Christmas decorating rules

[Mimi]

As we are planning to put up our decs on Sunday it got me thinking, do you have any rules when it comes to colour coordinating your decorations, especially the tree.

I ask because many photos are now on Facebook of near perfect trees that look like they have been trimmed by professionals. Many have remarked how trashy it is to have more than two main colours on the tree. I have to say most remarks are from the under 30s .

These trees look beautiful and in my mind I think ours tree will take on a red and gold theme that’s not generally what ends up happening.

Over the years I have collected tree decorations made by my DC and then later DGC which are a huge array of colours and shapes which have pride of place on the tree. Then it’s mums favourite bauble that is blue in colour and that no longer has a hook to attach it to the trees, it has a a loop of knitting wool that mum hastily found when the hook broke . She was determined to have it on the tree with a promise that she would find something more suitable rather than wool later. This was about 50 years ago so obviously mum never did replace the wool. This is also a must fit the tree.

To me it’s more important to have these little mementos than a perfect tree.

We do have a sort of ‘theme’ when it comes to the rest of the room, old fashioned Father Christmas, snow globe and a snowman that sits by the TV . Along with a pair of wooden stockings hanging by the fireplace and soft white lights that just about sums up our decorations, no rules, just what we like , as it should be I think.

[Daisy]

Mimi - in the dim and distant past I had Grand Ideas of colour co-ordinating our tree and decorations, but it fell apart when I looked at a tiny insignificant little bauble, the only one remaining of a set from my childhood, and couldn't discard it because it was the 'wrong' colour. So ours are a mixture of what we find in the loft each year and it's all rather haphazard.

[Gemini]

Nice thread Mimi.

Trashy! What do we care for that remark?! Christmas is colour and light and a good excuse for a bit of bling!

I think we may buy our tree this weekend, but probably not put it up for a week or so, just keep it cool in the garage,
For the main tree, I have no colour co ordination or scheme! A bit like you Daisy. I love star shapes, so there are a lot of those. Colours are red, gold, silver green.... whatever! Baubles, Santas, stars of course , things made my DDs and GC, a few very delicate ones left over from OH's mums tree, things bought at craft fairs or given as gifts, finished with a vast number of tiny (not flashing) coloured lights. I love our tree and every compliments us on it.
I so agree Mimi ,having the momentos and things bought or made for me, mean more than a colour scheme, but each to their own

In the hallway we have 2 foot artificial tree on a small low table. This is totally decorated in silver decorations with white lights. I have no idea why I do it this way but I did in my previous house and do the same here.

[Oma]

Mine is Red and Gold throughout ,
Many years ago before the GC and mine were adults I had a Gold theme my tree looked beautiful very grown up ,
Then the GC came along and it gradually went to every colour complete with bits they made in nursery or we made at home with Paper and glue and lots of glitter

Now they are older I have a new tree and baubles and I have lots of German wooden light up houses and German Nut cracker soldiers around the living room

My DD has a multi coloured tree with coloured lights its beautiful 7ft high and twinkles with the most amazing shining coloured Baubles of every kind , no theme but just some how works ,
I think its whatever you like and love , we had lots of ornaments with bits of wool as hangers when we were young it all added to the charm of the tree

[Gemini]

Quite right Oma, as in any decorating, it is what you like and makes you happy in your own home

[Enfys]

Your tree, your colour choice. I really don’t think there should be any “rules”, it’s individual taste. When the children were little we had everything imaginable on the tree, things they’d made, lots of glittery shapes etc. It always made me smile. Now we have no small people we do it to please us, it has been red and gold for a few years but I have just bought some tartan bows to add to it. We don’t usually do it very early but DH has told me he wants to do it this weekend so we e got to get 8nto the loft and drag everything out. We always put lights on the cherry tree in the front garden but that’s it for outside decoration. Our new neighbours were doing theirs yesterday, P was chatting to them and so he wants to do ours too.

[Grauntie Mag]

All different here this year! Same old decs, different house. Last year we only had what the GC made as we were in rented accommodation. We will purchase a tree this week but it will sit outside (with lights) as we have a bit of a do here next Saturday. No themes, no co-ordinating. I like a bit of live greenery around so we will go on a holly and ivy hunt too.
I too have a tree ornament that came from Mother, and various others that have been given by special people and they have pride of place. Looking forward to finding my fairy and smartening her up.

[Gemini]

Grauntie, is it you who had the fairy with leopard skin knickers??!!

[Plantaholic]

I have had a white twig tree for 2 years and I love it. I have memorable ornaments on it mainly glass ones. There are two baubles on it plus the very old fairy that my mother gave me. Must get SIL to get it from the loft.

[Mimi]

I wouldn't mind betting that if we were to look at each and everyone of our Christmas decorations they would all look different, but much more importantly , they would all look lovely, whatever your tastes are

[ZIZI]

We had a twig tree years ago when we had the florists shop, it was really a window prop. The boys hated it!

Some years ago we bought “a tree in a box” it is tall and slim and ready decorated and lit so we just pull it out of the loft, wheel the box into the sitting room and pull the tree out. It just needs a bit of teasing after its one year rest. I have a selection of three fairies which Sadie usually picks from. We gave the old decorations away just last month to a charity shop along with the old tree which was in very good condition. The boys asked for a pick of the decorations Which we let them have but the dils have their own ideas!

We wont be putting the tree up this year but I am going to get the black frosted cones out and maybe buy a little tiny tree.

[Gemini]

I would like one of those twig trees with a few baubles on Plant. That would replace the small tree in the hallway and that one would go in the conservatory.

[Glammanana]

We did the planting of our living tree on Wednesday and it now has pride of place at the front of the bungalow it will be decorated in coloured led lights and have a light up reindeer guarding it we are hoping to get the extra wiring sorted over the next couple of days.
Indoor with us having a smallish lounge (smaller than what used to) we have a half wall tree to go up which is already decorated in reds and greens and the rest of the room will have extra large baubles across the curtain pole and a few dangley legged xmas people sitting on the book shelves.
We dont go over board as we did in the family house where we had 3 trees and the large hallway festooned with garlands and baubles they have all gone to DCs I must say the tree's have kept very well over the years one is nearly 30 yrs old now and looks as good as new it cost an arm and a leg and that was in the sales but it was worth it.

[Gemini]

Glamma I have 2 dangly legged cats who sit on a shelf at Christmas.

[Nanto2girls]

We don't have a colour theme for our tree.Every year i buy a few new decorations,but all the old ones go on as well.
I've got one left from when i was litte,and i always put that on the tree. When we pack things away, it gets wrapped in cotton wool. It's one of those that shatter easily.
Remember those.
I have a little snowman, from the last place i worked. He's looking a bit worse for wear now,but he will be on the tree.
Also got lots that our chidren and grandchildren have made over the years.
Not sure what will be going on the top yet.We have several to pick from.