My tree is a mixture of themes in one. The bottom of it has teal and fushsia tinsel and all the miscellaneous colour decorations go there. The next couple of levels are blue and white tinsel with blue, white, glass and silver decorations (my winter section). Next level up has red/green tinsel and the corresponding decorations. The rest of the top has gold tinsel and decorations. I have multicoloured lights and my tree topper is a light up snow flake which flashes multicoloured. The reason I could never just stick to one colour theme is that I always buy one or two new decorations a year and I wouldn't want to be restricted by colour. I go for what I think is pretty or cute. I'm 26 but I have some older decorations too, ones I picked as a child when I lived with my parents and ones passed down from my Papa. I love my tree and I will be sad to take it down.
When did Christmas trees become so boring?
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My tree is white themed (has been for years, this isn't new to me), I allowed a smattering of red baubles to be put on this year 😉
I hate coloured lights, I hate a mishmash of decorations. I don't have kids but if I did there's no way their hand made rubbish would make it onto the tree.
I hate coloured lights, I hate a mishmash of decorations. I don't have kids but if I did there's no way their hand made rubbish would make it onto the tree.
I think it was when they started watching reality tv. Not much else to do, deep inside those pine forrests .....
I spent absolutely ages on mine - it's not getting taken down until the 12th night.
http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/mida...own-tree-1.jpg
http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/mida...own-tree-1.jpg
Originally Posted by Welsh-lad:
“Mine is losing needles like the clappers now and it will soon be time to take it down.
And when it comes to putting away the tree decorations I will carefully pack the old bits of tinsel, the glittered decorations I made in primary school (in the 1980s!), and all the baubles, feather birds, bearded santas etc I have collected over the years, and of course the *colour* fairy lights.
And to me that's what a christmas tree should be - a random collection of meaningful bits-and-bobs, nothing too contrived.
Yet in nearly every house I've been into this Christmas, the tree has been a rather clinical affair, usually themed e.g 'tartan' or 'white and purple'. Uniform bows everywhere, stark white fairy lights, and no evidence whatsoever that any children have had a hand in the decorating process. And these were households with little children.
What's your tree like? A riot of frivolity or a statement of interior decor?”
“Mine is losing needles like the clappers now and it will soon be time to take it down.
And when it comes to putting away the tree decorations I will carefully pack the old bits of tinsel, the glittered decorations I made in primary school (in the 1980s!), and all the baubles, feather birds, bearded santas etc I have collected over the years, and of course the *colour* fairy lights.
And to me that's what a christmas tree should be - a random collection of meaningful bits-and-bobs, nothing too contrived.
Yet in nearly every house I've been into this Christmas, the tree has been a rather clinical affair, usually themed e.g 'tartan' or 'white and purple'. Uniform bows everywhere, stark white fairy lights, and no evidence whatsoever that any children have had a hand in the decorating process. And these were households with little children.
What's your tree like? A riot of frivolity or a statement of interior decor?”
I really agree with you on this. Our tree is full of baubles and tinsel. People seem to hate tinsel these days as it is ' too tacky' what?? it's Christmas for god's sake it is meant to be. I am sorry but a tree without tinsel is dull.
Originally Posted by GloriaSnockers:
“Back in the days when we had a separate dining room, I did have a blue and silver theme going on in there with the decorations and tree, and thought it looked absolutely magical. The tree that got seen the most though was my 'gaudy' tree, which took pride of place in the living room.
Now that we've only got the space for one tree, the blue and silver effort has been given the elbow - my gaudy tree will always be number one
Some of the decorations on it date back almost 25 years to when my older kids made them in nursery school and some are even older - I've had them for so long that I can't even remember where they came from. The most recent one is a little Bristol Rovers FC stocking my son bought me two years ago. Gaudy tree has always got lots of chocolate tree decorations on it too, which I make myself every year by wrapping an assortment of fun size chocolate bars in Christmas paper and adding a hanging loop made from parcel ribbon. Fairy Mary sits on top, presiding over what could well look like a badly tossed salad to everyone else, but we're not bothered. We like our gaudy tree
We still have one of the long foil ceiling decorations too, stuck up well out of the way of six foot two husband, who murdered the other one during a hissy fit brought on by walking into it once too often”
“Back in the days when we had a separate dining room, I did have a blue and silver theme going on in there with the decorations and tree, and thought it looked absolutely magical. The tree that got seen the most though was my 'gaudy' tree, which took pride of place in the living room.
Now that we've only got the space for one tree, the blue and silver effort has been given the elbow - my gaudy tree will always be number one
Some of the decorations on it date back almost 25 years to when my older kids made them in nursery school and some are even older - I've had them for so long that I can't even remember where they came from. The most recent one is a little Bristol Rovers FC stocking my son bought me two years ago. Gaudy tree has always got lots of chocolate tree decorations on it too, which I make myself every year by wrapping an assortment of fun size chocolate bars in Christmas paper and adding a hanging loop made from parcel ribbon. Fairy Mary sits on top, presiding over what could well look like a badly tossed salad to everyone else, but we're not bothered. We like our gaudy tree
We still have one of the long foil ceiling decorations too, stuck up well out of the way of six foot two husband, who murdered the other one during a hissy fit brought on by walking into it once too often
”
Absolutely glorious! Would love to see your gaudy tree in full sail!
Oh, I like a tasteful, dull, themed tree but I like the best of both worlds so we have 'my' grown up tree in the living room (that i put up - no one else) and the free for all tree in the kitchen that we all put up. It's a mishmash of snowmen, Santa's, candy canes, gingerbread men and all the handmade things the kids have made over the years. And tinsel. Tinsel is allowed on that one.
My friend has moved into a rather elite street where they get 'designers' in to put their trees up. I didn't believe her but she was barely through the door when a neighbour arrived to welcome her and pushed a card for a designer on her with a vaguely threatening 'You will comply' raised eyebrow.
She put her own tree up but it was tasteful and the neighbours approved and let it slide but we think she's had her card marked as a maverick who's worth a watching. Bonkers.
My friend has moved into a rather elite street where they get 'designers' in to put their trees up. I didn't believe her but she was barely through the door when a neighbour arrived to welcome her and pushed a card for a designer on her with a vaguely threatening 'You will comply' raised eyebrow.
She put her own tree up but it was tasteful and the neighbours approved and let it slide but we think she's had her card marked as a maverick who's worth a watching. Bonkers.
Originally Posted by Ben_Fisher1:
“I really agree with you on this. Our tree is full of baubles and tinsel. People seem to hate tinsel these days as it is ' too tacky' what?? it's Christmas for god's sake it is meant to be. I am sorry but a tree without tinsel is dull.”
“I really agree with you on this. Our tree is full of baubles and tinsel. People seem to hate tinsel these days as it is ' too tacky' what?? it's Christmas for god's sake it is meant to be. I am sorry but a tree without tinsel is dull.”
I like my tinsel. I even have inherited tinsel. Old money here, you see!
We have a fairly large tree that is a mishmash of colours, the kids choose decorations every year and help decorate it (for better or worse). It has no coordination, wherever they stick, they go.
https://imgur.com/a/WpBx3
It's looking a little worse for wear now as a few have been knocked off. We have two sets of lights around it, carriage lights and mixed colour lights.
😂
https://imgur.com/a/WpBx3
It's looking a little worse for wear now as a few have been knocked off. We have two sets of lights around it, carriage lights and mixed colour lights.
Originally Posted by Fairyprincess0:
“I dont like coordinated trees.
A proper christmas tree must look like a gay pride festive has thrown up a rainbow over it.....”
“I dont like coordinated trees.
A proper christmas tree must look like a gay pride festive has thrown up a rainbow over it.....”
😂
Originally Posted by Wee Tinkers:
“My friend has moved into a rather elite street where they get 'designers' in to put their trees up. I didn't believe her but she was barely through the door when a neighbour arrived to welcome her and pushed a card for a designer on her with a vaguely threatening 'You will comply' raised eyebrow. She put her own tree up but it was tasteful and the neighbours approved and let it slide but we think she's had her card marked as a maverick who's worth a watching. Bonkers.”
“My friend has moved into a rather elite street where they get 'designers' in to put their trees up. I didn't believe her but she was barely through the door when a neighbour arrived to welcome her and pushed a card for a designer on her with a vaguely threatening 'You will comply' raised eyebrow.
She put her own tree up but it was tasteful and the neighbours approved and let it slide but we think she's had her card marked as a maverick who's worth a watching. Bonkers.”
What a fantastic opportunity. She should have put up the most gaudy tree ever, put 'Merry xmas' on her windows in snow spray, and put up a massive inflatable santa outside the front door.
Sit back and enjoy watching the wretched po-faced clique having a collective aneurysm.
My sister has a themed tree and a 'kids tree' which she keeps upstairs and covers in the kids' decorations. The kids are not allowed to decorate the 'grown up' tree downstairs. I find this very sad.
Our tree has two ropes of coloured lights. No tinsel because I go OTT with baubles, in all the colours of the rainbow (and even a few black glittery ones). We have four 'baby's first Christmas' ones from my sister in law, as well as a crystal rocking horse mum bought when I was little, and a few my daughter made at nursery. I also found somewhere that sold 'Nadolig Llawen' baubles. I have some that were my Nan's. They are too fragile to hang on the tree, but I can't throw them away. They are retired from tree duties.
Little one is still too young to help with decorating the tree. She put one bauble on the bottom branch, but is mainly concerned with 'picking papples', so most of the lower branches are now empty.
Our tree has two ropes of coloured lights. No tinsel because I go OTT with baubles, in all the colours of the rainbow (and even a few black glittery ones). We have four 'baby's first Christmas' ones from my sister in law, as well as a crystal rocking horse mum bought when I was little, and a few my daughter made at nursery. I also found somewhere that sold 'Nadolig Llawen' baubles. I have some that were my Nan's. They are too fragile to hang on the tree, but I can't throw them away. They are retired from tree duties.
Little one is still too young to help with decorating the tree. She put one bauble on the bottom branch, but is mainly concerned with 'picking papples', so most of the lower branches are now empty.
Originally Posted by Welsh-lad:
“What a fantastic opportunity. She should have put up the most gaudy tree ever, put 'Merry xmas' on her windows in snow spray, and put up a massive inflatable santa outside the front door.
Sit back and enjoy watching the wretched po-faced clique having a collective aneurysm.”
“What a fantastic opportunity. She should have put up the most gaudy tree ever, put 'Merry xmas' on her windows in snow spray, and put up a massive inflatable santa outside the front door.
Sit back and enjoy watching the wretched po-faced clique having a collective aneurysm.”
I know! We tried to talk her into a giant inflatable Santa mooning his rear end to the entire street and lots of musical sh*t and Ho Ho Hos. She was tempted but she's a bit scared of them after they gave her a lot of cr*p about her "untidy workmen" when she got a patio laid. I was a bit gutted she didn't at least put a light up reindeer on the lawn.
Originally Posted by eluf38:
“My sister has a themed tree and a 'kids tree' which she keeps upstairs and covers in the kids' decorations. The kids are not allowed to decorate the 'grown up' tree downstairs. I find this very sad.
Our tree has two ropes of coloured lights. No tinsel because I go OTT with baubles, in all the colours of the rainbow (and even a few black glittery ones). We have four 'baby's first Christmas' ones from my sister in law, as well as a crystal rocking horse mum bought when I was little, and a few my daughter made at nursery. I also found somewhere that sold 'Nadolig Llawen' baubles. I have some that were my Nan's. They are too fragile to hang on the tree, but I can't throw them away. They are retired from tree duties.
Little one is still too young to help with decorating the tree. She put one bauble on the bottom branch, but is mainly concerned with 'picking papples', so most of the lower branches are now empty.”
“My sister has a themed tree and a 'kids tree' which she keeps upstairs and covers in the kids' decorations. The kids are not allowed to decorate the 'grown up' tree downstairs. I find this very sad.
Our tree has two ropes of coloured lights. No tinsel because I go OTT with baubles, in all the colours of the rainbow (and even a few black glittery ones). We have four 'baby's first Christmas' ones from my sister in law, as well as a crystal rocking horse mum bought when I was little, and a few my daughter made at nursery. I also found somewhere that sold 'Nadolig Llawen' baubles. I have some that were my Nan's. They are too fragile to hang on the tree, but I can't throw them away. They are retired from tree duties.
Little one is still too young to help with decorating the tree. She put one bauble on the bottom branch, but is mainly concerned with 'picking papples', so most of the lower branches are now empty.”
Picking papples made me smile.
We have a similar set up as your sister but it's not as awful as it sounds - the kids aren't banished or deprived. I love putting up the tree, they don't. They mess about like hallions rummaging in the boxes, put one or two things up, fight over whose personalised baby's first bauble gets prime spot and then they get bored and take off leaving me to it. Suits everyone.
They get the most fun rearranging my N O E L decorative letters to wind me up and then time it to see how long before I have to change it. I try to act like I'm absolutely fine with it but I hate bloody LEON. NO3L was worse.
I'd love to know where you get those kids who help you put the tree up and make you misty eyed as you reminisce about the decorations they've made but I've got two who would rather nick the tinsel and raid the fridge with their mates and throw me odd supportive comment, "Doing a good job there, Ma".
Surely a Christmas tree should be what we like or want or are happy with ? Be it themed or gaudy or hickeldy piggeldy or random or sparse or uniform .Its what our own individual taste is and makes us happy .
Matchy-matchy trees are very 90s.
I remember my mam got all gold and copper decorations to match the sofa when we were young, then saw the error of her ways.
I remember my mam got all gold and copper decorations to match the sofa when we were young, then saw the error of her ways.
Christmas.. like Guy Fawkes night and Halloween.. was so much better in the 90s.
Now it's just watered down and minimal.
Now it's just watered down and minimal.
Originally Posted by Welsh-lad:
“I like my tinsel. I even have inherited tinsel. Old money here, you see!”
“I like my tinsel. I even have inherited tinsel. Old money here, you see!”
Tinsel does get a wee bit tarnished after some years, I find. I have some old tinsel which is gold to match my gold star which goes on top of the tree, (see, I can do matching if I want) and I decided to augment it with some new gold tinsel this year.
What a disaster! The new stuff, in comparison, lacks all the in-your-face pizzazz of the old stuff. It is a dull, muted gold and, I suppose, "tasteful".
It went back in the box and the old stuff came back out, tatty as it is. If you're going to have tinsel (and I definitely am), have stuff that knocks you for six when the light shines on it, is my motto.
I saw some bloke on the TV who decorates celebrities houses suggesting tinsel went "out" 10 years ago.
Our big tree in the sitting room is full of memories. The kids used to each choose one new decoration when they went to see Santa every year and so all those ornaments are on , only a bit of tinsel and multi coloured lights . We've added tree ornaments over the years with the newest being a red phone box one from liberty .
There's a small tree in the conservatory and this year it just has red lights on and a few small red baubles and it looks lovely.
There's a small tree in the conservatory and this year it just has red lights on and a few small red baubles and it looks lovely.
Originally Posted by Inspiration:
“I saw some bloke on the TV who decorates celebrities houses suggesting tinsel went "out" 10 years ago.”
“I saw some bloke on the TV who decorates celebrities houses suggesting tinsel went "out" 10 years ago.”
Pretentious garbage imo.
Originally Posted by Inspiration:
“I saw some bloke on the TV who decorates celebrities houses suggesting tinsel went "out" 10 years ago.”
“I saw some bloke on the TV who decorates celebrities houses suggesting tinsel went "out" 10 years ago.”
TV presenter + celebrity.
There is nothing more likely to make me do the exact opposite to them!
Originally Posted by Ben_Fisher1:
“Pretentious garbage imo.”
“Pretentious garbage imo.”
Yes, very pretentious to suggest that tinsel is 'out' - it's all down to personal preference. I can't stand the stuff however. I think it's hideous.
Originally Posted by pork.pie:
“Red, gold and green without fail. As they should be.”
“Red, gold and green without fail. As they should be.”
Lovin would be easy if you colours were like my dreams......
OP, have you ever considered a tree which doesn't drop it's needles easily?
http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to...e-needle-drop/
Mine were never colour coordinated, just a hotchpotch of my children's and granchildren's ageing school and home made decs and whatever else.
Frequently picked up from the floor and eventually just thrown back on after regular festive cat's attacks
Originally Posted by JE Jayne:
“I'll take boring over gaudy any year. I'm just glad those red, gold and green dangly things that were pinned into the ceiling and hung about a foot down along with tinsel around the walls have died a death.”
“I'll take boring over gaudy any year. I'm just glad those red, gold and green dangly things that were pinned into the ceiling and hung about a foot down along with tinsel around the walls have died a death.”
Alive and well at my MiL's, I'm afraid. Her house is so over-decorated that it gives me a migraine. She claims to do it because the grandchildren like it, but all but one are in their teens/20s now and I don't think they give a shit, frankly.
I've noticed that tinsel on trees seems to be decidedly out of fashion nowadays.
Mine is pre-lit but also a random collection of decorations, some old, some new. It has no particular theme to it. I used to put tinsel on the old tree but the pre-lit one (which has some fake snow on it) doesn't need it.
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