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Christmas

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

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Original poster

Tree decorating tips?

36 replies

Grok · 03/12/2015 10:54

Hi all.

Wondering if anyone can help me decorate my tree so that it is beautiful and elegant. Growing up our tree was always, umm, "special" as us kids decorated it with homemade ornaments and lots of colour. I see others' trees looking so nice and wonder how they do it.

We have a real tree, 7ft, with gold as the main colour and some red accents. But the end result is still not right. I know I need more lights, esp at the bottom- am getting them today.

Thanks for any help you have wonderful mumsnetters!

OP posts:

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DownstairsMixUp · 03/12/2015 11:01

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Akire · 03/12/2015 11:05

Yes will look better with more lights , I think also need more baubles maybe in one colour to bring it all together. Possible gold or red as lots of kids ornaments are in those colours.

Original poster

Grok · 03/12/2015 11:11

Downstairs, your tree is gorgeous!! How many strands of light do you use and do you put them more on the outer bough of the tree or more to the middle?

Akire, thanks - yes will def get more of both. Do you think standard balls would work or do I need statement ornaments?

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SpottyTeacakes · 03/12/2015 11:18

I use statement ornaments then fill the gaps with large and small baubles. Sometimes two on one branch (one right towards the back and one on the end). I wouldn't use the heads as I find it's hard to get them to hang right on a real tree as its not symmetrical we won't get ours until the 12th can't wait!

Akire · 03/12/2015 11:24

I think you have lovely stuff the kids of made so just add lights and some baubles to get the general background colour then can look at what kids have made. It doesn't matter what size as long as enough for all over.

DownstairsMixUp · 03/12/2015 11:32

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

bilbodog · 03/12/2015 12:48

I always drape wide (wired) ribbon in the way you might gave done tinsel (back in the day) and have bought some Pom Pom trim from an eBay Indian shop - normally used for trimming saris - which looks fabulous.

Original poster

Grok · 03/12/2015 14:06

Ooh I like the idea of wired ribbon, Bilbo. Maybe some red bows!

OP posts:

yomellamoHelly · 03/12/2015 14:08

Many more baubles and more lights as pp have suggested.

girlywhirly · 03/12/2015 15:27

Grok, I think with a big tree, you need some more large baubles, and as it is a dark green, baubles that are lighter colours so that they stand out. You might find that matt colours stand out better than shiny ones as well.

Original poster

Grok · 04/12/2015 00:03

Ok so here is my second pass. Not sure if I like the gold garland but overall I think it's an improvement. Got a bunch of gold baubles in tesco, then got some more interesting statement baubles and also some wired gold ribbon (which I also used to make the tree top bc our usual star is too heavy for this tree!).
Also put up 3 more strings of lights.

OP posts:

SpottyTeacakes · 04/12/2015 06:31

I think it looks great!

MuttonCadet · 04/12/2015 06:45

Looks lovely, I think it's perfect.

I love real trees, but always have an artificial one as they tend to be more even and (more importantly) the branches are strong enough to hold heavier baubles.

girlywhirly · 04/12/2015 09:09

Your tree looks lovely.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/12/2015 10:09

I am too late but my top tip is - do the lights up and down (base to top then back ) not round and round.
Much easier to remove.

I try to have something on every brach (but then I'm not going for the minimalist look here, though I do have a 'theme'. White lights. Glass baubles. No tinsel or non-glass on the tree)

Original poster

Grok · 04/12/2015 11:06

70, that theme sounds gorgeous. Do you find it hard to get ornaments?? I found trying to get nice baubles SO difficult! Most are cheap and covered in the dreaded glitter :)

Mutton, defo agree on branches being too weak!!

OP posts:

Akire · 04/12/2015 15:32

Looks great, mine in box in the corner if want come and do mine!

Original poster

Grok · 04/12/2015 19:26

OP posts:

Icklepickle101 · 04/12/2015 20:05

I think it looks beatiful! I would love an artificial tree but as I'm 8 months pregnant I didn't think it was the best idea

Here's mine

vienaa · 04/12/2015 20:06

I love my gold's, its a fake tree thou I tebd to use more lights warm tones but this year 1 set was not working, everything seams to be LED which I prefer the more fairy lights..

Icklepickle101 · 04/12/2015 20:06

Meant to say would love a real tree!!

mrsdavegrohl · 04/12/2015 20:16

I have 400 lights on a 6 foot tree. Also 16 large baubles and 36 medium/small all matching. We also have silver tinsel and 4 large stag head ornaments.
It looks white in this pic but its actually green with snow.
This is DHs 'nice' tree, we have another which has all the mismatched baubles, multicolored lights and tinsel in the dining room

DickDewy · 04/12/2015 20:25

I would say - have a real tree - fake trees look fake no matter how expensive they are.

I like loads of LED white lights and I have only clear glass ornaments. I am horribly anal about the tree.

Even when ours were teeny - I had to give them a tree in the playroom for their homemade/school tat

Dulceetdecorum · 04/12/2015 20:26

I think the thing that makes a tree look fab is to put the lights on first and then decorate, with plenty of lights tucked in a bit so that the tree almost looks like its lit from the inside out.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 04/12/2015 22:00

I'm with bilbo dog, ribbon looks great.

Beautiful trees by the way. This is mine, nordic all the way!

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