I’m a Christmas nut.
The minute Christmas music is available 24/7 on the radio, it’s on. I have an ever-growing Christmas playlist on our iPod that houses everything from Bing Crosby classics to Michael Bublé crooning to the cast of Glee doing O Holy Night. I love it all.
I unpack ornaments, lights and Mr. The Elf (whom The K Man named as such when he was two-and-a-half years old) like a giddy school girl.
One thing I’ve always wanted is a perfectly matching tree. But that’s hard to do when you’ve accumulated years of ornaments and school projects, with memories so deeply ingrained in them.
As soon as The Home Depot Canada unveiled its holiday décor collections, though, I decided to follow a neighbour’s lead and become a two-tree kind of house: one for me, and one for the kids.
The kids now have our old tree and got to decorate it however they liked. Our Maestro Mouse landed on the kids’ tree, and he seems very happy there. And when 14 plastic balls ended up concentrated on one lower section of branches, my feeling was so what? C’est la vie! The kids’ tree is adorned solely with school-made decorations (which, let’s be honest, are usually adorable but not exactly design-savvy). This second tree also gave us a place to include even the most outdated decorations, which are just as important even if they’re not as pretty.
But our new tree…well, pretty is the name of the game.
We went with the Arctic Holiday collection set upon the most beautiful, sparkly tree from Martha Stewart. Every time I walk in the house now, I get to pass by our stunning powder room and then feast my eyes on this:
There isn’t one angle that isn’t eye-catching. And I’m in love. Yes; with a tree and the small vignette I have on our hallway table. Because somehow it makes me feel all grown up. There’s one collective aesthetic rather than a hodge-podge of bits and pieces that have become part of our holiday fabric over the years.
Not that those aren’t just as important for our holiday story. They are. But this year, we have two trees, two stories.
Here’s what we used:
- Martha Stewart Living 7.5-ft Glittery Pine Pre-Lit Artificial Tree ($289) — this tree is spectacular in person; there’s a dusting of glitter on nearly every branch that catches the light and casts all the colours of the rainbow in every direction. I put this tree together entirely by myself and overall it was very easy to do, if a bit heavy at times. You need to know, however, that it will take you at least two hours to separate and “fluff” all of the branches to make this tree look lush and full. It’s worth the two hours! This is easily the nicest fake Christmas tree we’ve ever owned
- Martha Stewart Living Shatter-Resistant Ornaments ($29.98) — there are 75 bulbs in this package, which is part of the Arctic Holiday collection, and we didn’t even come close to using them all. If you have a nine-foot tree with a huge circumference, you might find a spot for each one. Maybe. You do need to get some string, ribbon or those metal ornament hangers because they don’t come ready to hang
- Martha Stewart Living 17-inch Silver Glitter Star Tree Topper ($14.97) — I love the scale of this tree topper, even if it is on the awkward side to get on our tree just right. On a real tree with a bit of a thicker trunk at the top end, I suspect this star would slide on beautifully and stay perfectly straight all season. It’s got elegant simplicity and really finishes off the tree
- Martha Stewart Living Christmas Jingle Bell Ornaments ($3.95 for pk. of 12) — these are so cute and actually jingle with the slightest touch. They add a lot of shine for very little money
- Martha Stewart Living Shatter-Resistant Silver Blue Icicle Ornaments ($7.97 for pk. of 8)
- Martha Stewart Living 15-pc. Mini Glass Ornament ($4.94)
What I can’t seem to find online are the twirly blue and silver “sticks” that you see sticking out of our tree, also from Martha Stewart Living. These were really reasonably priced (around $8 a bunch, and we used one bunch of each colour), and they’re my favourite part of the tree. They’re really eye-catching and different. You could easily repurpose them for outdoor arrangements, too. I’m definitely picking up some more to do just that next year.
And for the vignette on our hallway table, I’ve displayed this adorable silver ceramic owl ($7.97, six inches), a white rattan tree that’s awash with texture and sparkles ($16.87, 20 inches) and an opal-white polyresin nutcracker ($12.88, 14 inches) — all of which I found scattered throughout the Arctic Holiday section at my local Home Depot.
Next on the agenda? I need better storage containers to pack all these lovelies away once the holidays come to an end. Sniff.
DISCLAIMER: Thank you to The Home Depot Canada for providing me with my choice of tree and selected elements from the Arctic Holiday collection.
SueSueper says
Funny Elf On the Shelf! There otta be a blue on like him to match your decor!
Mommy Gearest says
There actually was a bit of blue in his birthday cupcake outfit he wore on Christmas Eve, my daughter’s birthday.
SueSueper says
Funny Elf On the Shelf! There otta be a blue on like him to match your decor!
Mommy Gearest says
There actually was a bit of blue in his birthday cupcake outfit he wore on Christmas Eve, my daughter’s birthday.
SueSueper says
I love the blue colors! How neat!! I always go for gold and silver!
SueSueper says
I love the blue colors! How neat!! I always go for gold and silver!
kathy downey says
i didn t realize that home depot sold such lovely decorations
kathy downey says
i didn t realize that home depot sold such lovely decorations
kathy downey says
i really love the turquoise color its different and very beautiful
kathy downey says
i really love the turquoise color its different and very beautiful
Brenda Fournier-Lacourciere says
Love the Martha Stewart collection.
Brenda Fournier-Lacourciere says
Love the Martha Stewart collection.
Belinda McNabb says
I only recently realized the homedepot had christmas decorations. Went and checked them out and left with a few wonderful items. Thanks for the share and everything is amazing
Belinda McNabb says
I only recently realized the homedepot had christmas decorations. Went and checked them out and left with a few wonderful items. Thanks for the share and everything is amazing
Darlene Schuller says
I love the Christmas decor at Home Depot. I love the colours/designs….I adore your choices!
Darlene Schuller says
I love the Christmas decor at Home Depot. I love the colours/designs….I adore your choices!
Marianne says
I love love love those blue icicle ornaments. We’re thinking of replacing our tree boxing day — and maybe I’ll change up our colour scheme (we’re currently more red/gold)
Marianne says
I love love love those blue icicle ornaments. We’re thinking of replacing our tree boxing day — and maybe I’ll change up our colour scheme (we’re currently more red/gold)
Crystal Englot says
I love the Home Depot for shopping for anything, but I have to say that they have by the far the best and most gorgeous Christmas decorations!
Crystal Englot says
I love the Home Depot for shopping for anything, but I have to say that they have by the far the best and most gorgeous Christmas decorations!
Olivia says
I really like that silver and turquoise colour combo – pretty!
Olivia says
I really like that silver and turquoise colour combo – pretty!
Florence C says
Very Pretty. The home depot is a great place for decorations
Florence C says
Very Pretty. The home depot is a great place for decorations
Darlene Schuller says
I love the unique colours and Christmas Decor I always score at Home Depot
Darlene Schuller says
I love the unique colours and Christmas Decor I always score at Home Depot
Tony C says
LIke frosted ornaments cause it makes it look like they have snow on them
Tony C says
LIke frosted ornaments cause it makes it look like they have snow on them
sarah j jackson says
I love it ! very nice ! funny thing , it looks like you have a feather ornament there on the tree , my daughter picked one of those this year to put on the tree
sarah j jackson says
I love it ! very nice ! funny thing , it looks like you have a feather ornament there on the tree , my daughter picked one of those this year to put on the tree
andrea amy (@mommy2fiveboys) says
We have the same ornament set from Home Depot, except my colours are red and gold. Looks nice though 🙂
andrea amy (@mommy2fiveboys) says
We have the same ornament set from Home Depot, except my colours are red and gold. Looks nice though 🙂
angela m says
Very pretty tree, It looks great.. I think your ornaments all compliment each other.
angela m says
Very pretty tree, It looks great.. I think your ornaments all compliment each other.
Athena says
What great decorations! Good job 🙂
Athena says
What great decorations! Good job 🙂
Judy C (Judy Cowan) says
Your tree is very pretty. Home Depot has some great decorations this year!
Judy C (Judy Cowan) says
Your tree is very pretty. Home Depot has some great decorations this year!
mary ann d says
I love decorating the hall @Xmas time!
mary ann d says
I love decorating the hall @Xmas time!
ginette4 says
I love decorating for Christmas, I have to say I have never shopped at Home Depot for decorations, I didn’t even know that they sold decorations…time for a visit
ginette4 says
I love decorating for Christmas, I have to say I have never shopped at Home Depot for decorations, I didn’t even know that they sold decorations…time for a visit
Nora Edmiston Harlos says
Love your color scheme, I have a color scheme too mine is gold and burgandy
Nora Edmiston Harlos says
Love your color scheme, I have a color scheme too mine is gold and burgandy
Monique L. S. says
The tree is beautiful. I really like the dusting of glitter….makes it stand out.
Monique L. S. says
The tree is beautiful. I really like the dusting of glitter….makes it stand out.
Andrea B. says
What a beautiful tree! Love the color scheme and ornaments.
Andrea B. says
What a beautiful tree! Love the color scheme and ornaments.
Jessica G says
we celebrate chanukah, but in university, i had so much fun decorating my first christmas tree!
Jessica G says
we celebrate chanukah, but in university, i had so much fun decorating my first christmas tree!