Lights or tinsel - what goes on the tree first?

[daisywaisydoo]

Struggle every year!

Lights, tinsel, baubles!

Lights, then baubles (don't use tinsel).

Oops. I don't use tinsel, not telling you not to

Lights, tinsel, baubles here too.

Thanks!

Lights first, baubles etc next and then tinsel last.

Lights always first --and DH's only contribution to tree decorating-- and then baubles / decoration's, when I used to do tinsel (looks odd on current tree) I would put it on last but I can see why putting it on before baubles would make sense.

lights.

Lights - tinsel - baubles. This is the best way to get a well-balanced tree, and baubles at the end ensures that the tinsel sits well and you can see the baubles. If you want the lights to be more evenly distributed, work up and down the length of the tree rather than round it.

Haven't used tinsel in years, mind. But when I did, it always turned out looking nice doing it this way.

Lights!
We have new ones this year.
Then serious decisions about decoration placement.
All our baubles etc are those we have acquired over time.
DP has no memories of Christmas etc so I try to make sure we create our own.

Lights first.

Just check they work first before dressing the tree so you don't find out the hard way like I did.

Tinsel, lights Baubles.

Lights then ornaments. I haven't used tinsel for years. But then I don't have baubles on my tree either.

Lights. Then tinsel helps cover the wire, then baubles last so you see them over the tinsel.

Lights, baubles, tinsel

Lights, bigger baubles and ornaments, small baubles to fill in any gaps, bead garlands (no tinsel).

lights then the rest. no tinsel though

Lights, beads (if I can wrestle them off DS, he's captivated by them for some reason), baubles.

Those who don't use tinsel, what am I missing? Is it just lights and baubles? Do you have some interesting baubles or just stock ones?

Lights. Check they work first. We use two sets of white lights (much to DH's dismay, who would prefer naff coloured ones) and do one from top-to-bottom around the centre of the tree, and then another top-to-bottom going around and around the branches.

Then all the hanging decorations go on. I don't use tinsel (another misery I have wrought upon DH) but I do have some angel hair scattered around. Strings of beads are nice too. I don't use them because cats, but they look nice strung around the tree after the baubles go on.

A lot of my American friends use ribbon on their trees, like this. I've never tried it though.

Oh and no I don't have stock baubles. Maybe a few to go 'round the back! Almost all mine are interesting ones. A lot of them were gifts. It's not a colour-coordinated tree, but I like it :)

Purrtrill I but one new decoration each year - I'm quite fussy and only buy glass, ceramic or wooden ones that look well made (eg wooden star, a ceramic reindeer, a violin, candy cane, gingerbread Santa!). A lot of them are German as they do Christmas decorations very well! The baubles are all red or gold - bigger glass ones with glittery patterns, smaller gold glass ones, and some all over glitter ones to fill in gaps. My decorations aren't colour coordinated but because the baubles are it brings it all together nicely Pretty much every ornament has a reason or a story behind it too - it's a very personal tree

Pfft, no stock baubles here either, Purrtrill.

Our tree is always a nature and ballet theme. We have vintage decorations; 1950s ballet dancer for top of tree, 1960s fairy for playroom tree. We don't actually have any standard baubles, but feather eggs (pheasant feathers and the like), pine cones, cinnamon balls and tree swags (I make my own if have time, using dogwood and so on) made from fresh evergreens. Then some tiny ballet dancer decorations and miniature pointe shoes, tiny brown birds made from feathers etc etc.

Gosh your trees sound fabulous! We need some interesting decs.

no standard ones here either - we go for the full on elf-vomits-the-lot-onto-the-tree look.... kids home made ornaments , kids and everyone else's choice of ornaments too , and LOTS of colour... people do comment - not in an "Oh, how stylish" way... more in an "OMG!!!" way.... but it is fun and it is ours...