Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

How to do a tasteful tree?

45 replies

stella1w · 09/12/2012 06:17

Last year had a three foot potted one on a table. Put everything on it... Tacky angel from my youth, mardi gras beads, loads of coloured lights, old pretty baubles, looked cheap and cheerful. This year went for a cut four foot one on floor and as have a toddler, no nice baubles, just plain ones, had tinsel as let dd help. And it doesn,t look like a tree, just an explosion of tat. For next year, tips for decorating a tree?

OP posts:

CanonFodder · 09/12/2012 08:48

We have white lights and one colour tinsel, and then the most gorgeous mish mash of mismatched tree ornaments you could wish for. D and I have been buying one or two things a year since we were first together, and then one each foe the kids since they have come along. DD gets a proper Dec from the school every year too.
Decorating the tree together is part of Christmas for me, and as trite as it sounds I always feel the tree decs are like the history of our family. Each one reminds me of a different place we lived or what our lives were like at the time. We even have some beautiful old wooden decs from DH's granny on there. tis a proper 'family tree'. A themed tree would be my idea of hell tbh, give me our messy old memory strewn one any day!

gazzalw · 09/12/2012 08:48

One person's tasteful is another person's trashy so go with what you like...

I think that ideally we'd all like to change the type of tree and decorations we have every year but for most it's not financially viable to do so....Our Christmas decorations are mainly gold and have been amassed by DW over twenty years or so - they have probably cost, in total, well over £300 - £400....

The other thing is that I have found that with the passing of time, the whole idea of tasteful and matching becomes a bit of a constraint. In fact I'm sure someone once told me that coordination is the ultimate in controlling behaviour....So just be reckless and enjoy life and your Christmas Tree!

marleybrodie · 09/12/2012 09:05

We have two trees one in the lounge decorated in one colour -gold.
Variety of ornaments white lights Gisella Graham baubles/ornaments are good.
Little gold dragonflies and butterflies this year.

Second tree is a real fir smells divine randomly decorated by the DCs Tesco baubles and things they have made.

......Their one looks better. Next year I am going vintage starting to look for old baubles on ebay!

sittinginthesun · 09/12/2012 09:07

Ours went up yesterday, and I keep staring at it, it's so lovely.

We can't afford to change the decorations too often, but add a couple each year. IRS basically white, silver and gold. Ribbon and beads, but no tinsel. White lights, although I'm actually quite a fan of coloured too. The odd splash of red, because we have a few sentimental bits from years ago. And a random green star.

Children help decorate, but it's all done quite calmly, and they step back to work out where the gaps are.

sittinginthesun · 09/12/2012 09:07

It's, not IRS! (iPhone)

MildredIsMyAlterEgo · 09/12/2012 09:17

My mum always puts the 2 skiing cow decorations that I bought as a teen on her tree...it wouldn't be Christmas otherwise.

JakeBullet · 09/12/2012 09:20

My DS, is 10 and autistic, he loves the Xmas tree and doesn't do "tasteful" . It looks great though and am watching DS spinning at the moment a tad tooooooo close lol.

comelywenchlywoo · 09/12/2012 10:02

Instead of tinsel I ripped organza into 10cm strips the full width of the fabric, sewed them end to end and then overlocked the edges. They look lovely on the tree and suspended across the ceiling.

Next year will be our first opportunity for our own tree in four years and I can't wait! DS will be three and should be really into it too. I love Christmas!

QueenMaeve · 09/12/2012 11:31

My tree in the hall has all the decorations I've collected over the years from various places. I then use lots of red baubles in between to tie it all together. The other tree has rustic woodland type decorations. They both look tasteful I think [Fgrin]

mrsEbruce · 09/12/2012 11:53

2 colours this years red and silver

beads or ribbon NO tinsel

no dcs helping to decorate

matchin baubles both big and small

no gaudy ceiling decorations or paper chains

white lights

well thats how we do ours and many of pur family no have me do there trees

INeedThatForkOff · 09/12/2012 14:33

I really dislike co-ordinated trees and white lights. To me it's very 'showhome' and prissy. Tasteful is just that - a matter of personal taste.

I'm still using a set of multicoloured berry lights bought from Woolies about 12 years ago along with a string of clear ones. I don't like tinsel but do have lengths of white fluff ('snow' ). Decs are blown glass baubles (high up out of DDs reach), dancing ladies, papier mache baubles and beads. Also home-made felt decs and stuffed fabric bits. It's completely random and I love it.

jojane · 09/12/2012 16:35

Our tree has white lights and red cherry lights, the secs are white red and silver with some silver and red beads, there are some of the kids homemade secs on their too, the ones which are clashing colours are towards the back where they can't be seen too much. Our lounge is red and white so tree looks really nice

ChristmasIsAcumenin · 09/12/2012 16:42

Ours is tasteful cos most of our decorations are gingerbread! Taste sensation.

Chrysanthemum5 · 09/12/2012 17:53

We have two trees a real one in the hall with white lights and decorations we've collected over the years plus things made by the DCs. We all decorate it together.

We have a small artificial tree in the living room which the DCs decorate with non- breakable baubles.

I love both of them but neither gas a theme or any planning. I think the hall tree looks pretty tasteful!

ethelb · 09/12/2012 18:27

"We can't afford to change the decorations too often, but add a couple each year. IRS basically white, silver and gold. Ribbon and beads, but no tinsel. White lights, although I'm actually quite a fan of coloured too. The odd splash of red, because we have a few sentimental bits from years ago. And a random green star."

This basically

We have white lights though coloured can look nice. No tinsel, just beaded garlands (I got these from the pound shop last year) and the colours are red and white with a little bit of green, gold and silver on some ornaments.

Candy canes (again from the pound shop) popcorn and cranberry chains, red and white gingham ribbons have made it look tasteful but homey.

voddiekeepsmesane · 09/12/2012 19:16

My tip for next year ....let your CHILD decorate how THEY want it. A christmas tree should be decorated by the children of the house. Why are people so bloody hung up on having a "tasteful" tree when their children are young, there will be years and years to decorate how you please when your children get older, thw wonder of christmas is held in a few precious years enjoy them FFS

nellyjelly · 09/12/2012 19:17

Er I think thats what everyone is saying. Tasteful ok unless you have DCs.

voddiekeepsmesane · 09/12/2012 19:25

Thats not what the OP is saying though and I was replying to the OP as is usual on MN is it not??

Startail · 09/12/2012 19:58

My only rules are NO tinsel and no homemade tat.

Original poster

stella1w · 09/12/2012 21:11

Op here. I,ve nothing against dc helping... She.s only working with what w,ve got.... Ie. Coloured lights, tinsel etc.. I agree it should be fun etc, but am surprised at how much worse it looks this year...only difference is larger tree and no vintage baubles due to toddler. The thing is, you can,t actually see the tree!

OP posts:

Flip

1 2