In the Schmidt house, Christmas starts early. By Thanksgiving, Patsy Schmidt and her family have decked the shiplap walls of their Tennessee home with all the colors and lights of the season—and they keep things festive into January.
“I just feel like, the sooner we start, the more we can enjoy the actual season,” Patsy says. With seven trees throughout the renovated garage and carriage house, decorating the space is no small task. But with the help of her husband, Jeffrey, and their three daughters, Rayley Beth, Emme Grace, and Maggie, the job is a joy. When the family is finished with preparations, the house sparkles with the lights and vibrant colors Patsy associates with the season.
“To me, Christmas really is color,” she says, despite the fact the home’s…
