For Brittany Harmon of Double Oak, more is more at Christmastime. With multiple themed trees and festive decorations filling every corner of their home, it’s safe to say the Harmons have plenty of holiday spirit.
“I would say my Christmas decorating philosophy is ‘the more the merrier,’ Brittany says, adding that her festive nature was ingrained in her as a child.
“I have always loved the holidays. Growing up, I would always get a giddy, excited feeling every year when we put up our family tree,” she says. “My mom always had a beautifully decorated tree that matched our living room. One year in particular things were under construction at our home during Christmastime. There was nowhere to put a tree, but my mom improvised and set a small tree on our kitchen island. Though the decorations weren’t the same, Christmas wasn’t canceled, and she did her best to still make things feel festive. Ever since then, I feel like a Christmas fanatic was created in me.”
Brittany says this year, more than most, calls for an abundance of holiday spirit.
“Twenty-Twenty has changed our normal in almost every way, but there is something so nostalgic and comforting to me about decking the halls: the twinkling lights filling up the dark corners of a room; the smells of cinnamon and spice and Christmas baking - even if it is just a candle burning on a balmy 80-something-degree day; the look on my kids’ faces when they see a gift show up under the tree with their name on it. Even our dog is a bit mesmerized by it all!” she says. “And, similar to my childhood when our home was under construction, Christmas isn’t canceled, despite so much else being canceled in 2020. This year, more than ever, we all need a little more happy; a little more nostalgia; a little more Christmas.”
Each year, Brittany decorates six or seven various-sized themed trees. “The large, 10-foot tree in the family room is decorated in a rustic, farmhouse theme of reds, white, black, galvanized metals, burlap and gingham,” Brittany says.
“In our entryway, I have a slim, 9-foot tree tucked into the curved area of our staircase,” she says. The tree is decorated in shades of white and silver to blend with her dining room holiday décor.
“My husband Jeremy graduated from Texas Tech University, so in his home office, I decorated a tree in his alma mater’s colors. This tree has red and black ornaments, as well as footballs, and a few unconventional items that give a nod to its theme: black sequined masks to represent the TTU mascot, ‘The Masked Rider,’ a miniature version of a football helmet and the school fight song that I printed out and turned into garland.”
Brittany’s children, Rhett, Gentry and McCall, all have Christmas trees in their rooms, as well. “My son’s tree is an indication of his love for old cars, so his tree is filled with car ornaments, a working stoplight, street signs and a license plate,” she says. “My oldest daughter loves pink and flamingos, so her tree is pink, covered in flamingos, topped off with pink feathers.” And Brittany says, “My youngest daughter’s tree matches her room. She hasn’t fully decided what her ‘thing’ is yet, so for now, it’s just filled with pink and turquoise ornaments and matches her fun, girly personality.”
Perhaps the most meaningful tree is the one Brittany puts in the children’s playroom.
“It is colorful, messy and imperfect, but filled with so many beautiful memories that I can’t help but love it,” she says. “This tree is where we hang all the sweet homemade ornaments the kids bring home from school every year. We also hang ornaments commemorating special occasions like our wedding and the birth of our babies.”
Style Tip:
Start with the lights. “If you think you’ve added enough lights, you haven’t. Add more,” Brittany says. But be careful not to overload the fuses.
Style Tip:
Always balance the placement of large items on the tree so that the tree remains upright. “I have come home to a fallen tree a time or two,” Brittany says.
Style Tip:
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a beautiful tree. “Over the years, I have made ornaments, shopped yard sales, used hand-me-downs and shopped sales and discount bins,” Brittany says.
Style Tip:
Get Creative. Use items from around the house – like a pair of ice skates, an old wooden sled or even a chalkboard with a holiday message written on it. “Think outside the box. Use things from around your house that have meaning to you,” Brittany says.