Cottage Christmas Decor Ideas
Come tour An Oregon Cottage holidays through the years for Christmas decor ideas and new ways to reuse your favorites from year to year.
My family’s Christmas decor growing up pretty much consisted of the same things every year. There was one year that I was too young to remember where the traditional tree was supplanted by a silver one with red balls, but other than that we pretty much decorated the same. We’d add a few new ornaments, but that was about it.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. I love pulling out the things that have been around for years, remembering all the other times we put them up and the memories around that. I have my Grandma’s nativity set, which is super special to me and when I put it up, I remember when little hands helped me (and yes, I usually get teary).
But if you find joy from your surroundings like me, changing up some parts of the yearly decorating scheme is fun. I never buy all new stuff or throw out everything – it’s usually just changing up the colors, emphasizing gold or silver, or going more natural. And lots of rearranging. Whatever strikes my fancy that year.
I know you will fall into one of two camps – those who agree with me and think it’s fun to do a few new things and those that roll their eyes and say, “oh, please.” And that’s okay – there’s room for everyone in the Christmas decorating realm.
However, I thought it would be interesting for both camps to take a little history tour with me through the years of Christmas decorating on AOC. You will see how my style has changed – and how it’s also reflected in my overall style changes, too. You’ll also see how I use the same items from year-to-year, just in different places and maybe different ways.
As you scroll through the photos below, I hope you are inspired to find ways to enjoy your holiday decorating in different ways – and think about how yours may – or may not – have changed, too! (Oh, and note how far my photography skills have come – though I still find it hard to photograph in our gray Oregon wintersā¦)
Cottage Christmas Decor Ideas Through the Years
2015 – Green Plaid, Metallic & Natural (bring on the antlers!)
Articles and How-Tos:
- Decor plan
- Home Tour
- Porch Tour
- Green Plaid Rustic Christmas Table
- How to Make an Easy, No-Sew Table Runner
- Plaid Fabric Covered Paper Mache Letters
2014 – A Cottage Christmas (bringing in chalkboards)
Articles and How-Tos:
- Cottage Christmas home tour
- Dollar Store Craft Wreath Chair Decorations
- 3-D Vintage Sheet Music Ornaments
- DIY White Wool Felt Wreath Pillow
2013 – Green & White Christmas Decor (going natural)
Articles & How-Tos:
2012 – White, Silver & Burlap
Articles and How-Tos:
- White, Silver, and Burlap Christmas Mantel
- Favorite Christmas Decorations
- Christmas Deer Makeover & Sideboard Decor
- Anthropologie Knock-off Wool Pom-Pom Wreath & Garland Tutorial
- Anthropologie Knock-off Glitter and Tinsel DIY Ornament
- Easy Book Page Punch Ornament
- Vintage Sheet Music JOY Sign
- Vintage Sheet Music Coasters
2011 – Vintage Book Pages & Sheet Music
Articles and How-Tos:
- Vintage Book Pages & Sheet Music Christmas Theme
- Christmas Tree 2011
- Christmas Mantel Before and After
- Vintage Sheet Music Wreath
- Book Page Rosette Tutorial
2010 – Metallics (with purple added midway!)
Articles and How-Tos:
- 2010 Holiday Decor
- Christmas Tree Changes (adding purple)
2009 – A Simple Mantel (first year blogging)
The few articles I published that first year:
Whew, what a walk down memory lane! Stay tuned for this year’s Christmas decor ideas with a farmhouse cottage snowy-galvanizhed theme I’m loving.
Do you like to change around your Christmas decor for year to year?
I mostly use the same but mix them up a bit, but i think that is what Christmas should be about memories. I always put my same nativity i have had for years up and some sayings i have had that remind us of the birth of Jesus.
Yes, I love that. And the memories are definitely what makes Christmas special.
Yes, I change it up year to year, but continue to put the main tree in the same place since it won’t fit anywhere else. I usually group ‘like’ things together and change the garland on the trees. This year, we have all the Santas on the china hutch, all the snowmen on the Hoosier cabinet and I have small artificial trees in every room! One tree has white lights, red, green and gold mesh tucked in between the branches with all the ornaments that reflect what we like to do…golf, cook, kayak, camp, travel, ski, and ice hockey! The main live Nobel Fir has all the ornaments the kids made over the years with bright red garland and colored lights. This year, we added garland with sugared pinecone lights to our ‘pony’ wall diving the entryway from the dining room. We also used solar lights on all our new trees in the front yard! It really looks beautiful! We also purge our Christmas stuff each year- things that are looking ratty or faded are donated or dumped…except for family ornaments or things the kids made when they were little. We got a new tree skirt this year- the former one was 20 years old, stained and faded.
I loved seeing your room with all the changing decor! You have always been such an inspiration to me to try new things! It all looked beautiful and personal…as it should! Thanks Jami!
Thank you, Michele – you are always so sweet! Your decor sounds festive and special – though I don’t have the energy to do a tree in every room, I think it’s a beautiful look. I just can’t handle the taking-everything-down part! š