Christmas tree decorating dilemma

[sixteenfurryfeet]

O Please come all wise MNers and tell me what to do! I appear to have the world's largest collection of tree ornaments, baubles, tinsel, garlands and goodness knows what else in every available colour (collected over decades) and this year I just can't make up my mind what to do...

Last year we went with red and gold, the year before that was white and silver, the two previous years I appear to have forgotten to take photos of it, and the two years prior to that were multicoloured.

I have a lot of nutcrackers, ballet dancers and other ballet-themed ornaments. I also have lots of deer, birds, pine cones, acorns and leaves for a nature theme. There's also a shedload of garish vintage 70's/80's stuff and numerous Santas, snowmen, robins etc.

Do I go with an ornament theme, or do I choose a colour theme first and if so, which one? We have either white lights or coloured, or both together.

Please help me!!!

(Perhaps if you could show me yours it would give me some inspiration....)

Put them all on!
It will be like a visual display prompt of memories. Each time you glance at it you will spot something different and it will spark a memory.

Try just chucking your favourite decorations on it, regardless of colour or theme, you might be pleasantly surprised! It will lookmore individual and less contrived too.

I can't put them all on, I have enough for about five trees😂😂

We have done the 'favourites' variety theme quite a few times over the years, and although there are one or two which will always have a place no matter what, I'm kind of bored with doing it that way.

Last couple of years I've done deep purple, white and silver. This year we;ve gone red and white.

We just have an eclectic mix, never had a theme. So just the one box of baubles/decs come out - no decisions to be made, they all go on in their garish clashing colours and it just looks so bright and cheerful!
And our lights are coloured for extra pizazz 😂

don't go with a theme! Our tree has an amazing variety of decoraitons. Since dc were little every year we go to the garden centre on Dec 23rd and they choose one decoration each. I have 6 dc, so thats a lot of decoartaions! Oldest ds is now 25, he still chooses one each year and for the last 5 years or so his mission has been to choose the most garish/tacky/outlandish one he can! I love our tree once its up. So much colour and chacracter and so many memories. We have warm white lights, but also add a few sets of proper vntage traditional bulb coloured lights (the ones with the lovely colours including pink!) for vintage 70s tree of my childhood vibes. My tree makes me very happy

Mine is red, white and silver if that’s any help…

Ours is just the same baubles we have every year no theme, no particular colour, added to only when we see one that is "worthy" so would also go with favourites. We always have warm white lights though - and lots of them.

We have 8 trees ... so I can have a different colour or theme on each one.
And I still have a huge box of leftover baubles.
I may love Christmas just a little too much 😁

Lovely, I do like to have lots of ornaments with memories attached, and I even still have some from my own childhood in the 60's, but we've been doing pretty much the same thing with our favourites for decades so I thought maybe something a bit different this year would be quite nice.

Great tree @MintyCedric and the reds go really well with picking up the colour from the wall behind too.

I did disco animal one year ie all the glittery and mirror baubles and any animals I had. Was hilarious.

I also just did stars and snowflakes which was very tasteful. But my favorite was flamingo and alcohol miniatures. My sons are adults and had a pick from the tree which went down well. I also managed to find some gin baubles which looked great, but the gin wasn't that great, and loads of bright pink tinsel. It made my laugh every time I looked at it.

so either go dead tasteful or completely ott

@Sewaccidentprone I actually have a flamingo ornament!

You've got me thinking now...
😂

I quite like the idea of themed ornaments. Nutcrackers and dancers is nice. Gonks seem to be everywhere this year too!
I usually let my DH pick a colour theme - he's quite protective about decorating the tree.

Right. So I'm like you. One million decorations and a new style every year. 😂
I've done "70s tree" with vintage lights and mismatched vintage decorations.

Followed by "Chandelier Tree" crystal strands, icicles and snowflakes. With my beloved teal and gold glass baubles which come out a LOT

"Fairy Forest Tree" in which I stuffed the tree with foliage and berries and hung it with Gisela Graham fairies . No baubles.

Last year was a bit of a combo. Teal and gold with berries and flowers.

My "Victorian Tree" in the Dining room last year. No fairy lights only candles and I mainly used decoupage baubles

This year I've gone back to a more traditional look. Burgundy, gold and teal with gold bead garlands. And I finally managed to snag myself some proper twinkling lights like we had back in the '90s

I'll dig you out some photos. Don't go anywhere 😂

'70s Tree

Chandelier tree

Fairy forest tree

Victorian Tree

Not taken any yet of this year's but I hope these help to give you some ideas.

Merry Christmas 🎄

Any pics? I love to see people's trees.

Pick out all your favourites and donate all the rest to a women's refuge

Ah @MistyGreenAndBlue they are gorgeous, I particularly love the fairy forest.

@Houseplanter I already have a donation carrier bag on the go for unwanted ones.

I think I've solved the issue now - veering towards the ballet theme and my daughter is a whizz at decorating Christmas trees - she's coming over after work today to 'help'.

Thank you
I do love a Christmas tree.
Have fun. Post a pic please? 😊

Ballet theme sounds very pretty! Post a picture once you are done!