Do you have a themed tree or an 'anything goes' tree?

[TasteLikeCherryChapstick]

My tree is usually mismatched 'tat'. I have attempted themes in the past but then think 'oh I can't leave that off....or this' so I end up with our much loved and mismatched bits and bobs yet again. I always put on the decorations the children have made (and they've made a lot ) but some friends of mine won't put their children's makes on or put them on 'round the back'. Even when said children were only 3 or 4 and were very proud of their efforts.

Neither way is right or wrong, everybody has to please themselves in their own home. I'm really not judging (I am in fact jealous of the beautiful trees my friends have!) I was just wondering what is the norm.

I have very strong feelings about this - really dislike themed trees outside of department stores, especially if they're artificial.

Trees should be real, huge, and covered with decorations gathered over the years imo.

Not styled at all. It's a collection of memories and when we are putting it together, we constantly say 'do you remember when we go this one?'

Normally we have a real tree and is usually red and gold and various memory decorations.

However this year the we have a 11 week old kitten kitten so bought a snowy artificial tree and i didn't think it would look right with our old decorations so I've gone for a theme of woodland animals , burlap and fake fur!

Can't imagine it will turn out to be Pinterest worthy tho

Herecome - your tinge of sadness comment hit a note for me there. Last Christmas, we very nearly lost our daughter. She was in a coma from 27th Dec for a few days and we didn't know if she would survive, or if she would be severely brain-damaged. She was 23 last year. This year I was kind of wondering, would I have added any of her decs to the tree if she wasn't with us this year after all? And I had come to the conclusion that yes, I would have.

Oh, sorry - that's brought a morbid note. Didn't mean to. On a brighter note, she is still here, fully recovered, so her ornaments will mean something even more special this year. And I wouldn't change our eclectic, tinkly, sparkly, wonderful tree for anything. (I'm going to try to do the FC emoticon, but might fail spectacularly as I can't remember the secret code) [f:grin]

Aah - fail, as expected!

Eve - you have a secret room. Put a little tree in there, lock DD in and let her decorate it in her own pukey way! Then you can have your own tree (adding a couple of nice memories here and there, strategically placed). Win win!

Here's one of my themed trees. Can't wait for December!

My international tree ornaments.

I love the tree to be completely smothered. More is more when it comes to Christmas trees!

We buy enough decs when purchasing something special for our boys to each take one when they leave home and we can keep one. Like our kids, some of our decs are only with us until they are ready for a tree of their own.

tiger I adore that lantern!!!

One is themed (by me!) in the lounge and one is covered in everything and hurts my eyes in the kitchen, decorated by my two DS. No one is allowed to touch my themed tree!

Thank you demented.

It's been dropped a few times but as it's made of (literally) old bean cans it bends back into shape.

Ours is another "eclectic" one. The only theme we have is putting the cheap ones at the bottom for the cats to play with...

Gorgeous lantern tiger , is it Moroccan?

weeds: it is. I think it came from Liberty about 25 years ago and cost not much. We got it wired up and it looks amazing. Will stop hogging the Xmas decorations thread now!

I try to keep mine coordinated but it's all bargain shite that I've bought in the sales !!!!everyone comments it's lovely and I'm like 'oh really!?' What a relief !

Just st seen the cheap one for cats at the bottom!! Lmao!!
Got a young dog this year, now rethinking the whole decs situation !!!

I can't bear themed things. People who decorate their room in 2 colours then everything in the bloody room has to match. Makes you feel like you need to change your outfit to sit on the sofa. NOt for me. I personally think it looks tackier than a tree that is a free for all

Although I suppose my tree is quite scandi in style. No tinsel, white lights and lots of natural type decorations. This year DHs is a blue glass whale because that's been our "inside joke" this year, mine is a unicorn (current obsession) and DS has a felt dinosaur for his.

Mine is gold and green only, although we have one concession which is wooden letters for our initials

Anything goes (but no tinsel) and developed over many years with stuff my children made and stuff we have collected. Definitely no themes or (shudder) colour scheme!

Achicken we are just the same.

I love it when little children come in and gaze at the tree, trying to find different things (actually the adults do it too)! But when you're young and little, there is so much more to gaze at and find amongst the branches, as I hide lots of little bits and pieces: wooden toy soldier/ nutcracker/snowman/FC in sleigh, ceramic teddy holding a ball, sparkly stars, bright red apples, striped candy canes, gingerbread people . . . . . and on and on. It keeps them entertained for absolutely ages. Themed (or colour-schemed) trees: oh, here's a white bauble. Oh, here's a white icicle. Oh, there's another white bauble, oh, there's another white icicle. Yawn
But you do your tree as you choose, and whatever makes you happy - it is a personal choice