Christmas in Apartment 3A

I’ve mentioned quite a few times that Halloween is my favorite day of the year, but I think the day we decorate the apartment for Christmas might be a close second. 🎄

It’s an all day event around here, we marathon Christmas movies, make a pot of chili, drink hot tea and brandy and Dillon ends up running to the store at least twice for things that I forgot 😆 I’m a sucker for traditions, so when we did this our first December living together I’ve insisted that we repeat it every year since. I think developing rituals to look forward to make the holidays so much more exciting! And although Dillon will tell you that I’m a control freak about where the ornaments go on the tree, we still have a lot of fun doing it together. 😜

Here’s a peak at what Christmas looks like in Apartment 3A this year, as well as some tips on how to decorate on a budget.

1) Use the Dollar Store. Seriously, SO much of this stuff is from the Dollar Store! Our first year in the apartment I wanted to go Christmas crazy, but also was starting from scratch and wanted to be sensible about it. I did a big shopping spree at the Dollar Store, and then just bought a couple of more expensive things from other places. After getting this “base” of decorations the first time around, I’ve been able to consistently add fun things every year because I don’t have as much to buy.

2) Thrift your tree! Christmas trees aren’t cheap, especially if you’re a crazy person like myself who insists upon having one that’s ten feet tall. One option is to buy a tree at a heavy discount after the holidays, but I know I am never thrilled about spending money on Christmas decor after the season is already over. Buying a tree from a thrift store is a great solution, and can be super cost efficient.

Our tree is from Goodwill, and cost $10. I then got the brilliant idea to tape off every individual light (it was a pre-lit tree) and spray paint the whole thing white, to create a flocked look. This ended up taking so long, and some of the bulbs came out when we took the tape off, meaning big sections of the lights didn’t work. As much as I love my tree, if I’m being honest, it was a DIY that totally wasn’t worth it. I’m honestly surprised that Dillon didn’t kick myself and my half-lit tree to the curb after spending days in my parents garage taping light bulbs. Unless you’re really looking for a way to test your relationship, I would suggest buying a tree from the thrift store that you like as-is 😂

3) Repurpose things you already have! There are a ton of really simple ways to take items you already own and turn them into holiday decor. I wrap all of our picture frames like Christmas presents, it’s something my mom did growing up that sort of stuck with me. We also fill vases and other glass containers that we already have with cheap ornaments and add glittery embellishments to the plants.

4) Decorate in a color scheme that fits YOU. I’m definitely a little untraditional when it comes to the colors I like to have in our home. Things that are colorful and a little loud just boost my mood and feel more “me”. Because of this, I’ve never been one to decorate in the typical red, green, and gold for the holidays. Is your house decorated in blues and grays? Then stick with that! No need to put up decor that will clash with what you already have. I love seeing everyone’s photos showing off their own personal spin on holiday decor. Christmas looks different to everyone!

5) Have fun with it! I am so guilty of getting a little crazy/stressed when it comes to our place looking perfect for the holidays. 🙋🏻 It’s something that feels like a big deal to me, and I like to get it done ALL at once, not a little at a time. Dillon is definitely not the same way, so he serves as a nice reminder that the world will still spin the next day if we don’t finish the tree before we go to bed.

I hope you guys enjoyed seeing how we do Christmas. Besides all of our holiday plans with family, the two of us always make a big breakfast the morning of Christmas Eve and exchange our gifts to each other. Also, after we leave our family get togethers the night of Christmas, we get hot chocolate and drive around looking at lights. 💖

It’s been really fun developing some of our own traditions together over the years! What is your favorite holiday tradition? I’d love to hear them ☺️

Happy decorating! More glitter is always a good thing ✨👏🏻

Xo Amanda