The “Memory Method” Is the Budget-Friendly Holiday Decorating Rule I’m Swearing By This Year
Whenever I open a social media app, it seems everyone — from my favorite content creators to my own friends — is obsessed with finding the latest viral holiday decor item (and my algorithm knows I’m here for it). I’m personally drawn to a more eclectic, maximalist style, so I love a good HomeGoods or Marshalls shopping spree just as much as anyone else. But after years of buying new decor only to donate many pieces the following year, I realized I want to be a little more intentional about my decorating budget for 2024.
As much as I appreciate perfectly curated themes on social media, I’ve decided to break this cycle of overshopping by building my own personalized holiday decor collection slowly over time. This not only allows me to be more intentional about choosing potentially sentimental pieces, but it also means I can actually splurge on some higher-end items (like some pricey vintage finds) since I genuinely know I’ll use them for years.
So my holiday decor rule is this: I’m only allowed to buy either one piece of decor or a unique (and splurge-worthy) vintage item that will elevate my space during the holiday season. For me, part of the joy of holiday decor lies within the memories, not the aesthetic, so it’s important that any new decor triggers a memory or feels like something I could easily make new memories around in the future.
Since I’m currently growing my holiday dishware collection, I’m choosing to focus on serveware this year. Instead of buying a few cheap dishes that probably won’t last long, I plan to invest in a single high-quality piece, like these gorgeous Monique Lhuillier porcelain salad plates or this adorable McGee & Co. holiday oval stoneware platter. I’m not sure which I’ll buy, but I’m excited to have a piece I can center upcoming memories around and cherish whenever I’m entertaining friends and family.
Holiday Oval Stoneware Platter
McGee & Co
$38
Buy Now
This holiday decor rule isn’t just about splurging financially, though. It’s also about being intentional spatially. Since I live in an apartment and don’t have a ton of storage, I want to make sure I hold onto items I actually want to keep and use every year (even during the non-holiday season, if possible), rather than store bins of decor that ultimately end up getting donated or thrown out because they take up too much space.
In a way, my “memory method” of shopping and decorating for the holidays is still a form of maximalism — just with less consumption. Now, instead of buying all sorts of random objects I think will make my space look more festive while I stand in the middle of a fluorescent-lit store, I can splurge on pricey pieces that are actually worth the space (and the memories!).
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
