My endeavour to have a frugal but tasteful, beautiful and meaningful Christmas has not been without its ups and downs. Creativity costs time and I have learned some lessons about planning well in advance. My living-room is finally decorated for Christmas and thanks to Michelle from Home For Now I have made some delicious Mini Pecan Pie Tarts to give as gifts. This costs me less time than the various assorted Christmas cookies I usually make! So thanks Michelle!
Do you remember my Autumn inspired coffee table décor? Well, here is my now Christmas inspired décor:
The frugal thing I did was to buy some cheap plain white wallpaper and a holly stencil and then stencil and draw using coloured pencils and Pantone markers which I already had. I also re-used my pot-pourri from last year but bought some orange and cinnamon oil to refresh the scent.
I wanted my décor to reflect simplicity and the real meaning of Christmas so instead of my usual nutcracker and Victorian doll and woodland fairy and glitzy ornaments on the tree, I opted for less ornaments than usual and chose to pick ornaments that either were hand-made or looked hand-made or reflected nature or stuffed toys but then allowed my two teens who wanted to help choose some family favourites to put on the tree. I also added some burlap ribbon and some felt stars which I picked up for only 70p each in a sale.
Many years ago, my mother made me a ceramic nativity set. Somehow or another I left it behind in New York before I moved to England. I managed to retrieve it last spring when I went to NY and brought it home in my luggage.
In keeping with the nature theme, I bought a wicker basket and added some Christmas tree branches which I got for free from our local garden center. Then I added some scented pine cones which I had saved from last year but also refreshed with cinnamon oil and finally, I added some battery powered Christmas lights. This sits now to the side of our fireplace.
If you know anything about me, you know I love books. I have a small collection of Christmas-y books which I piled up by the fireplace (Don’t worry, I know to move it if I put on the fire!) and placed my hare statue on top. Some of my favourites are missing. Jostein Gaarder’s The Christmas Miracle (because it’s a paperback) and Madeline L’Engle’s Miracle On 10th Street And Other Christmas Writings (because I am reading it now).
Every year, I put up this swag of Christmas garland over the door frames in my house.
So there you have it! My frugal Christmas decorations this year!
Joyous Noel!
Home And Spirit 
Beautiful! What a treasure your nativity set from your mother is. And what a gorgeously decorated home with lots of meaning. Merry Christmas Terese.
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