A MERRY NEUTRAL CHRISTMAS

Ah, the holidays are here. That means listening to Michael Buble on repeat, watching Will Ferrell in bright yellow tights, and putting out our glorious Christmas decor (after Thanksgiving, of course).

With that being said, Christmas decor can get tacky real quick. It’s probably obvious, but I love a subtle, neutral look and that holds true for holiday decorating as well. I’ll share my tips for creating a classy Christmas on a budget and what tchotchkes to avoid if you want a timeless look that will last you for years to come.

I found these glitter trees at Target. The white gold pictured on the right was only $5. The silver on the left was only $3 in the dollar section. Both are so cute and very affordable. Fair warning, they definitely shed, but I don’t mind because they just sit there. This season I got these adorable glitter bottle brush decorative trees. They come in a two pack for only $5.

I found these gorgeous white fur stockings at Target as well. They cost $15 each which is not bad at all considering the quality of the faux fur. Sadly, they’re sold out, but Target has a similar gray faux fur stocking that I may like even more. They also have a gorgeous cream knit Studio McGee stocking. If you’re looking for an adorable mini stocking for you dog, I got my puppy this cute little number.

Both of these wooden decorative trees were Target finds as well. I snatched both of them from the dollar section. I love the simplicity and neutral colors. Sadly they are no longer available, but Target has a very similar set of light wooden trees. Studio McGee has a gorgeous medium-tone wooden tree this season as well.

This crystal sleigh is another fun, neutral way to mix things up. I typically store my decorative match boxes in a crystal ashtray. I don’t smoke, but it’s a gorgeous decorative piece lol. This slay is a family heirloom, so it can’t be linked.

Last but not least, our tree! I don’t know about you, but my favorite holiday tradition is jamming out to Christmas tunes with family and decorating the tree. Ideally, I’d love a real tree because they smell amazing and look much better, but this fake tree was a hand-me-down and free, so it was the obvious choice. I also love the look of a flocked tree. The white snow finish is so beautiful and would be the perfect neutral touch to any space. This pre-lit flocked tree from Michaels looks great and is a good price point.

The key to the perfect Christmas tree is lots of layers! Obviously, you’ll need lights. Next, you’ll need some type of garland or a set of beads. I love to add volume by using tree stuffers. We got several stuffers from Jo Ann’s for a reasonable price a few years ago. You can find similar Christmas tree stuffers at Amazon or Michaels.

Hang your ornaments next! I bought several sets of varying sizes and patterns in order to add interest and dept. Don’t buy all your ornaments the same size because that can fall flat and look boring. I bought mostly neutral ornaments consisting of white, gold, silver, and blush. Ideally, I’d love some black ornaments too, but I haven’t managed to find them in stock. I mixed in some glitter star and polka dot ornaments as well. Given that my ornaments are a few seasons old, I can’t find links to everything, but Target has a lot of great options like this gold mini ornament set. I also suggest looking at your local Home Goods too.

For your tree skirt, I suggest going simple and using a faux fur throw blanket that you probably have draped over your couch at this very moment. It’s versatile and much more cost effective than buying a tree skirt that will sit in a storage closet for eleven months of the year. Just be sure to wash it afterwards so you don’t cozy up with tree bristles stabbing your leg 😉 Our throw was gifted years ago, so I linked a similar Target option.

Then top it off with a tree topper! Our star topper was handed down to us, but I’ve linked an affordable Target option.

I saved my favorite part for last, and that’s wrapping paper! I like to wrap gifts early, so I can use the cute wrapping paper as a decor element as well. I found most of these papers at Home Goods and I bought the ribbon from Jo Ann’s.

I hope you enjoyed! Wishing you all the happiest of holidays. Leave any questions or comments below.