Decorating Themes
A Christmas of Loving, because we are love .......... Welcome to my Christmas page
There are so many possible themes! It helps to decide your general style and then choose your colors.
No one has to start all over, if you add to your theme year by year.
The association of the evergreen tree with Christianity seems to have started with St. Boniface,
who used some of the symbolic meanings of the German tribes to illustrate concepts of Christian faith. So
from the German traditions the Christmas tree has been part of the decorations of Christmastime.
To help create the effect you imagine, I have a few helpful hints:
Color Themes
- {Burgandy and Gold}
- {Blue and Silver}
- {Mauve, Purple and Metallic}
- {Red and White}
- {Sage Green, Pink, and White}
- {Gold}
- {Blue, Green, and White}
The spectrum range is only limited by the imagination.
Certain colors will be associated with certain styles at times.
The Danish tree with the red and white of the flag and the golden wheat and metallic
colors is typical. Swedish flag of Blue and Gold, or Tartan colors of Red and Green
make a basic scheme to work from.
Gingham bows could provide a duo of white and whatever country colors that please you (Navy blue or red are popular).
Speaking of bows, there are so many pretty varieties available during the Christmas season. Their colors could be the foundation for a
whole color scheme. The newest trending styles are simple narrow ribbons with long tails.
A post on Color Themes goes deeper if you'd like to go further with deciding the colors for your Christmas home decor.
Christmas Color Themes
Style themes
Another approach is to choose your style.
- {Country Homespun}
- {Victorian Elegance}
- {Teddy Bears and Toys}
- {Religious}
- {Angels and Sparkles}
- {Nature}
- {The National Styles mentioned}
- {Folk Art}
Beach Theme Example
In a Beach style Christmas tree theme, you could bring a bit of summer memories into your Christmas. A natural beach motif would be beautiful in a home with blues and neutrals. Think of sea shells, silver glinting ornaments, natural raffia bows, strings of pearls, little pails with wrapped salt water taffy, all sorts of things! To get you started think "sea and beach" take a look at some of these ideas
Beach House Christmas Ornaments:
Beach garland Old World Christmas Golden Seashell Glass Blown Ornament 12 Pcs Large Coastal Christmas Tree Ornaments
More with a Beach Motif
Fill a large glass jar with your seashells and some glass bulb ornaments, put some in a dish for your Christmas candles; attach to a wreath of branches for your doors. Or buy one!
Interests
Somehow references to ones special hobbies and interests make it into decorating the tree. This could spawn a whole style!
I am thinking of fishing, but gardening, or any hobby could serve for inspiration. (Hobbies) (Collectibles of snowmen, pets, cartoon
characters) (Nutcracker Story) (Gardens and Flowers) (Baking)
If you start out with a small table top tree you can see what fun and how nice the effect can be with this type of tree decorating.
Try not to get carried away... it is just one part of the holiday. There is a lot to be said for the beauty of simplicity. Not to mention
easing the time crunch, but this is one effort at decorating that can be carried from year to year. the key is to add to your joy in the celebration.
Perhaps you are interested in having ornaments with symbolic meaning, such as the Polish tradition?
Look over the popular meanings of some of those ornaments you are likely to find. Ever wonder why they have pickle ornaments, for instance?
A story of symbolic meanings, worth reading and maybe reading to your children.
A way to reflect on some of the reasons we celebrate.
LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS PICKLE
A pickle is used as decoration on the Christmas tree seems odd at first, but it is an old German tradition. When decorating the Christmas tree, it is traditional to hang the pickle last, hidden among the branches. The first child on Christmas Day to find the Christmas pickle receives a special blessing for the year and an extra gift! Great tradition to share with your family this year and for years to come!
Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display--so much tinsel and decorations.
For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree, not the firelight's glow.
It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again.
~Anonymous (Pipefuls)
Christmas in Ohio
Holiday planning
Christmas Advent blog
National themes are traditional for certain countries. A Danish tree is often decorated with tiny cheerful Danish Flags. I have a few illustrations from Carl Larsson who painted homey scenes of how he viewed Swedish/Scandinavian life. The colors are typically Scandinavian, light and bright, and reflect the value of "coziness" in handmade ornaments and a clean simple look.
A Victorian look couldn't be more different. Even with the same color combination, its opulence and abundance of lace, paper and glass ornaments fill the tree as their lives and rooms were filled with refinements and ornament. Deep colors such as the burgundy- gold combination are especially given to this style.
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A Gingerbread Christmas sounds delightful, doesn't it? Gingerbread cookies and houses, red and white gingham ribbons,
raffia ornaments and Swedish straw ornaments, along with homemade paper snowflakes (my favorite!).
String it all together with garland of red beads, or strung cranberries for an old fashioned delight.
What does it mean to "guywire " the tree? Locate your tree near a stationary drapery rod, or drive a sturdy nail into the wall surface. Take very fine, but strong wire, metal, or fishline and wind around the top of the tree and secure to the rod, or the nail. This will ensure that rambunctious and curious children cannot topple the tree. ( This did happen in my living room one year.)
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