so what do you make of outdoor decorations and lights? fabby ot tacky ?

[robinredbreast]

??

I think they can look lovely,butthey need to be kept very simple.We only use white lights with a big wreath onthe front door

Can be either, or both. I quite like them, but can't be bothered to put any up ourselves. Even if it's a full-on technicolour assault on the eyeballs I kind of admire people's creativity (not to mention wondering how on earth they actually get all the stuff to stay up), while simultaneously wondering what their electricity bill must be like.

I love them on other people's houses! However, we go for understatement in the Pesto household and just have a set of blue lights in our miniature tree in the front garden.

I agree with Jackie. In theory of course they need to be all simple and tasteful like paula's, but in practice they always make me - even inflatable Santas.

we then are on the tacky scale, we are lighting up dorset

I'm afraid I'm far too security & safety minded! Dh is a burglar alarm engineer, so I've had years of him drumming it into me! What bothers me is that you have all your lights on when you're in, like a big neon light saying 'I'm in - don't burgle me!' Then, you go out, switch everything off, in case there's a power surge or summit and the whole house goes up in flames, but the burglars have been watching, since they know all the houses are crammed with goodies, they see your lights are all off and bobs ya uncle - lets go shopping!

I'm taking it too far aren't I?

yes Mo , you need to come ogle mine

I love them as does my dd. Mind you there is a fine line sometimes and too many lights inflatable/climbing santa's can tip the scales and become tacky. Less is more.

I can see the soft glow coming up the M3 from here! Is it on your profile yet? I'm gonna have a look.

Only the Father crimbo so far. Get out there with your camera now.

Our tacky ones are on a timer

all we've got is the hanging lights that look like Crystals light off the gutter..

waiting for the wind to die down for us to put it up...tree been up for a week!

Near us is a row of three identical houses and the two ends ones are obviously in competition with each other and they get more and more tacky each year, I love them but not on my house!

i love outdoor decorations! dh wont let me put them up. for the first time we live somewhere with a tree outside, and enough room to put loads up and im not allowed. might do itwhile he's at work though

sorry,

Love them but not up my street

fabby and tacky

I thought tacky before I had children and tacky and fabby now I have them. I even think about the best bus routes for lights (we have a choice of three when coming back from shopping trips etc, and one route goes past some fairly OTT ones, which is fun). I wouldn't like them too near my house though, as I have problems sleeping unless it's dark. I like the variety - from the tasteful ones which make me think "I could do that" to the trully tacky which make me think "why would anyone do that"!

so to be not tacky are you only allowed white lights?

no of course not

lets just say that I am glad I am moving to a conservation area on Thursday (where there is no way they are allowed)..

But, I do love to see DDs face light up when she sees someone elses houses all lit up etc.

So I guess a case of not on my house, (but fine on others, round the corner and a bit further down please)...

The tackier the better.. theres a house near us that puts on a huge display (complete with dancing Elvis) Raises money for charity and always make me laugh.

Like Heifer i'm not sure i'd like to be their neighbour though.