Christmas tree and decorations help - where to buy??

[sunnyteacup]

Hello

I'm getting REALLY excited for Christmas this year and I'm looking to overhaul my decorations after threatening out for years.

Can you help me find a tree?? I'm looking for a 7ft artificial traditional tree, possibly with snow covered tips. Max spend £100ish.

Where would you recommend for buying decorations?

Also, I don't know what colour scheme to go for!! Would Pinterest be the best place to look for ideas?

Any help would be great appreciated!

Pinterest would be good. I got my tree from homebase when they had a discount weekend. Can't remember how much discount was but I have a 7 ft slim tree.

I spent a bit on lights. Again homebase at £35 a box. For a big tree you need lots of lights. I think I have 800 on mine

I have been collecting Disney decorations for about 15 years and that's my theme but you can get decorations from b&m and most pound shops these days. I'd do that but factor in a few more expensive baubles and grow from there.

Tinsel is a huge no in this house.

Pinterest will help with the theme. What colours do you love?

Thank you! I never thought about how many lights I'd need.. this is going to get expensive... Maybe pre lit is the way to go? Or is that not a good idea?

That's dying you said that about Disney. My mum mentioned this year she has 2 huge boxes of wooden Disney character ornaments I could have.

I've had a quick look on Pinterest and I totally noticed no tinsel which looks fab.

I'm thinking traditional colours - reds, golds, greens rather than a different colour I might get bored of in a couple of years time.

Thing with prelit is if it breaks it's a whole new tree you need to replace. There will be cheaper places you could get lights.

This looks quite good

www.next.co.uk/g412650s1#854615

Tesco have their stuff online.

We always buy a real tree. Nice clear lights and I prefer natural /traditional looking decorations rather than bright baubles or blingy bits . No tinsel at all. Our house is old though so a modern tree would look all wrong. Our last few years decorations are wooden/felt themed bits from TK Maxx/Home sense and Sainsbury's. I also go out to the wood and collect pine cones and holly from our garden bush and use that for fireplace decor. Our old house was very modern and we had more modern Xmas decs. I was talked into a fibre optic tree once there but I hated it

I would just add that you don't need to buy a tree full of decorations all in one go. It's lovely to build up a collection year by year. If you are thinking of traditional colours, how about adding tartan bows?

Chottie it's a tradition of ours to buy a couple of new baubles etc every year that mean something to us so I def like the idea of building it up.

Some of the trees on Pinterest are stunning especially ones that are mostly the one colour but this probably wouldn't work for us because we always add to it with special decorations especially our DS's ones and then baby #2's next year!

Natural/traditional are lovely! That's lovely you pick your own to add to it Paddington.

Hmmm, I did wonder that about pre lit.

Will check out Tesco!

I got mine from Christmas tree world. Very impressed. It's 8ft and comes in roughly 1000 pieces.. It was worth it though. The last few years a tree that size cost too much and they were disappointing so glad I got one I love. I do miss going tree shopping though.

Themes - well I try to get a new one, but lack inspiration. I love a tree to sparkle, so I have sparkly ornaments in white, silver and bronze. I used to have rich browns, but have swapped the white in. Some years I add ribbon too. I got my basic baubles from next year's ago and add odd numbers of specially selected ornaments from the Christmas shop in bluewater. I got some from Wilkos last year and my local garden centre due to getting a better tree. My children have a tree too with wooden toys and felt gingerbread men from tesco, silver hearts from ikea and what ever ornament they pick. I let them choose a new one each year.

That sounds lovely Never!

tk max or independant xmas tree barns...

Won't help you for this year but Paoerchase in January has great baubles and cheapo!
I used to try a colour theme and to have a "tasteful" tree but one year decided to put everything on and it looked great!!! So that is now my policy. I also have garlands over fireplaces and on top of the piano and have these themed - one is all shoes, one is all London/GB and the piano gets musical notes etc

P.S. I am thinking of getting some new, pre-lit garlands as mine are OLD if anyone has any ideas?

I think Matalan had some pre lit garlands.

I was going for tasteful and a colour scheme but after all my researching online last night DP came home from work and put the kibosh on that! He wants all out colour and lights and glitter and.... You get the picture I'm loving his enthusiasm so going with it! (Still no tinsel though!). I can see his point though, the ones I was looking at online wouldn't look out of place in an upmarket boutique hotel but we have a toddler and another on the way so needs a more family feel.

Heading out today to see what shops have their decs in. Anyone know if homebase/b&q have theirs yet?

Have seen a tree online in Tesco we like (although it's a bit big I feel but DP's determined we should go all out )

I bought my tree on an eBay shop last week for £35 and it's perfect, looks identical to the £180 one in the range!!

The Range has some lovely stuff in, lots of different themes from tasteful sparkly naturals to in your face brights and tinsel. They do a large selection of trees too and they always have them on display rather than just boxed like some shops

I would recommend Homebase for lights though. I had issues with lights from Tesco, Argos and The Range over the past two years

Heading to the range today then for sure!

Ickle what was the eBay shop of you don't mind sharing? I've looked on eBay but couldn't really see anything. Although I do think it's harder to know what they're really like when viewing online.

Mine is only 6ft not 7 but I got it from fullytracked mine is the deluxe luxury one.

I was hesitant at buying online bit we are a little bit poor this christmas with dc1 due in January so thought it was worth a trying for £35 and I'm really happy with!!

Sorry I'm rubbish with links!