Help solve a debate (Christmas)

[Tinselled]

Please help me!

We have decided that we're going to have a real tree this year! Yay!! However... we need help to settle a debate.. this happens every bloody year!

Tinsel on the tree or not? I say not, we never had it when growing up it just doesn't feel right.. DH is adamant tinsel only goes on the tree and they always had tinsel on the tree as a child.. his Mum disputes this fact and her tree is always beautiful and tinsel free

I did the tree beautifully last year with no tinsel, went out for a night shift and he covered it in tinsel...

I've attached pictures of our first tree together which he did himself and is atrocious and his mums to prove there's no tinsel!

TLDR- tinsel on tree yes or no?

[isittheholidaysyet]

Yes yes yes to tinsel.

BUT, it has to be the thin stuff with a small diameter. (These days it's often sold as bargain tinsel!)
Then you need to dig it right into the tree, and wind it round a few inches from the trunk, not like your first picture, so the decorations still have space to hang.

[SpringWater1571]

Yes to tinsel. No the life size terrifying Santa Claus.

[paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking]

Definitely no to tinsel....we have a box of the stuff which the DCs drape around their beds, wear as scarves, belts anything, try to strangle each other with (unintentionally) etc so there is tinsel in our lives, but it doesn't go anywhere near the tree.

[AdmiralJaneway]

Tinsel simply has to go on the tree!!!! Mind you - we don’t go mad with it.

[AmySueGina]

No tinsel. Looks tacky and cheap.

[Lilyhatesjaz]

No tinsel for us I have to avoid looking at the stuff as it will bring on a migraine

[coupester]

@HuskyMcClusky yes! I completely agree! IMO Christmas trees are supposed to be a bit tacky.

I do have limits though, I can't stand the silver strand stuff. But I love tinsel (not on the edges of the branches, I put it further in so it doesn't detract from baubles), I currently have white lights but love multi coloured ones and have multi coloured and international decorations!

I don't understand about the smell of tinsel though. Ours smells stuffy, like it's been in the loft for a year, which it has.

[whiskyowl]

No to tinsel. No, no, no. It always looks awful. If you must have something shiny, those beaded garlands look better.

[MrsFezziwig]

The problem with the example photo is there is not enough tinsel! Always tinsel as it reflects the lights and makes the whole thing much sparklier (if that’s a word ). Put the lights on first and then spiral the tinsel from the top downwards, but generously - and all the tinsel should be the same colour (I have silver for extra sparkliness).
Not that I’m overinvested or anything.

[PricillaQueenOfTheDesert]

For years I’ve only put the tinsel over mirrors etc.

This year we bought a lot of new tree decorations as we have changed our colour theme. I noticed some lovely thick tinsel and decided to give it a go on the tree this year. I’ve not yet got my decorations up but I shall be trying tinsel on my tree.

Fashions change. When I was small my parents always covered the ceiling in decorations, I’ve not put ceiling decorations up this century.

Only you can look at your finished tree and say it either needs a bit more sparkle, it’s lacking something or it’s just perfect as it is.

[BoredOnMatLeave]

I despise tinsel but if your DH loves it and you aren't that bothered I would let him have it.

OTOH if DP liked tinsel I would LTB

[honeyravioli]

No tinsel, it's totally tacky. No coloured or flashing lights either. And no silver or gold or black trees.

Artificial trees can look fabulous, but it has to be a quality one. Mine was extremely expensive to buy but is at least ten years old and looks new.

[TheWhyteRoseShallRiseAgain]

No tinsel here much muttering from DH but until he decorates (actually no god forbid!) no tinsel!

[Sugarpiehoneyeye]

Love sparkly tinsel on the tree.

[NK493efc93X1277dd3d6d4]

No tinsel on the branches here but we do wind a short length around the top of the trunk so that the decoration sits securely on the top.

[GrapesAreMyJam]

I use tinsel but have it quite close to the centre of the tree so you can see it's there but it's fairly well buried in the tree

[Birdsgottafly]

Tbf, that first tree looks shit.

dementedpixie's is beautiful.

I like tinsel and lametta, the tinsel goes behind the baubles.

I like the gaudy look, I'm doing the ceiling decorations (70's style) this year, which my GC love.

[lazyarse123]

Definitely tinsel in our house. But it should be inside the branches to add depth and sparkle but not draped. Let him have some but you do it

[GreatDuckCookery6211]

We always have a real tree. But definitely no tinsel! I have 4 different colour baubles and lights. Looks beautiful.

[Ellendegeneres]

Hate tinsel. Ds wanted some this year so I've stuck it round banister and doors and pics. My tree is beautiful and tinsel free

[onemorecakeplease]

No tinsel

[AlmostAJillSandwich]

I love tinsel, but it has no place on a tree imo. It looks too much like those feather boas in that its just too thick and takes up too much room, or you get the skinny stuff which just looks bald and scraggly. Ribbon looks very nice though.

[MrsExpo]

I never do tinsel ... looks a bit cluttered and over-done IMO ... (sorry to all you tinsel lovers!!) ... can't do a picture because tree still in loft ....

[user1471443504]

No tinsel on the tree or anywhere else in the house. The only thing tinsel is good for is being gold and silver and being used as a nativity costume adornment, in particular the angels.

[Blobby10]

A family I know solved this debate - Dad and kids have one tree which is decorated in a complete mish mash of tinsel and baubles all the colours of the rainbow along with children's handmade decorations = and the mum has her own tree in another room which is tastefully decorated in white lights and baubles with no tinsel in sight!