Whether meandering through Cedar Rim Nurseries, The Passionate Home, Potter’s Christmas Store, or any of a myriad of other local retailers decked out for the holidays, you’ll see a common theme resonating through much of the stock this year.
It continues to carry a country theme. Some label it farmhouse Christmas. Others call it vintage. While yet others use the terms cabin-like or rustic.
Whatever the label, a popular trend for decorating again this season will likely include an infusion of rough wood, metal, and Mother Nature.
Going rustic doesn’t mean spending lots of money or buying lots of new stuff, as Carrie Thachuk, owner of The Passionate Home, will attest.
Since 2003, she’s been building her business up around the concept of breathing new life into old pieces. While her business has grown to a 4,000-square-foot, it’s not all retail space. She has classroom space, as well, where she gives like-minded people the skills to create and re-purpose furnishing and decor for their home and to their liking.
There’s even a few Christmas specific workshops in the offing.
If you really want to see what’s hot in the way of decoration this holiday season, you have to plan a stop off at Potter’s. Maybe the Rad Santa charity photo sessions (see story to the left) might provide the perfect excuse.
From floor to ceiling, and every crevice in between is packed with everything to deck your halls.
While the theme this year might be leaning more towards rustic again – as it has in recent years – it’s also important to inject a splash of whimsy into the holiday season – and doing that with decorative additions is easy.
It can be done, for example, through wood sign art, metal trinkets, or even a burlap pillow bearing funny messages. For instance a note saying, Dear Santa, I can explain painted on might bring a smile to the viewer’s face – if only for a moment.
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Step outdoors
Now, let’s step away from the stores for just a moment, and look in our own backyard – literally and figuratively.
Pinecones and small discarded cedar boughs are abundant in some areas of town right now. And these prizes offered up free from Mother Nature – when set on a mantel or table and augmented by a string of Christmas lights or some of those battery operated candles, and some other special holiday keepsake, can bring an instant warmth to any room.
Just remember, decorating for Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be new and stylish.
Pick something that speaks to you, and build on that.
Maybe make it a tradition to add just one meaningful piece to your Christmas decorations each year, with a promise to donate, recycle, or re-purpose something from the collection that you’re not currently too keen on.
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#WishForOthers
Passionate Home launches a Wish project where people are being encouraged to visit the Langley City store during the holidays, write a Christmas wish on a star, then have that star hung in the store window for all to see.
The hope, said owner Carrie Thachuk, is to inspire people to think of others this Christmas – and always. “Our hope it to share good wishes with the community all season long,” Thachuk said.
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