Our Silver, Gold and Green Christmas Tree

Hello sweet Foxes! Today is my first holiday 2020 post, and I’ll be sharing our Aspen Pine Flocked Christmas Tree. I know I swing wildly between naked trees wearing lots of lights, and trees positively stuffed with ornaments. This year, I landed somewhere in between… and I simply could not wait another single minute to share our silver, gold and green decked Christmas Tree with you! Okay, there is some black plaid too… but my titles tend to get crazy long, so I was trying to simplify. Not my strong suit. I want to type like I talk, and I talk. A lot. 

Oaky now, as much as I truly love Christmas Red, and it makes me feel joyful when I see it in others homes… the last few years, I keep feeling this pull to be surrounded by a very soothing and relaxed vibe. And this year I needed that feel, extra! 

Since I felt that I wanted to go pretty calm again this year, I built on my stock of silver and gold ornaments, but I added in a beautiful Christmas green! That felt right. Festive, like Pine boughs, and Christmas trees and nature, but still restful. 

I have loads of beautiful ribbon, but I didn’t end up using a stitch of it. I really wanted to be able to see the tree itself. I love the branch style, and how open it is, and that you can really appreciate the beauty of each individual ornament.

Since the ribbons weren’t used on the tree, I opted to pile them up on a tray instead. I felt less guilty. Like they somehow knew they didn’t make it to the big show this season. 

I’m crazy for how the new wood Christmas tree box came out! Jim and I went back out into the shop, and made another one from scratch (with me documenting) so we can show you how to make one too! I’ll have that tutorial up here on the blog very soon. 

And can I tell you why I love this a little extra?

Because we are not presenty, like at all. The more the years go by… the less we have under the tree. Jim and I don’t want for a thing, and the practical side of us just can’t make up “present” ideas for the sake of gifts to wrap. I mean, I used to love presents… I just don’t so much anymore. We tend to prefer doing things together, or work towards financial goals and goals for our home (like our deck & pergola build), because that’s important to us. And Austin is grown and always wants cash. Oh I get him a few things to open… but the tree would look so sad. With the tree box/collar, it looks dressed, even without overflowing packages. 

And besides my Frosty The Snowman Tree, I’m not a big tree topper fan either… I don’t know why but I just never see one I love for myself. So you may have noticed, this one is tree topper deficient. 

I placed my white glass blown church front and center and close to the trees top. 

Every single green ornament was found at Goodwill. I got a few boxes of 18 for .99 cents each a few years ago. 

I love imperfect vintage ornaments, and happily mix them right in with the bright and shiny newer ones. 

I had totally intended to hand paint some black and white plaid ornaments this season, but I found these are Walmart for so cheap, I really didn’t need to take the time to paint any. Worked out well. More time for other projects… and no waiting for paint to dry. 

Over time, I’ve found decorating much less frustrating, and much more enjoyable, if I let a design evolve and happen, and don’t get too locked-in to a plan. 

Example: I ran over to Joann’s one day after seeing a Instagram story tour of packed isles full of so many cute things, and had my mind set on a few particular things. My store had zero of what I went in for… but instead I brought home a few single ornaments. 

This new faux marble (it came in a few shapes), and the JOY! The joy is my favorite ornament on the tree this season! It almost glows, and the gold font it so pretty. I also picked up a perfect little gift for my sister. Oh I LOVE buying presents. I just don’t need any. 

For under $20 I was able to create a whole new looks for this years tree! I spent so little adding the new black & white plaid, and the few singles. I was thrilled that I already had the bulk of my ornaments in white, silver and gold on-hand. 

HOW I DECORATED MY TREE:

NOTE — now this might sound backwards, but it’s exactly how I did it on this style of tree. 

• With two strong ornament accent colors in black and green. I added them first, to ensure visually balanced placement and star-of-the-show status. With the long, sweeping branch style, I concentrated on getting a green ornament on all the main branch tips. 

• Next I peppered in my specialty ornaments and singles to make sure they had prominent spots towards the outer branches of the tree.

• Then I filled in with the metallics. My silver glitter orbs went first — extra large at the very bottom, and medium large in the middle. And then my standard sized ornaments. 

• Lastly, I placed my wooden snowflakes on the tree, as they tend to stand out with the wood tone. They almost act as an accent with this particular color scheme.  

I positively stuffed our tree in the living room this year, so it might not be perfectly placed for optimal photos… but I can see it perfectly from my chair! In previous years, it’s been behind me, due to our room layout, and little old house quirks.

So I shimmied things around and I got this big boy into the living room! It took removing my large shelf and coordinating console shelf to make it happen, but it’s so worth it. I actually ended up with less surface to decorate, and as I’m trying to make things simpler, that’s a kind of a double win. It’s already been so nice to have that glow when I settle in for the evening, or even when I take a quick break during the day. 

I’m just crazy for this tree. The branch style, the light flocking that makes it look snow dusted… and the lights?  They are perfect. Clear and bright, no blue or yellow cast. And, I didn’t add any additional. I know. Shocking! It looks like I plucked it right out of the forest and got it all glammed up for Christmas. 

Our Grandin Road Aspen Pine Flocked Tree is the largest faux tree I’ve put together in a long time! It came with the stand, and in three sections. You pop them all together, connect the lights and it’s ready to go. Light to medium fluffing was all it took for the first time out of the box. I’m thrilled with it, and that I get to look at it for many, many weeks to come.

I’m sure this peek at our tree gives you some idea of my color scheme up here at the main house this year! Again, I used a lot of my décor from years past, and tried to create a fresh look with much of what I had on hand. I’m excited to share that with you in the much anticipated Holiday Housewalk 2020 with Jen Rizzo. I loved so much about last years look, and you can take that tour [by clicking here]. It begins on November 30th and I’ll be sharing our home on day one! Which is so good, because I’m DONE… and it is near killlling me to wait. You guys know I am the absolute worst at waiting. See you soon for the Wood Christmas Tree Box Tutorial. xo Shan

I’m thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with Grandin Road for holiday 2020. They offer incredible quality, and I’m proud to partner with such a wonderful company. Make sure to sign-up for their emails, they have amazing promotions, like free shipping and percentage off offers! I got my Ava slip covered chair for 50% off last year! 

SHOPPING SOURCE LINKS:

• Aspen Pine Flocked Christmas Tree [link and tree details – click here]

• DIY Wood Christmas Tree Box – tutorial coming soon! 

• White Washed Wooden Trees [click here]

• Weston Ottoman [click here]

• Black & Grey Plaid Snowflake Pillow, Marble and Joy Ornaments, Green Wrapping Paper – JoAnn’s (2020)

• Items Not Listed: Vintage, thrifted or from years past

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