So my kids weren't on board with the smaller tree idea. Until we got one. Then it was declared 'cute' and 'sweet' and 'a baby tree!' and all is well.
We got a 4' tree, set it in it's stand on a LACK table from IKEA, and even used our same tree skirt, just letting it hang.
I quite like the effect, and think it works better for our space. It's the first time we've ever had a tree in our big front window!
From the outside it looks like a bigger tree anyway.
Star Wars and Star Trek ornaments are tucked in with my vintage wooden and Swedish straw ones.
And a couple of hexbugs...
We even got all of our favorite ornaments on. I was worried about that.
This was the second year that I decided to skip the gold bead garland, but then added it later - it just needed something. But it really needs RED garland. Maybe next year.
I was looking at an older picture of our living room at Christmas time (edit: here's an even older one!), and was shocked how much it's changed over the past few years. Where we used to hang a wreath quilt we now have big portraits of the kiddos, which I don't want to take down for the holidays, so we put the quilt up over the school cubbies (down with you, paper tree!).
We have our sweater stockings, which I still love. In part because they hang like stockings in old book illustrations instead of all stiff and facing front and perfect. In fact, I even turned them some for this photo so they weren't all sideways like usual.
Our mantel is now decked with a lighted garland and (breakable! We can do that now!) vintage ornaments.
Also nutcrackers, candles, bells, and photos of my babies on their first Christmas.
The view at night. Cozy. Especially with our Christmas quilt and pillows.
Yup, I'm not missing a bigger tree at all. I do, however, wish it were a small alpine tree like we've gotten the past couple of years. I am missing that.
But I can't complain.
Have you ever considered doing something quite different with your tree? It's hard to break tradition!