Holidays
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
XP: where would you start with Christmas decorating?
It's out first year being together and out of our parents' house. We have no decorations and I'm so overwhelmed by looking. So I think it will be easier if I focus one room at a time. So, where would you start?
These are our rooms:
Kitchen
Dining Room
Living room (this is where our tree will go....when we get one)
Master Bedroom
Guest Bedroom that is rarely used
2 bathrooms
back porch
So, where would you start? Also, what do you think is the most important decor (besides the tree or nativity set)? We've never done this before and we're lost so any tips, sites, pics, and advice would be totally helpful. TIA!!
Re: XP: where would you start with Christmas decorating?
When we bought our first house, we didn't have any decorations either. The cost can add up quickly if you try and buy it all at once. For me, I would focus on the tree, nativity set, stockings. Then if you are going to be entertaining for the holidays, I would focus on the dining room. For me, I just went and looked at what decorations were out there and bought what I liked. Good luck and have fun!!
Start slow and build through the years. I would work on the Living Room first. Get your tree together, Nativity, and Stockings. Add a wreath for the door and some lights on the back porch. Call it done for the year. At the end of December or beginning of January, go back to your favorite stores and buy more at discount for the dining room and some trinkets for the other rooms.
Every year, people will get you more Christmas Decor and you will find more to add to you home. Start simple so you can expand easily and don't start with 19 boxes of Christmas stuff in the attic (my mom's current count AFTER unloading 2 boxes on each of her 3 children).
GL and remember to have fun decorating!
Ask friends and family if they have any decorations that you can borrow. We did that and we had literally boxes of decorations that we were given. If you can borrow decorations, use that and then right after Christmas, go to the stores and get decorations that didn't sale because the prices will be slashed.
Our first tree had a bed skirt instead of a tree skirt because they can be pricey when you are on a budget. The day after Christmas, I went to Walmart and got a red velvet with that white ruffle that is reminiscent of Santa for 10 bucks.
Don't forget thrift stores! The selection isn't always that great, but sometimes you can find some really cute cheap stuff! This is our second Christmas living together, our first married, so we don't have a lot of stuff either. Most of the stuff we have was either handed down, given to us, or I found cheap somewhere. I like to just look at stuff and figure out what theme I really want to go with. We only have a tree, mostly generic decorations for our tree, nativity set, stockings, a village, and a few small decorations to put through out the house.
I also like to make stuff, so I will go to craft stores and get stuff and discount. Like fake poinsettias, fake bows of holy or pine tree limbs. Get some ribbon and make a few bows, and voila, instant, cheap, christmas decorations!
ETA - They have super cheap bulbs at walmart this year. They come in 3 colors, I'm not sure how many there are but it looks to be enough to decorate a decent size tree. They are only $15 for the whole thing, and they also have mix and match ornaments in the same colors, if you want a bit more variety then just bulbs!
P.S. The dollar store idea is great too! They do have a lot of cute stuff that you can mix and match with other things!
Another good tip (DH and I started from scratch last year) is to find your color scheme and what you like then go to the Dollar Tree. They have tons of really cute basic Christmas stuff for just $1.
For instance, last year I did red and gold. I mixed dollar tree cheapies with more expensive ornaments.
We usually start with decorating the outside first. DH puts up lights on the house and a wreath on the door.
As for inside, if it's your first Christmas on your own, then I would stick to the simple stuff like decorating your tree and putting up stocking. Maybe wrap lights or garland along the railings of the staircase.
Looking at the dollar store is another good idea. Even if you just find something simple like Christmas candles or something that could go in any room.
I would just start simple and slowly collect new decorations each year.