictures and decorating the tree!

KayJens

I've never heard of anyone doing a "theme" Christmas, but I love the idea. Could you and your Mom team up this year? Think of what you could do with your powers combined!