It Takes 10

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Last December it was 2020. The covid pandemic limited our social life. No one was coming to our house for Christmas. No class party, no Sunday School potluck, no Open House, no friends or neighbors over for dinner.

I could not bring myself to decorate for Christmas in 2020.

What’s the point?

It’s a lot of work to decorate for Christmas!

  • Bring all the Christmas boxes down from the attic

  • Clear out all the Fall decorations

  • Test all the lights

  • Put lights up outside along the rain gutter

  • Put lights and garland up along the living room ceiling

  • Buy a tree, put it up, light it, decorate it

  • Repair wreaths with a glue gun

  • Place all the wreaths inside and out

  • Hang up the Christmas card display

  • Set up all the nativity scenes on the piano and cabinet

  • Pull out the Christmas piano music books

  • Hang jingle bells on the front door

  • Put up the travel ornament trees

  • Hang the stockings in the kitchen (we don’t have a chimney!)

  • Pull out all the Christmas china

  • Set up all the fake presents around the tree

  • Return all the Christmas boxes to the attic

What a lovely stock photo christmas!

At Thanksgiving at my sister’s house, I was complaining to her about my lack of desire to decorate. But I like Christmas decorations! I love coming home to my house in the evening to find it lit up with lights! I love the scent of a fresh Christmas tree. I need my Christmas dishes.

“What is the minimum you need to feel your home is decorated for Christmas?”
— My Wise Sister

We decided that it takes 10.

Ten items that make me feel like it is Christmas in my house.

I didn’t want to drag out all my Christmas boxes, just to pick 10 items.

I didn’t want to shop for expensive new things that I wouldn’t use again.

What to do?

I went to the dollar store and spent 10 bucks!

Dollar Tree Store

Christmas Decorating Made Simple!

Here’s my minimum, the things I needed to feel “decorated”:

  • the scent of a living Christmas tree

  • a sparkly garland for the living room

  • a front door wreath

  • Christmas dishes

  • a Nativity set

  • a way to hang up Christmas cards

  • poinsettia for the front porch

  • jingle bells

My dollar tree treasures!

It Takes Ten. Here are my 10, almost all from the dollar store:

  1. A wreath from our local Christmas tree farm

  2. Two red and silver garlands

  3. A glittery Merry Christmas for the front door

  4. Two Christmas dishes

  5. Scotch tape to hang up Christmas cards

  6. Fake poinsettias for the front porch

  7. Bells for the door

  8. Gold plastic bells

  9. Rustic wood Merry & Bright

  10. New throw pillow covers I sewed with Christmas fabric

I am missing lights and a Nativity set. But overall I was content with my finds.

After Christmas I boxed up everything in one small box labeled QUICK CHRISTMAS. For future needs!

  • Christmas in an AirBnB,

  • Christmas in a hospital room

  • Christmas in a motor home (ha - that’s never going to happen for me!)

  • etc

hallmark movie Christmas house

Hallmark movies are fun! But not realistic for the home decorator.

What is your minimum?

Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to have the perfect Christmas house?

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ”
— Luke 2:8-11

A beautiful home brings peace and joy; so does the good news of Jesus.