Wondering how to turn Christmas decor into winter decor? Here are some simple tips to ease your decorating into January.
I think I’m getting a record player.
Hello 1970.
And I’m here for every scratchy sound of it.
I just made it one of my New Year’s resolutions.
I watched a movie where a couple played old school records on a record player and fell in love and right then and there I decided a record player was in my future. Do you have a record player you like? Do you play it?
I also feel the need to announce that I’ve decided that I’m writing more handwritten letters this year.
And learning to knit.
And grow roses.
Do you notice a trend?
I’m in my old school calm era.
(total aside: are you thinking KariAnne and calm is an oxymoron?)
It’s kind of like my current decor. I can’t let Christmas go all the way, so I’m easing into it and leaving all the winter up. It’s actually SO much easier than you think. That way, the rooms don’t look so empty.
Who’s with me?
Here are some simple and easy ideas to turn Christmas decor into winter decor.
Take down the Christmas totes
If you are thinking about de-Christmasing your house and you don’t know where to begin?
Just bring down a couple of totes.
Not all of them—I started with four.
I know it can be scary to see them. Sometimes my totes look at me with a judgmental eye and make me feel like I’m not moving fast enough to put away Christmas. If your totes start to backtalk you?
Don’t listen.
You are the boss of your de-Christmasing project.
Take the lids off of them and leave them open in the center of your hallway.
Those open totes are step one on the journey to taking it all down.
Fill up the totes with things that look like Christmas
You know what I’m talking about.
The Santas.
The stockings.
The light-up blinking Merry Christmas sign.
The elves that climbed up the Christmas tree.
Keep the non-Christmas items out
Here are some examples of what I kept out that didn’t make it’s way into the bins.
- Anything pinecone
- Anything greenery (except real greenery—it’s probably time to trash that)
- Anything branchy-looking
- Anything boxwood
- Any small trees that looked like winter
When you want some winter and you can’t think of anything? Add a pinecone
I’m not kidding you.
The pinecone is the unspoken rock star of the winter season.
They actually can take you from fall and pumpkins to holly and berries to snowy mantels.
But they really shine come January.
You can see all my pinecone decorating ideas here.
Glue pinecones onto branches
Here’s another idea for winter decorating with pinecones that you can combine with acorns, too.
Create art with branches from the yard.
You can see how I DIY’d them here.
Clean up, fluff and make it smell good
De-Christmasing is the perfect time to clean.
It’s almost like you can’t help it. When you clear off those surfaces and take down all the garland and it drops on the floor and counters and cabinets.
Wipe them down with a cleaner that smells like winter.
Dust off the cobwebs.
Take out the trash.
Then fluff what remains and make everything else smell good.
Here are some of my favorite winter scents:
Snowball garland
Pom poms are cute on pillows, but what about pom poms that look like snowballs?
I got you.
See this DIY pom pom snowball garland here.
18. These DIY wood slice branches
This was one of my most popular DIY’s of 2023.
It’s SO EASY to make and such a quick and inexpensive craft.
You can see how to make these DIY wood slice branches here
Mix it up with garland and greenery stems on a mantel
Take down the stockings and transition your Christmas into winter decor with winter greenery and eucalyptus.
Start with these battery-operated candles here.
Then add in pinecones and pine branches and eucalyptus.
Leave out mini houses and bottle-brush Christmas trees
This is what my hutch looks like right now. I’m transforming my Christmas into winter decor now.
The Christmas houses are winter houses.
The Christmas trees are winter trees.
I think it’s going to stay this way until St. Patrick’s Day.
Here are some more of my favorite ways to decorate after all the Christmas is put away:
- make a twig vase and paint it white
- add battery-operated taper candles to the mantel
- leave out a set of white skates and fill with greenery
- drape wooden garland over a set of books
- leave out snowflake pillows
- add white velvet bows to wreaths
- add scented pinecones to baskets
- fill milk glass with jingle bells
Here are also some of my favorite faux winter greenery that will take you from now until spring.
Sigh.
Be kind to yourself.
Christmas undecorating is hard.
Go slow and enjoy the process, and spring will be here before you know it. 🙂
PS Also—I know this is SO RANDOM, but has anyone ever dipped an amaryllis bulb in wax? I saw them here. Have you heard of this? I’m trying to make them, and I have questions.
disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post
Target has some small containers of white pine cones that are 70 percent off. They would fit in with winter decor nicely.
That’s such a great tip! I’m actually headed to target today so I’ll check that out!
I realllllly dislike all the pine trees in my yard. But you just inspired me to not only turn a dislike into a positive, but gave me an excuse to close the computer and go outside. Nothing better than good 'ol Karianne inspiration. Thanks, friend.
You are so lucky to have pine trees! Texas and pine trees do not go together! Lol!
I love the sound of records. I'm 68 it brings a lot of memories. As for winter decor. I appreciate those that can take Christmas down slowly but I'm not that person. The anxiousness I feel once Christmas is done is too much. Everything needs to go back to its room in an orderly fashion ASAP. I had mine down and put away I think Dec. 29th. And I decorate all 8 rooms a lot. I transitioned right into faux spring and summer flowers. It made me happy. Have a great day.
You are so organized! I’m gently easing into it, but for some reason this year, it’s harder!
Love all tones of white on your hutch!!!! I have to leave some of my Christmas decor out for a bit as we are hosting our family Christmas January 31 (big family hard to get everyone together) but I am paring back to make room for the people! I am going to make one small area for Valentines Day though - less breakable stuff in a very vulnerable area! We have four small people coming so all the vintage glass ornaments are coming down. Thanks for the suggestions about scented candles - may have to find some less Christmassy scents!
That’s such a good idea! I’m actually hosting book club tomorrow, so I left most of the trees up so the house doesn’t look so empty! I’m so ready for Valentine’s Day!
We actually have 2! And yes we are baby boomers 😊 We've been adding to our record collection at garage sales and antique and thrift stores. We're especially into classic country. I grew up listening to the radio on hot summer afternoons while ironing sheets for my grandmother.
I’m from Mobile,Alabama, the original home of Mardi Gras… yep, check it out! So I decorate a tree for Mardi Gras, full of everything purple, green and gold! Never too much for a Mardi Gras tree! Fill it up! As the saying goes, “Laissez les bon temps roulez”!!
I get anxious to take down my Christmas decor on 12/29 also. I hate taking down all the lights so I turn my full size Christmas Tree into a full size Valentines tree. It is a frosted tree and I use white and soft pink ornaments, no red. The mantel is white trees and houses with a little Valentines mixed in. It looks pretty and I get to keep my lights up.
I have a record player, cassette player,cd player only thing I don't have is an 8 track. Yeah I'm definitely old(63) school.
I have a Sony system that is able to play the radio, cd's, tape cassettes, and record player. I have had this for about 15 years now. I love it and use it almost every day. I mostly play my records that I have had since the 70's. I hope this helps. I love your winter decor, but I always love everything you do.
Sounds like KariAnne is all ready to turn into a Grandma when the time comes! From one Grammie to another that is a really wonderful thing.
I cannot let go of Christmas this year. I still post pictures of happy Christmas things on Facebook. There is nothing wrong with doing exactly what you want. One year, I left the tree and most everything up until February! Love all of your ideas Karianne, and those of all the people you connect with. Keep the fun coming, it will soon be Christmas again! (As you get older, the next year seems to arrive very fast).
Love our record player and speakers we got a couple of years ago. They are Marley and have a mid century modern vibe. We have ordered records online and buy in music stores—some new and others second hand. Love them all! There is nothing like having Andrea Bocelli Duets The Highlights playing on it in our home.
I want a record player also! Let me know if you find a worthy one. I also need a VCR! I can’t play any records or old tapes!
I do have a record player, and I play it on occasion. There’s nothing better than that scratchy sound.😂
That's just about what I have done but, you always give me one more thing to do, thanks.
I made a snowball garland for my mantle last January (thanks for the inspiration KA!). I am excited to put it up today as I finally put away the Santa pictures.
Happy New Year, Karianne! These are so great. Question: are those white birch branches in the basket or tub? Where did you get those? Thanks! LeAnne
I’m doing the same, decorating for winter!
I'm taking down Christmas stuff today and putting up "winter". I was taking a break from doing that, and then I saw your post! All good suggestions. I find I like a cleaner slate, but miss the cozy ambience of Christmas decor.
I took down christmas on Jan. 1st I left up a tree with snowmen attached to it made snowballs for it and it stays up. Today I put up the rest of my snowmen 5 large ones I put in my open hutch and a bunch of littles. White lights. I also bought a record player 7 years ago and play it on occasion. Glad I bought it Happy New Year to all!!!
Yes! Same here!
Your site makes me so happy. Been a fan for a while. Eager to see your record player choice. I have several old albums but got rid of that old stereo system that took up so much space years ago.Think I want something portable. I have moved to the beach and have a small house now. Thanks for working hard to make such an enjoyable place to learn decor.
You never fail to make me smile.
Karianne, This is my first after-Christmas winter wonderland. One of my dear friends said she does it every year. She leaves pincones, snowmen and anything that isn't too much of a Christmas reminder. I did it and love it. January used to seem a little sad to be stripped of all of it's beauty on one New Years day. I think my winter will remain until the last week in January and then Valentine's Day can begin! 😊💕
I don't use anything snow-themed for Christmas - the day after Christmas, everything Santa, stockings etc gets put away, and out comes my snowman collection for the month of January, which then eases into Valentine's the first of February. I love celebrating every occasion, but I also like keeping one distinct from the next. Greenery and little lights are always welcome - just change out the greenery as appropriate to the season. My husband and I worked in a record store many decades ago, and we had thousands of our own at home - you know the brick and board bookcases when that was all you could afford...I cannot say I miss them - the records, not the bricks and boards as much because they can be dressed up rather nicely actually 🙂. So, I have no suggestions as to record players these days. Enjoy though - I have heard they are making a comeback!
Snowmen and snow-women (and all things snow) for the winter win! I have long kept them out past Christmas and they do a great job to brighten things up in January/February.