I love decorating for Christmas — the lights, the coziness, the candles and the magic it brings into our home. But I’ll be honest… I love decorating but it can be a lot. 

There was a time when decorating felt stressful — like one more thing on an already full to-do list. It’s totally different decorating with kids, than without kids.
I’d try to do it all in one day, drag every bin out of storage and end up tired, cranky and surrounded by half-finished decorating projects.

Now, I do it completely differently.
I decorate for Christmas without the overwhelm.
Here’s how I’ve simplified it over the years so it feels calm, meaningful, fun and actually enjoyable.

Step 1: I Start Small and Build Slowly

I don’t pull out every bin or decorate the entire house at once.
Instead, I start small — one space, one moment, one cozy touch at a time.

I might begin with:

• My front hallway.
• A candle on the counter, cozy blankets on the couch.
• Christmas signs on the walls.

Then, a few days later I’ll do another room and I’ll put a few decorations, like snow globes, trees
This rhythm helps me actually enjoy decorating instead of rushing through it. This year I took my time to put up trees, this really depends on what is going on for putting up trees. I put up one tree one day and a few days later I put up another tree. 

Christmas doesn’t have to happen in a day. It’s meant to be enjoyed one cozy moment at a time. I found taking my time, I truly enjoyed decorating with my family and I wasn’t stressed. So yes it’s early November and we’re almost done decorating.

Step 2: I Clear and Reset Before Adding More

Before I bring in the Christmas décor, I take a few minutes to reset.
I clear off surfaces, put away everyday items and create space for what’s coming in.

It’s not about making it perfect — it’s about making it peaceful.
Decorating feels so much lighter when the space is already calm.

Sometimes I even do this in small chunks — the kitchen one day, the living room the next — so I never feel rushed or buried in bins.

Step 3: I Focus on Feeling, Not Perfection

In the past, I worried about matching ornaments or creating a Pinterest-perfect living room. Now, I focus on how it feels.

• Warm.
• Cozy.
• Inviting.
• A place my family actually wants to be.

I choose soft lights, candles, music and scents that make our home feel peaceful.
Sometimes that means simplifying decorating — and that’s okay. This year we did that, putting up less trees and decorations. 

Step 4: I Save the Trees for Last 🎄

I used to put everything up at once — trees, lights, garland, everything. Now, I wait until I’m ready to enjoy it.

Usually, I start at the end of October putting up trees and finish in early November. This makes decorating so much easier and I get to enjoy my trees. One of my favorite things is doing devotions in the morning with one light on in the kitchen and my Christmas tree lit. It’s so peaceful and a great way to start the morning with calm. 

Step 5: I Involve the Family

Decorating used to feel like a solo project, but now it’s something we do together.
Jimmy helps with lights, the kids decorate their rooms and a couple of trees, it’s okay if it’s not perfect.

We play Christmas music and start baking Christmas cookies early. Other times, it’s just a simple afternoon together.
It’s not about the outcome — it’s about connection and making memories. 

Step 6: I Keep It Simple — and Meaningful

I don’t decorate every corner anymore. I used to have a tree in every room, decorations everywhere. While I love Christmas and decorating, I found simplifying decorations has brought me more peace and calm. And I actually enjoy it more.
A few thoughtful touches — candles, nativity, cozy blankets, things that are meaningful, like snow globes, small trees and signs— make a bigger impact than filling every space. I probably have half the decorations that I used to put up. I stopped doing garland on the stairs, putting up little decorations everywhere. Not every room has decorations in it and not everything has decorations too. 

I’ve learned that simple decorations leave more room for peace, joy and family time. Plus it’s less to clean and take down. 

💗 Friend, decorating for Christmas doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
It doesn’t have to be done in a day or look perfect to feel magical.
Start small, decorate slowly and make space for peace this season.

The most meaningful moments usually come from the quiet, cozy in-between — not the picture-perfect scenes.

If your home feels more chaotic than cozy this season, The Simplified Home Course will walk you through the exact resets that make home maintenance, decorating, and daily rhythms feel lighter.

Because peace doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from intention.

👉 [Start your reset today with The Simplified Home ➡️ LINK]

Love and Support

Billie-Jo