Who is BU about Christmas Tree decorations?

[GooseOrTurkey]

DH and I do not see eye to eye on this topical topic.

We have a small tree in the family room for the DC with non-breakable baubles in bright colours and tinsel etc, and a more tasteful red and gold tree in the front “adults only” (in theory!) room.

Over the last couple of years, DH has been sneaking additional baubles onto the tasteful tree. And I hate them. I really don’t think I am being precious; it’s not that they’re not quite the same size or colour. It’s that they are great big random shapes, and that they are hideous.

This year he has added a roast turkey on a platter, a car with a Christmas tree on the roof, a neon blue glass crab, a glittery green lizard, and a rainbow ice lolly. The last four aren’t even remotely related to Christmas FFS.

I keep hiding them around the back of the tree (“so people can see them as they come up to the front door, darling”), and he keeps moving them to front centre.

I say they are ugly and they just plain don’t go. He says I am being snobby (I’m not, they were more money than the red and gold ones!), and that his DM bought them for us (yes but only because he wanted them, and she spoils us; left to herself, she buys pretty ones).

We can’t put them on the DC tree because they’re fragile and the DC are too young. Plus, I don’t want to be explaining a Christmas lobster to a 5 year old and a 3 year old and a 1 year old .

So, who IBU? Should he be allowed to have whatever makes him happy, or should he leave my lovely tree alone and stop spoiling it with ugly things?

(Disclaimer: Light hearted but he might end up with a Christmas lizard up the arse if he keeps it up!)

Personally, I find 'tasteful!, themed Christmas trees boring and lacking in personality. My own preference is for a tree that in some way reflects the owners. Our tree is full of memories - we buy one or two new decorations each year to commemorate family events or to remember places we have visited. Unwrapping each decoration triggers memories and decorating the tree can take hours as everyone chips in their own thoughts. I can't imagine having the same experience unwrapping a few shiny balls chosen just because they match the room decor.

Your dh sounds ace. It's much worse to be married to someone who isn't remotely bothered.
Be pleased he takes an interest.

You'd hate our tree op. It's drowning in tinsel and lights and has decorations ds has made hanging from it, a couple of stuffed teddies (though they are a santa a reindeer and a snowman), chocolate decorations and candy canes. You can't really see very much of the actual tree. It's also a fake tree that's about a billion years old.

I love it. We played Christmas songs and drank Christmas drinks (Baileys for me and dp, hot chocolate for ds), chased each other with tinsel and generally had a great time decorating it.

I always had a themed tree. But this year I broke out and have character baubles, plastic lanterns, bells and feathered robins. I've mixed up the colours from different "collections" and added a few of my old favourites like my gorgeous carousel horses. We have snowmen and Santas and teddy bears oh my. It's got a postbox with a robin on brought home proudly by DH. It's a mishnash topped off with a large satin angel with feather wings and vintage shaded coloured lights and I love it. It makes me really happy just looking at it.
I'm never going back .
Unclench OP you won't regret it.

(We tried tinsel but it was an epic fail - there must be an art to it)

Meant to say let him have his lobsters etc. If you embrace it, you can take back control and make it look nice anyway. Fight it, and he'll just make it look awful to wind you up.

Who made you Queen of the Tree?! IMO your 'tasteful' tree sounds terribly boring - bring on the glittery lizards and the sea life

Really I'm not a fan of matchy-matchy trees - they look like they were bought ready-decorated to go in a hotel/pub. I love a quirky tree where the individual decorations have their own story - ones we got on holidays, ones the DC got from meeting Santa, ones which have been in the family for years and years - have some that belonged to my great grandmother and to DC it's amazing and magical to use something each year that came from a great-great GP.

Oh. And while you're at it, bung up some foil garlands. It'll be fab

70sWitch after many years of tinsel-ing it's best for the tinsel to go around the branches towards the trunk first (to make the inside floofy and sparkly), then the lights then the gloriously matching baubles.

Pop round to mine for a practise and a festive candy cane gin

Mismatching obvs, not matching!

NotTheMrMenAgain I'll see you in ten minutes. 🎄

70sWitch I'll put some mulled cider on as well, just in case [santa]

NotTheMrMenAgain oooh lovely 🍺

YANBU.
Get a third tree for your dh.

Queen Of The Tree

I think the OP is about to commit regicide

Maybe that's a bit harsh Maybe just a coup d'etat

I hope I've used those terms correctly and don't look a tit

I moved them to the back again last night, and they were back at the front this morning. Outrageous!

Just put them on the kid's tree ffs! High up and tell them only to LOOK and not touch.

But really...they're not antiques or anything...it won't be a disaster if one breaks.

It sounds like a game now.
Hide those ornaments in odd (but safe) places in your home, and see how long it takes him to discover them.

Yes, time to up the ante! Move them to a secret location (extra points for thinking up a humorous scenario) and wait for him to find them.

The kids’ tree is tiny though; the oldest is taller than it! So DS would have them on the floor and in bits in no time. It’s just a bit of fun for when they’re little. We’ll just have the one big family tree when they’re older (and can appreciate the exquisite subtle tastes of moi obviously).

Don’t get me started on the really precious stuff, the Christmas tree chocolates, however. They lasted for even less time than a Christmas lobster on a wooden floor.

DH and I have been playing The Huge Ugly Vase game for months now (except it's not ugly, I think it's lovely, hence the stand off).

He hides it, I find it and put it back in the middle of the coffee table where it belongs. Sometimes I move it to where he will come across it unexpectedly - his car passenger seat (strapped into the seatbelt) was a particularly good one. We are both quite fond of it now

Why not get a branch, paint it white, stick it in a metal bucket and hang them on that. Tell him they deserve their own special showcase.

WeBuiltThisCity we need a pic of the huge ugly vase please! So We-can judge admire it.

Yes, pic please! If it’s very huge I might have to agree with your DH...

Ha I can't, it's very outing I inherited it. I think it is one of a kind. (DH would say the manufacturer looked at it and didn't make any more )

I think it's a thing of beauty.