Ideas For Tree Decorating After Christmas

How to Transition From Christmas to Winter Decor

Hey hey friends! Can you believe Christmas is officially over? I'm always amazed at how fast it comes and goes. We had such an amazing day–we ate lots of delicious food and didn't get out of our PJs all day, which is a ginormous win in my book. And as much as I'm sad to see the holiday season end, I have to say I'm more than ready to declutter the house. I spent all day yesterday boxing Christmas decor up and it felt soooooo good. I thought a few of you might be preparing to do the same thing, so today I wanted to share my tips on how to transition from Christmas decor to winter decor. It's actually a lot easier than you might think , and I'm excited to show you how a couple of my favorite Christmas decorations are playing double-duty and staying out for the winter months.

How to Transition From Christmas to Winter Decor

1. Declutter

Let's all nod our head in agreement on this one. I think it's safe to say we all feel that urge to organize and declutter after Christmas. Sometimes all that extra home decor can feel overwhelming, so I always welcome the opportunity to clean up. My first step in transitioning to winter decor is to go around the house and gather up any Christmas decor that I know will not work for winter. You know what I'm talking about–the mini Christmas trees, the ornaments, the Christmas wreaths, etc. Pack it up , and while you're at it go ahead and get rid of anything else that you aren't loving anymore. Take this opportunity to organize and do a little "winter cleaning". I promise, you'll feel better with less stuff.

2. Get the red out

I mentioned this tip in my post about decorating after Christmas last year, but I think it's still the single best thing you can do to transition from Christmas decor to winter decor. Like I mentioned earlier, I think many Christmas decorations can double as winter decor. But what's most often missing from winter decor is the pops of red. Now I'm obviously a neutral loving, farmhouse – style kind of gal, but red just screams Christmas to me. This little tip works really well for me personally because the ONLY time I use red in our home is at Christmas.

If you saw my Christmas living room post, you will recognize this 3 piece birch hurricane set. In that post I used these, along with lots of greenery and red berry stems, to make a Christmas centerpiece here on the coffee table. Transitioning to winter means all I had to do was take away the bulk of the greenery for a more subtle look, as well as remove the pops of red. Easy and quick! And I love that I can get even more use out of this birch set.

3. Leave your Christmas tree bare

This tip is for those of you that really love your Christmas tree, and hate that feeling of emptiness that often comes after taking it down. If you want to keep it up a little longer , but don't want the Christmas look, go ahead and try removing all the ornaments and lights. There's something so rustic and beautiful about a bare tree , and I think it can totally work in the weeks following Christmas. I didn't decorate this tree in our basement and I plan on leaving it this way for a while.

4. Add in simple, rustic touches

Unlike Christmas decor , winter decor doesn't have to be big and bold. I actually prefer to tone things down after Christmas by using simple, rustic touches like pinecones. I had pinecone picks out with my Christmas decor this year — I actually paired them with some red berry stems. For winter I decided to use a smaller bundle and style them alone as the focal point on my mantel.

I also love replacing all the heavy garland around the house with small, subtle trimmings. For an easy winter coffee table centerpiece try wrapping a pair of old books in twine and lace, then simply pop a few tree trimmings on top. Boom. Easy winter decor.

5. Keep the Cozy

One of the best parts about winter is the fact that we get to use really cozy blankets and pillows. Give me alllllll the cozy things! I love using oversized fuzzy pillows and faux fur throw blankets. They instantly make any space feel more warm and inviting.

6. Do what inspires YOU

Above all, do what inspires you and what feels good in your home. There are no rules you have to follow to decorate your home for winter. Truly, it's about doing what makes you feel energized and refreshed for a new year. Even something as simple as fresh flowers can make all the difference. I bought this bouquet of baby's breath for $4 from the grocery story a while back and I was shocked to get two weeks out of them. I love the little puffs of white. And am I crazy or do they remind you of snowflakes? Maybe that's a stretch but I think it works.

As much as I love Christmas, it always feels so good to get the house back in order after the holidays. This year I started decorating earlier than ever before — it was actually the second week of November when I put our tree up, so I was definitely feeling the itch to take it all down and move on to winter decor. And it really wasn't that difficult. It's just a few simple changes here and there that make the transition from Christmas to winter decor an easy process. Thanks so much for stopping by! I'd love to hear when you take your Christmas decorations down or if you have any great tips for making the transition to winter. I always love hearing from you so don't be shy!

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