Red and White Christmas Tree

Today I am eager and excited to share with you our simple red and white Christmas tree. This tree turned out to have some very special meaning for me this year. I want to share the symbolism of the ornament placement with you in hopes that you will feel inspired! Maybe you, too, can create your own holiday décor with a purpose.

As many of you know, I lost my brother and grandmother earlier this year. Both deaths were unexpected, and these two people are so, so very special to me. This year has nearly taken me down in many ways. Facing the holiday season after trauma has felt impossible and difficult to say the least.

In many ways I am stuck in time and it feels as though the world has just moved on without me. I wondered how I could make this season special for my kids, but still allow myself to face truthful feelings of grief and loss.

Shifting my focus

I decided instead of just going through the motions of setting up holiday décor, I really needed to focus on special meaning and intention. Instead of hiding from what feels scary to me (dwelling on what I have lost, instead of what I have), I have chosen to embrace a new and different holiday. A “first” that will be difficult for our family but does not have to be full of sorrow. I have decided to incorporate symbols, meaning and purpose in each and every inch of my seasonal décor this year.

Doing this has brought such comfort to my heart. Throughout both this living room tree and our music room neutral mercury glass and gold tree, there are antique ornaments that belonged to my grandparents, symbols of my brother and places we love to spend time as a family, and little collectables that remind me of my angels.

Same ornaments, different view

Do you remember our Nostalgic Christmas theme from last year? The colors probably look familiar! They are! I decided to recycle and reuse all of my same ornaments from last year and simply just incorporate some new ribbon and a few new picks (the flowers and icicle leafs).

At first I wondered how I could give the tree a new look using the same elements so I began placing things on the tree in hopes a creative idea would kick in.

Later that night after I tucked the kids in, I wandered back to the tree and stared at it for a while. I realized that I wasn’t feeling inspired by decorating and really I wasn’t even feeling excited thinking about Christmas.

Red and white tree decor inspiration

As I rearranged some ornaments, and began to cluster the reds together, inspiration suddenly struck. A sudden message came to my mind: “together, always”. I began to place groupings of ornaments together as if little families were on the tree. It was fun thinking about the bulbs that have patterns and different textures and how this can represent different personalities in families. I also loved incorporating a few pinks and white ornaments in some of the groupings that made me think about an adopted child or friend who feels like family.

Together, Always

Each time I walk into our living room and I look at this little cluster tree, I think about what a blessing a family structure is to me. My very greatest blessing and treasure! Instead of focusing on what is gone from me, this tree helps me focus on togetherness. Gathering. Grouping together and being stronger together.

Mixing old and new

My grandparents both loved Christmas! They made it such a special time for me growing up and for our family. You will notice some ornaments on this tree that have a shiny red mercury glass look to them. These and the white with red snowflakes are very very old. These ornaments belonged to my grandma. It made my heart jump with joy to be able to hang them on our tree this year.

If you are missing someone special this holiday season, I would highly encourage you to do this: find ways to include them. It may scare you to do so, but I assure you it will bring you comfort! I smile thinking about my Grandparents seeing this tree and knowing they are being remembered and thought of during Christmastime!

Shop this Christmas tree:

This 9′ flocked beauty is my favorite Christmas tree we own. If you are looking for your forever tree, you might enjoy this post on my favorite artificial Christmas trees. If you want to shop this tree, click here!

Ribbon: Shop it here

Other items pictured: