It seems hard to fathom, but Christmas is less than six weeks away. With a newborn, I don’t think I’ll be decking every hall in our home this year, so I wanted to really pack a punch with the decorating I did get to. Last Christmas I put up a white tree in the kids’ playroom we were renovating the library and living in construction dust throughout the main areas of the house and the year prior I had a small, live tree we had just moved into the house. I’ve been really loving a more traditional approach to Christmas, and while nothing beats the smell of a real tree, decorating them can be more difficult. Artificial trees have come a long way, and when I saw this 9′ stunner at Lowe’s I was in love. Small? No. Grand? Yes!
The fir branches not only look realistic, they are incredibly sturdy and hold the heaviest of ornaments with ease.
Let’s talk ornaments. You can never go wrong with monochromatics and metallics, so I mixed both to create a palette that blended in with the library walls and bookshelves instead of standing out against them. The result is really sophisticated and chic.
The Allen + Roth mercury glass balls and pendents bring just enough sparkle and interest without being “glitzy.” The key to an interesting tree is using a variety of shapes. It can be easy to find yourself with only balls and circles, but try to bring in some length and lines.
The icicles do just that, but they also lean Art Deco and really tie in well with the chandelier. By mixing in matte burgundy ornaments you bring in another sheen and a bit more modern feel.
In every design, I want there to be something a bit unexpected. The nutcrackers are just that. I found these at the dollar store and spraypainted them to add a touch of whimsy that still feels cohesive. A super inexpensive and quick DIY, and the kids love them!
There’s nothing quite like the twinkle of Christmas lights at night, is there?
Hover over the above image for shoppable links!
I want to hear what your tree will be looking like this year! Do you prefer artificial or real? What colors are using? Do you like to mix it up a bit every year, or do you love the nostalgia of keeping things the same?
*This post is in partnership with Lowe’s but all selections, ideas, and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Makerista possible.
Photos by me and Lark.
Bethany says
I definitely used to be a diehard real tree person, but with 4 little ones, the artificial ones are just more convenient and I honestly adore the symmetry. You are so right, artificial ones have come a very long way!
Also, I am so grateful to have found your blog! I am still finding “the style” that fits our family and your blog completely opened up a new world now just making the transition……
Enjoy that sweet new baby of yours! She is adorable. ?
themakerista@gmail.com says
Oh, that’s so nice to hear, Bethany! Yes, I am a believer that kids don’t have to mean loosing your style. 🙂 I will, thank you!
Channing says
I think this is my first time commenting on your blog even though I’ve been a reader for a while. 🙂 I love your tree. I will be doing a theme of golds, navy, silver, and white. Metallics with a few pops. I prefer a live tree but I do think about getting a fake sometimes. I love yours and it’s very art deco chic.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thank you, Channing! Sounds beautiful. 🙂 You can’t beat the smell of a real tree, that’s for sure!
C.B. says
Christmas in my family is a bit different. I have a very small family which consist of my mother, my great aunt, me and my mom’s two dogs. I’m about to turn 30 in January but for the past few years, neither my mom or I had a long term relationship so Christmas was just us for a while (now I’ve had a boyfriend for almost a year so it might change soon although he has 2 young children so we’re taking this slow for their sake). Anyway long story short, my mom and I have always had a tradition. Neither of us is found of the idea of extending Christmas through November (I’m all about waiting for December first because I get tired of the same music playing for 2 months straight and the inevitable tackiness most people seem to stick with in their decorating…….not a Grinch……..I just like moderation and sophistication). So we usually put up the tree in mid-December. A few years back I convinced her to get a good quality artificial tree in a decent size (looks a lot like yours) mostly for the convenience and maintenance. We’ve loved it every year. We also have a couple of decorations that have been in the family for decades and some lovely pieces bought over time in different places. We usually open up all the magazines she is subscribed to for inspiration and we have enough decorations to choose a new “colour scheme” if you will every time. Not sure what we’ll do this year but the tradition goes like this, we put on Bing Crosby’s White Christmas album (super old school) and we pour ourselves a little glass of Muscat des papes (it’s a sweet fortified wine. We’re French Canadian so that’s a bit of a French tradition) and we lay out all the decorations, set up the tree and get started (usually we also cook in the morning and set up the tree while the food is in the oven). We also decorate the youngest dog who just loves getting pampered and adorned in Christmas decorations and having her picture taken (weirdest Labrador in the world). Anyway your tree is beautiful and that library is just to die for!!!!! Happy holidays.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Oh, I love hear about your traditions! How special and fun to share that with your mom. It sounds like a beautiful time and I love the mix you have of nostalgia but also allowing yourselves to do something a little different every year. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and for following along, Caroline!
Michael Wurm Jr says
You combine colors in a way I would never imagine. It seriously blows my mind in the best possible way. You truly have a gift. Bravo!
xo Michael
themakerista@gmail.com says
You’re sweet, thank you Michael!
Nancy says
It looks beautiful!! Can you please tell me where you got the beautiful sconces on the book shelf? Love them!!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Nancy, they are from Circa Lighting: http://www.circalighting.com/details.aspx?pid=3676. Thanks so much!
Nancy says
Thanks so much!!! Nancy
Julie Blanner says
It’s so pretty, Gwen! I love how you have an entirely different take with the same ornaments and star! I hope you and your family have a beautiful Christmas!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Yes, how fun! Thank you, you too, Julie!
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
I’m so in love with this tree!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Julia!
Carmen Moran says
I almost bought those exact mercury glass ornaments yesterday ? I’ve decided to stick with neutrals and metallics. I have two trees, both faux. One is a more sparkly and “dressy” and the other is more natural elements and laid back. I put all of our keepsake ornaments on a small tree in the kids’ room so they can enjoy them, but then they don’t clash with the rest of the house. ?
Enjoy that sweet baby!
themakerista@gmail.com says
So smart, Carmen! I love that you can have pretty and nostalgia at once. 🙂 And your dressy tree sounds beautiful!
Corey Hatfield says
I loved this article and have enjoyed your beautiful pictures and blog. As a busy mom of 5, I totally get the stress that Christmas can add. I actually just wrote an article related to this topic and would love to hear your thoughts on it, as I respect and admire your blog and writing style. I would be very appreciative if you find time and are so inclined. The link is https://wordpress.com/post/myelysianliving.com/106. Happy Thanksgiving!
themakerista@gmail.com says
5 kids, wow, that makes what I’m dealing with seem easy. 😉 I love your idea of “why not?!” I have yet to find lots of weird things in weird places but I’m sure it’s coming!
Lori says
Can you decorate my tree…Seriously, this is beautiful as is all of our decorating efforts. Always gorgeous, always inspirational.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha, thank you so much Lori! It was fun, and I can’t say that tree decoration is one of my favorite things but these ornaments in this space is so pretty and Christmas music always helps too. 😉
Lori says
We raised three active boys and have a tall artificial tree. When they little we had a discrete screw eye we left up high on the wall that we would tie the tree to so they couldn’t pull it over. I used plastic candy apples and white sparkle plastic snowflakes and walnuts hung from gold sparkle ribbon mixed with lots of wooden ornaments. It sounds tacky but it looked nice and I used to get a lot of compliments on it and the boys could bump into it or whatever and I didn’t have to worry about them or the tree.: ) . These days I am enjoying being able to enjoy glass ornaments. I still have my wooden ornaments but they are mixed in with Chinese yellow and cognac colored glass balls and when the lights are on the tree glows a rich subtle almost candle like color. You tree is fantastic and I love the shapes you mixed together! Your eye for color and pattern is amazing, you tee is very enchanting!
themakerista@gmail.com says
I love how you made it work when your boys were little and tying the tree to the wall is genius! Proof you don’t have to give up decor for kids. 🙂 Your current colors sound beautiful!
Terianne says
I ONLY had a faux tree growing up and loved it. I always thought a real tree looked “messy” (yes, seriously). But, my husband was a die hard real tree fan, and our first Christmas he surprised me with a real tree and I loved it! On Christmas Eve he told me he had bought us our first ornament. I looked for it and inside the ornament was an engagement ring <3 We've been married now for ten years and I have become a real tree convert. Now we take our three kids on a "magical" quest every December to find the perfect (i.e. symmetrical) Christmas tree. Which normally ends with me saying "Let's just pick one and get the @#$% out of here!" Ah, Christmas. I will say, however, that that tree looks pretty freakin' spectacular and if I just lit a pine scented candle…
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha, I love your story! I grew up with artificial too because in Colorado the dry air didn’t allow real ones to last long. There is definitely something wonderful about getting a real one every year (and less storage too) but I love the ease of an artificial and yes, the symmetry makes me happy. 🙂 Have a wonderful Christmas, Terianne!
Ariel says
Lovely tree, as always! I love the colour scheme too, it works very well in that library!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks so much, Ariel!
Haley says
oooh, great tree! I love the spray painted nutcrackers. We always had live trees growing up, but I’m a terrible housekeeper so we stick with a fake tree. I like to do some kind of handmade garland (fingerknit yarn this year) and all our family ornaments including some vintage ones from my grandma and great grandma. This year I only hung up the non breakable ones because I knew my toddler will be playing with them.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks so much! I love that you make the garland and make it so personal!
Bára says
We actually have the tradition of decorating the tree in the morning of 24 Dec, as I am from another part of the world and we get presents in the evening of 24. So, in my family we decorate the tree in the morning then have a light lunch, go for a festive walk in the city, come home for the Christmas dinner (traditionally a carp and potato salad, but I have been preferring salmon lately) and then the baby Jesus brings us presents under the Christmas tree. No Santa Clause here, except that on 4 Dec St. Nicolas (originally the same person as Santa Clause) is coming from house to house accompanied by an angel and a devil, asking children if they have been good this year, If they have, they get small presents (fruits, candies), if they misbehaved they get coal and potatoes, and the most naughty ones we are told the devil will take with him to hell. The kids must also tell St. Nicolas (svatý Mikuláš) a poem or sign a song to get their sack of goodies. The traditional tree ornaments are made of straw, but I have been using dark green and purple frosted ornaments combined with silver. Thought I am eyeing the mercury glass ones currently. Unfortunately, the offer here isn’t as wide as in the US. I love the chandelier in your library!!! It is amazing. Oh yes and I prefer the real tree, even with 3 kids, I just love the smell and somehow cannot get over the artificialness of a fake tree. Have a nice Advent :o)
themakerista@gmail.com says
Love hearing about your traditions! I think Christmas Eve sounds really special and it’s interesting how Saint Nicolas has morphed into the Santa we know here. Thanks for reading and I hope you have the most merry Christmas!
Bára says
Thank you. Yes I think finding presents under the tree in the evening with only the tree and few candles lit is rather magical :o)
themakerista@gmail.com says
Completely!
Lisa says
Love your idea of spray painting ornaments for uniformity. What color spray paint did you use for your nutcrackers?
themakerista@gmail.com says
Good question, Lisa, and sorry I’m so late with this. It’s a Valspar spray paint from Lowe’s and this was the only burgundy/cranberry color there was. Sorry I can’t be more helpful with the exact shade, but I don’t have the can anymore.