DecorBook Classic : Christmas, 2024

Happy Holidays! Last year, I did up two little reindeer and two small tinsel trees in orange sari ribbon and called it a day. I was happy with happy with orange while all my traditional Christmas decorations stayed tucked away in the basement. This year, I brought out all the orange plus I bought some faux olive branches. I'd imagine orange isn't everyone's taste but it certainly was easy-peasy. Let's take a look.

These faux olive branches look so real. 5 branches were $16 on Amazon.

All finished.

sally

Thanks, Sally, for capturing my living room in a new way!

When I'm decorating, I love to play Christmas movies including one of my favorites, 2003's Love Actually. See that tin on the coffee table? After the Montgomery Ward's fruit cake was eaten, my mom stored her sugar cookies in it for a gillion years. Don't you wish you could have your mom's Christmas cookies again?

sally

I think my English Little Folk brown bear is about 45 years old now. Still a party animal.

More olive branches in the entryway. They seem to go well with the Bay Area's Mediterranean climate.

sally

A few of my grandmother's books - some from 1830's.

Here's my little tree from last year - it turned out to be fun to have a tree on the kitchen table.

sally

Sally's photo of my little tree.

On the wall behind the kitchen table, hangs three new ornaments from Pottery Barn. When the sun hits them, they almost look electric. The Christmas star hung on my mom's tree when she was a girl (circa late 1920's).

Another view from the entryway. I tried a different style of gold doilies this year.

In my studio, an old fashion display of Christmas cards.

Don't forget a few bits and pieces in other rooms. On my bathroom vanity, I added Kimberly's "sparkacular" Christmas tree and ornament both covered with vintage jewelry.

etsy

Maybe next year I'll try to make a dried orange and bay leaf wreath. In the meantime, don't forget HGTV's White House Christmas tonight at 6 pm. I watch every year and am always amazed at how 300+ volunteers make the White House a true winter wonderland. Happy Sunday!

Going orange for Christmas was inspired by this photo John+Jim took in Laos in 2014. Three young monks in their beautiful orange robes. Turns out, orange is an important color in the world.

Eastern cultures: Orange is associated with love, happiness, good health, and humility. Buddhist monks often wear orange robes because it represents positive virtues. 

India: Orange, especially the yellow-orange hue, is considered sacred. The orange-colored spice, saffron, is also considered to be lucky and sacred. 

Japan: Orange symbolizes love, courage, and happiness. 

The Netherlands: Orange is the national color and represents the Dutch Royal family. It can also represent sexuality and fertility. 

Ukraine: Orange represents bravery and strength. It became a symbol of the people's unity in 2004 during the Orange Revolution.