From the White House to My House: Christmas Decorating

Getting my Christmas decorations out for Elisa brings with it that familiar feeling of Christmas!

Elisa Manning McMurrey who owns the Botanical Boutique in Midland decorated the White House Christmas trees during the George W. Bush Administration.  She has been decorating my tree & many others for years.  The 2006 “Deck the Halls & Welcome All:  Christmas at the White House” is the first year Elisa worked on the White House decorations. It’s currently an exhibit at the Bush Library in Dallas through January 6,2019.

 

 

Although each home Elisa decorates has different styles, decorations and traditions, she does the same thing at every house!   There are steps she uses to decorate every tree in order to create the most magical look:

1. Fluff and Dust your Tree
2. Ribbon – Work from Top Down
3. Balls and Ornaments hang Biggest to Smallest
4. Layer Sprays onto Branches
5. Finish with Icicles
6. Get Moving and Finish!

 

Fluff and Dust your Tree

Roll out the the tree!

First of all you need to fluff, dust & check the lights on your tree before you start adding any decorations.

 

 

We are on our third tree since we’ve been married, and with a new tree, comes a new look !

Elisa describes my tree as one you would find in the forest decorated by pixies!

You can choose an artificial tree by its height, tips, & lights.  The more tips it has – the fuller the it will be.  Make sure the tree is easy to work with, that is has tips  you can twist &  branches you can bend.

 

 

Ribbon – Work from Top Down

This step is optional. Hanging ribbon ads a beautiful touch to your tree. If you use ribbon put it on the tree next. Work the ribbon from the top down to the bottom of the tree.

Balls and Ornaments hang Biggest to Smallest

After that, start hanging ornaments from biggest to smallest.

Design Tip: Hang the largest ornaments deep which will hide holes.  Always work from the top down.  Think about what people will see when they look at your tree!

The champagne color ornaments I have go with everything.  Popular colors this season are silver, hues of blue, brown & green.

 

 

Layer Sprays onto Branches

Layer sprays on the branch of the tree and weave them in so they look like part of the tree. What I love about layering is how it all becomes one.

 

 

Finish with Icicles

Trimming your tree with icicles is the final step!

 

Get Moving and Finish

I like to create finishing touches around the house to really set the Christmas mood.

Steps for Decorating Mantel & Front Door

Elisa uses garlands to decorate my fireplace mantels & front door.  To decorate the garlands, she uses 3 easy steps:

1.  Lay or hang the garland, fluff & dust
2.  Twist sprays into the garland
3.  Add balls & hanging items from biggest to smallest

 

 

The champagne ornaments & sprays are the same in my garlands as in my tree.  The decorations flow throughout this area of my home, beginning with my front door.

 

 

Deck The Halls!

 

 

Elisa glued the greenery & leaves around a rectangular piece of styrofoam for my dining room table.  She set the trees & reindeer on top of the styrofoam to create a lovely winter tablescape.

 

 

The railing along my staircase is decorated with a colorful garland full or ornaments & bows.

 

 

Everywhere you go you’ll find a touch of Christmas!

 

 

For decorations similar to these shop here.

 

Photo Credits:  Washingtonian