1980s throwback tree

[1980stat]

Every year since DH and I have lived together, I have bought and put up the Christmas decorations. I enjoy it, he isn't really bothered. I like the tree to be tasteful, with soft white lights and matching decorations in a colour theme, usually gold red or green or a combination of those.

Dh hankers for the Christmas decorations of his childhood. Coloured lights with foil flowers, tinsel, wooden rocking horses and Santas, baubles, those satin thread covered balls, and those paper fold out garlands and bells/balls on the ceiling. And Christmas cards on a string.

So, I have the tree, and the old multicoloured lights. I know where to get the wooden horse/snowman/Santa type decoration. Beyond that I'm stuck. Would you have multicoloured baubles in the same colour as the lights? What colour tinsel? And has anyone seen for sale the satin thread baubles and paper bells/garlands (other than eBay, because they seem to be selling for a fortune on there, presumably to other nostalgic 30/40 somethings).

I'd like it to look 80's-tastic without looking a complete mess but desperately need help!

Englishrose - yes! Those are the satiny ones I was thinking of. Thank you!

Blimey hermione thank you! I remember the wrapped presents, and the bows. And the glitter balls I think, though that may have been my grandparents tree.

I haven't got a silver and white tree, but I do have a 6ft bottlebrush (an emergency purchase last year after dh threw away my lovely bushy tree whilst clearing out the garage). It was the only one in the shop and looks a bit like my grandparents sad Woolworths one. It'll do.

My dad still has the same decorations he has had since moving into his house in 1986. Foil and paper garlands going from corners of the room to the centre, multicoloured lights, other tree lights in the shape of carriages. I will take a pic and post it after he puts his decorations up

It sounds magical 🧙‍♀️

Hobbycraft sell paperchains, garlands etc

And a proper old fashioned nativity set ! We had one with a little battery operated light in the shed/stable

you need crepe paper garlands spiralled about, and hung in loops from the coving, AND the traditional two round balloons and a long one hung at each high point

Ha ha my mum still has all of this stuff even the crepe paper chains and the shiny centre piece and the multicoloured lights, tinsel and baubles. She has put the same decorations up since my Brother was a baby and he's 50! She even still has the lametta and carefully collects it back up each year and puts it back in the box.

Oh my goodness I want a tree of my childhood now too! I think DH would pass out if our usual tree was replaced but I'm loving this idea!!!

Can I please asks what lights you’ve bought?

Am totally place marking!

Now I want to recreate my 80s Christmas tree too. We had silver tinsel, purple lametta and those exact foil baubles that ffs posted earlier! Not to mention enormous foil lanterns that hung from the ceiling. Things are much too tasteful these days.

I actually get the foil garlands and the 1980s style tree on purpose every year. IMO Christmas isn't meant to be tasteful and subtle. And the smell of the foil garlands takes me right back

Slightly off the tree topic, but I have made a 1989’s Christmas cake. Iced in rock hard royal icing (inspired by a thread on here last year). Have a plastic reindeer, Christmas tree, Robin and Yule log, a plastic red frilly wrap for around the sides and a ‘happy Christmas’ in gold plastic. And silver baubles for around the edge. Also have a splendid chintzy glass cake stand for it 😁

Brilliant idea OP. Good luck with your search. Do you need one of these? honeycomb angel

Ploppy I always do royal icing for my cake - love it!

80's trees had bows. Preferably hand tied tartan ones

My tree is always a bit 80's but you're inspiring me to go the whole hog this year OP. We had pretty much everything mentioned in this thread when I was a kid and the whole family is coming here this year so it will be a total nostalgia trip. Thanks OP, great idea

The tinsel they sell now is far too fat and bushy, you need the thinner stuff. Trawl your local charity shops - they will be stacked out with old vintage Christmas decorations at the moment.

I went to a rather chilly car boot sale last Sunday, there were Christmas decorations galore. Ideal hunting ground

You can make the crepe paper chains if you have a sewing machine (and some crepe paper obvs). Cut into long strips about 3 inches wide and sew straight up the middle, bunching it up as you go in a sort of concertina effect.

And the lights with the spiky plastic covers that really hurt if you stood on one. We still have the family game of "hunt the fuse bulb".

I've got some real tat (vintage) on my tree - however I had forgotten the foil baubles and the foil garlands, a real treat from my youth, I will be buying some tomorrow!

For best effect it all needs to be mismatched and include hand made decorations from the kids such as Father Christmases made from loo rolls and cotton wool

@MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours you have just given me major flashbacks to 80s birthday parties! Love love love this thread.