Christmas is the decorator’s ultimate theme: It comes and goes annually so there’s a recycling aspect to ornaments and accessories. The season is short so there is no need to second-guess oneself with questions like, Will I love this in six months? And lastly, the icons never change so virtually nothing goes out of style.

Because there will always be trees, stockings, boughs of holly, and regular players like Santa Claus and the Nutcracker, gathering and adding ornaments and other decorations can be an enjoyable endeavor that stretches over a lifetime. And if you have heirloom Christmas objects, then those special pieces will cross over generations and become enmeshed in your family’s traditions.

Amen loves the holidays and truly has an all-bets-are-off approach to decking the halls. Over the years, he has amassed everything from vintage, eclectic hand-blown glass ornaments to traditional holiday antiques to a life-size Saint Nicolas.

If you follow Amen’s rule of buying only things you love, then chances are their appeal will hold up over the years. Keeping an eye for objects that have a traditional design helps with longevity as well. But if there’s something that speaks to the here and now and you just love it—an iPod-toting penguin on ice skates, perhaps?—then by all means bring it into the fold. If nothing else, it will remind you of a slice of life.

Click through the photos on the right to see a glimpse of Amen’s Christmas collection and get his personal decorating tips.