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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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January 13, 2015

From Christmas to Winter Decorating

I gave myself a super duper fantabulous early Christmas gift this year.

The interesting about this particular gift though, is that I didn’t even actually get to enjoy it until after Christmas.

How to transition your home from Christmas to winter atthepicketfence.com

Because, this year I gave myself the gift of easing into the new year. Actually, what I gave myself was the gift of time.

Back in November when I began decorating the house for the holidays, I decided that I was going to make the transition from Christmas-y to Winter-y as easy and simple as possible.

So, as I tackled areas like mantels and tabletops, I kept that goal in mind. I don’t know about you, but by the time I get everything dismantled and packed away after Christmas, I feel as though every ounce of creative energy has been drained from me. And every year I would see those empty surfaces and not only feel totally stumped as to how to decorate them but also, just not really care a whole lot.

But, not this year!

This year, I went about decorating my home in a way that I knew would get me all the way through winter.

pinecone in urn atthepicketfence.com

When I decorated the mantel in our living room, I knew that all I was going to have to do was simply remove the garland and it would go from this…

French country style Christmas mantel atthepicketfence.com

…to this!

french country winter mantel decorating atthepicketfence.com

And the same was true for our family room mantel which went from this…

Christmas mantel with magnolia garland atthepicketfence.com

…to this!

winter mantel decorating idea from athepicketfence.com

The glittery pine cones, candles and vintage bottles are so perfect for winter.

pinecones in metal urn winter decor atthepicketfence.com

In the dining room, simplicity continued to reign supreme.

simple winter centerpiece atthepicketfence.com

A centerpiece of greenery, antlers and cinnamon sticks has been on this table since November and isn’t changing anytime soon.

winter centerpiece with antlers atthepicketfence.com

My sweet girl was sooooo happy that the deer were going to hang out here just a bit longer.

winter deer atthepicketfence.com

You know, I always feel so mixed at Christmas-time. On the one hand, I absolutely LOVE everything about it! I love all of the special-ness of it.

On the other hand, I find that I begin to crave our everyday life. Frankly, my family just does better with routine.

So, when it’s time to un-decorate, I’m usually torn. I feel sad that it’s all over, but I look forward to the return to ‘normal’.

winter decorating ideas atthepicketfence.com

This gift I gave myself this year really helped to bridge the gap between those two emotions.

In fact, as I sit here typing, the candles are flickering on the mantel and reflecting off of the vintage glass bottles.

And I think that by keeping some continuity between my pre-Christmas decor and my post-Christmas decor, everything still feels…well…special.

winter sleigh atthepicketfence.com

It’s all of the coziness of winter without any of the craziness of the holidays.

And from where I’m sitting, it feels like perfection. 🙂 Vanessa signature

This post is partying here: Wow Us Wednesday

13 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas Tagged With: decorating

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Comments

  1. laura@top this top that says

    January 13, 2015 at 4:46 AM

    that’s the same way i approached the holiday decorating this year, a plan that wouldn’t involve more time, complication and smooth transtion…..which you have also done very well.

    Reply
  2. martina says

    January 13, 2015 at 4:47 AM

    Beautifully done Vanessa!! I love love love your family room mantel with all the small bottles and candles and the gold containers filled with pinecones…so pretty! Love the urn filled with the greenery and metal sphere too! Such a beautiful winter look!

    Reply
  3. Nancy says

    January 13, 2015 at 6:09 AM

    What a wonderful plan. For the last few years I have made notes on my iPad of things I would change or want to remember for the next Christmas. I’m going to write this plan. How relaxing to get a 2 for 1. Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says

    January 13, 2015 at 8:02 AM

    How brilliant to plan for the transition! Your home definitely has a cozy feel. This year I’ve given myself the gift of not decorating at all after Christmas.I’m enjoying the clean, bare surfaces for just a while.

    Reply
  5. Grandmom says

    January 13, 2015 at 8:29 AM

    It’s beautiful; and a wonderful gift to yourself.

    Reply
  6. Joy Schumann says

    January 13, 2015 at 10:12 AM

    Vanessa: You could have not said it better. I am looking at a dining room table piled high with “stuff” to pack away, and yet surfaces look soooo bare. I, too, will leave some pine cones, candles and antlers out for a while to enjoy them a little longer. I also love those teeny battery lights that seem to be embedded right into the wire to stick into an arrangement. (K.P Primitives has them in their new catalog for about $10.00.) Enjoy your blog!
    {{HUGS}}
    Joy at theoldefarmhouse.blogspot.com recently posted…”Joy’s Toys.”

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 13, 2015 at 1:59 PM

      Thank you so much Joy! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Caroline @ Shutters and Sunflowers says

    January 13, 2015 at 4:54 PM

    Great ideas! Thanks for sharing, ‘putting away Christmas is always so hard and this makes it less so

    Reply
  8. jane@Jane@Bluebird1959 says

    January 13, 2015 at 5:01 PM

    Love this idea, Vanessa…..definitely something I will incorporate next Christmas. Jane

    Reply
  9. lynn says

    January 13, 2015 at 7:22 PM

    Absolutely love your site. Great ideas and thoughts. Can’t wait to implement some of these in my home next year.
    thanks for sharing.
    Lynn F

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 13, 2015 at 8:04 PM

      Thanks so much Lynn!!

      Reply
  10. Cindy says

    January 14, 2015 at 6:56 PM

    Perfect transition! I love all of the greens in January with all of the pinecones and a few antlers tucked in too! Looks beautiful.

    Reply
  11. Cindy says

    January 19, 2015 at 8:47 PM

    these rooms look gorgeous. just a nice touch of winter outside brought inside.

    Reply

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