Let's face
it, new merchandise in the shops, catalogs arriving daily, magazines full of
decorating ideas and the TV screaming "buy me!" can turn the best of
us into plastic-tossing shop-a-holics. In our quest to create the perfect
holiday, we often think that bigger is better and have this crazy desire to
outdo whatever we did last year, even though it almost killed us! Some
people think that if they buy more of the newest seasonal offerings that the
holiday will be perfect. Not true! The best way to have a wonderful holiday is
to simplify it and enjoy the time you’ll spend with family and friends.
It's easy to make smart choices and balance your schedule so that you, too, can
enjoy the holiday season.
Here's the plan:
1. Reduce clutter. I
know it's the latest buzz in decorating, but it is the best way to improve your
home. During the holidays you’ll have more stuff in your home and you’ll need
to make room for it. Holiday décor, family gatherings, baking and cooking will
make your home busy and over-crowded, so eliminate everything that could
potentially be in your way this holiday season. Make room for the new
items and collections and for all of the “stuff” that your family will bring
with them.
2. Plan ahead. It is possible. Find out what family
plans are and adjust schedules accordingly. Mark your calendar and stay ahead
of your to do list by not putting items off until tomorrow.
3. Shorten your gift list. By doing this you will spend less time shopping and save money. Make a
gift list before you shop and stay focused. If you have a fixed budget stick to
it. The holiday should be joyful, not painful. If you overspend it will come
back to bite you in the end, so don't do it!
4. Maximize shopping time. Now that you've made your list, plan your trip to gather your items in
the least amount of time. Spend less time “shopping” and more time interacting
with your family and friends.
5. Keep decorations simple. Mass produced inexpensive decorations are everywhere and it's easy
to load up on stuff without thinking of where you'll put it. Don’t do it! Look
over what you already have, then decide what you need - or can do without.
Remember, whatever you buy has to be put away again after the holidays! Choose
carefully and you can make a spectacular focal point with a minimum of
"things".
6. Host a “Decorate my Home” party. Invite a few close friends over and decorate your home
together. It is a great way to spend time with people and to get your home
decorated at the same time. Snacks, drinks and music make for a great
decorating party.
7. Bake cookies with friends or family. Make a list of all of the items you will bake, divide the
shopping list and share the expense of the ingredients. Make a big mess in one
kitchen and cleanup together. This is a great way to get your baking list done
and have a larger assortment of goodies. You'll save money and have fun
cooking with the crowd!
8. Plan your menu.
If you are hosting family over several days, plan your menu for each day and shop
accordingly. This will reduce last minute running around and create a lot less
stress.
9. Keep parties small. You’d
love to include everyone, but be realistic. Invite those that you truly want to
spend time with. Smaller gatherings will be easier to prepare and accommodate.
10. Shorten your to do list. It is easy to make a long list of the things you want to do; there's
nothing wrong with that. But as your time gets tighter, start crossing off
items. Do only what is truly important and eliminate the rest.
I write all of this as a former “my holiday has to be perfect” person. I
finally realized that it is about being with people and enjoying everything
about the holiday. It isn’t about spending time in long lines, being stuck in
the kitchen all day or cleaning the house for hours before guests arrive. I
used to go all-out and create a "Martha Stewart" holiday. It was
perfect and beautiful. But it was stressful and a lot of work. I created long
days and nights for myself and had no time to enjoy the results. Then one year
I decided enough was enough and simplified. It was still wonderful. My home was
beautiful and I had more time to have fun and enjoy my family and friends.
Please
give consideration to my list and learn from my transition from a stressful
holiday to creating a simplified holiday. There’s a saying, “If it isn’t fun,
why do it?”. Well that certainly applies to the holiday season.
Julie Fergus, ASID, is a nationally published interior designer. Her studio and showroom is located in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Julie's clients are primarily in the Lakes Region and Mount Washington Valley, however, she will travel throughout the state and North East. www.JulieFergus.com | www.DesignByMail.com
