From Dreading Christmas to Designing It: My Unexpected Journey

When the holiday season rolls in, many of us picture twinkling lights, family gatherings by the fireplace and the thrill of unwrapping presents under the Christmas tree. While the holidays can bring smiles to our faces, they can also carry pressure and anxiety, especially when balancing budgets and expectations.

Meet Michelle Dulevich, Christmas tree designer, motivator, and founder of Deck Your Decor. If you are looking for holiday decorating tips and tutorials, look no further. Michelle has amassed a huge online following with nearly 1 million followers across social media platforms. She is known for her energizing videos and has a passion for helping people. 

We reached out to Michelle for some holiday decorating tips to share with you but we got something even better - her journey with the holiday season.  What started as a strained relationship with Christmas flourished into a passion and profitable business. We'll stop here and let Michelle tell you the rest. Make sure to follow her on Instagram and TikTok. 

From Dreading Christmas to Designing It: My Unexpected Journey

My name is Michelle — and I used to hate Christmas.

Well… not really. I did, but now Christmas is my greatest passion. It’s a love that came later in life, and somehow, it turned into a thriving business. But it didn’t start that way.

I got married young. For the first 18 years of our marriage, we struggled. I stayed home with our three children, and my husband worked hard to keep us afloat. We lived week to week, like many families do — but unless you’ve walked that path, it’s hard to explain the pressure the holidays can bring.

One unexpected expense could set us back for months. And when the holiday season came, starting in November, I would get physically sick with anxiety. I knew the kids would start dreaming about gifts we couldn’t afford. Then came the pressure of holiday meals, family visiting, decorations — all of it was overwhelming.

While friends were out shopping for new ornaments and trending ribbon, I was digging through old bins in the basement, trying to make the same tired decorations look different. I did what I could — but it always felt like I was coming up short.

I remember one Christmas in particular. It had already been a rough year, and unexpected home repairs drained what little we had. My oldest sister, seeing my struggle, called and offered to send down some of her children’s old toys that they had outgrown. They were clean and in good condition — but they weren’t what my kids had asked for.

On Christmas morning, I watched with tears in my eyes as my children opened those hand-me-down gifts. They were young, and they didn’t know the difference. Their little faces lit up with joy, and they thanked us like we had given them the world. But inside, I was breaking. I knew those weren’t the gifts they had circled in the catalog or whispered about with friends. I worried about what they’d say at school, when other kids talked about the newest toys and gadgets — and mine mentioned a plastic farmhouse missing most of the animals that were shown on the box.

Every year, I wished December away. I couldn’t wait for January, when things would quiet down and I could finally breathe again.

But that season — that chapter — eventually ended. Slowly, things got better. I was able to buy the gifts I wanted to give. I started to decorate again, and not just to “get by.” I did it for me. For joy.

One tree became two. Then three. Now, every year, I put up 8 to 9 full-size trees throughout our home — each one with its own theme, its own little sparkle of magic.

When I started posting my trees on social media, friends reached out asking if I could decorate theirs. One tree turned into five… then ten. Before I knew it, I had a full-blown business — and it's been booming ever since.

I grew quickly on social media, and I honestly don’t think it’s just because of my tree designs. There are so many incredible Christmas designers out there, and I pale in comparison to some. But what I do bring is honesty — tutorials not just on how to decorate beautifully, but how to do it on a budget. I show people how to save money and still create something magical.

Because I’ve been there. I get it.

It’s funny how God can take your biggest struggle and turn it into your greatest blessing. The holiday I used to dread has now become a source of light in my life — and it’s not just about the business or the money. It’s the lessons.

I spent so many years thinking Christmas was about what we could give — what we could afford. But it turns out, my kids never thought we were poor. They never cared what the tree looked like, as long as we had one. They didn’t mind whether we had steak or macaroni and cheese on Christmas Day. What they remember… is love.

And that was always there — even when money wasn’t.

I’m still learning every holiday season. But one truth remains:
It’s not about what’s under the tree.
It’s about who’s around it.

That’s what matters.

Written by Michelle Dulevich for TheChristmas.com