If you were buying all new tree decorations what would you get?

[Appleloafcake]

I'm at the start of the divorce process following a very very traumatic split. I love Christmas and have beautiful decorations collected over the last decade.

I can't bear the thought of having them up this year and want to get new.

What would you get for a 7ft tree with a budget of £100 if you were in my shoes?? I like my tree to look elegant and coordinated but also something that is joyful after a hideous year.

Lights and exactly the same bauble in three different sizes

Just a mix of anything I like. But Iwhen it comes to the lights it's got to be multi coloured ones.

Sorry to hear of your tough time

I would go for creams and sparkle - start of a new era !!!

I love the fuzzy Scandi stuff. Just white lights and them. Felt, if you know what I mean.

I'd start small and build up again. So lights and a few beautiful things this year.

It's the start of a new phase in your life.

Id go somewhere like the range that sells reasonably priced stuff and pick everything that i liked whether it matches or not. Choose stuff that makes you happy.

I bought a great tree from home bargains for £70. Tree F if all stores are the same. There was also a snowy one for £60 but it didn't have as many tips.

I always do red and gold. Can't go wrong.

B n m have sets for £5-10 and they're enough for the tree.

I would go to the range and buy a selection of their blown glass baubles , they look vintage , special and tasteful and come in so many shades ,colours and designs and they are surprisingly cheap.
I can't stand generic 'all from the same range' decorations, you can get a really eclectic look with these.

I love traditional gold, greens and reds and lots of individual decorations and individual large baubles. Have fun choosing ❤️

I would get the cheapest lights and baubles (maybe £40) then spend the rest on 3-4 really lovely baubles that will form the start of your new collection.

Liberty has some really beautiful decorations.

Sorry that you have had a rubbish year.

id get clear and blown glass baubles and carved wooden decorations in your position. They glitter so beautifully in soft light and you can gaily add to them without worrying if they work together. Glass baubles, soft white lights and lovely wooden bits and bobs. How lovely.
https://www.christmastimeuk.com/clear-baubles?srsltid=AfmBOoq-oGKWcYpZNKrdE756DIXWEygwsEzHW5ck0cCA4450uqX-6WAD
I have quite a few of those clear glass icicles, I love them, they catch the lights beautifully

My tree is a mix of Gisela Graham or similar and Scandinavian style.

I'd take a look in Homesense, a big Christmassy garden centre and maybe John Lewis for a couple of pieces you like and then use them for your inspiration.

I'm a sucker for little white houses 🏠

Aww I'm sorry you've had a crap year!!

I'm a sentimental person & my decorations are 95% bought on trips/travels/special days or they were gifts. Getting them out is such an emotional ride.

The first Christmas after my partner & I separated was particularly hard. But I was glad I did it. Many many years later they bring back a mix of good & sad memories, but overall good memories.

IMO - unless you're just going to throw them all out, you might as well face it this year.

What I'd do if I just wanted an instant new set of Decs ? I don't know? 🤷🏻‍♀️

There are some really good value decorations from Asda. I would get a load of cheap basic baubles in a colour scheme you like and then treat yourself to a few more meaningful items.

I think in your position I’d go for serene, natural/rustic decorations, maybe relatively cheap - dried orange slices, wooden stars and houses, quite minimalist and not too expensive. Then it’s not too much of a stress if you have them just for one year. I always love the look of the trees in eg. The White Company or similar minimalist/Scandi shops when they use things like orange slices and popcorn strings and a few wooden, felt or plain white glass ornaments! My new favourite place for Christmas things is Sostrene Grene - gorgeous but not too expensive.

I have too many decorations now after many years, and similarly, some of them I love, but they bring back difficult memories, so I don’t often have them out, maybe just once every few years. I feel a bit weird ignoring them, the years I put those ones back in the box and pretend they aren’t there. Sometimes it’s just easier to do it all fresh though. <flowers>

(Oh no, don’t the flowers work any more? 😟)

I agree with lights, a cheap and cheerful set and then a few really nice, special baubles to add to over the years. Also a really nice tree topper. You can get some more in the January sales, too.

For what it’s worth, I had a traumatic split several years ago and it gave me great pleasure to use all the baubles that my ex had mocked/eye rolled/told me he didn’t like. There were some he did, but he thought I made too much of Christmas and that I should scale back the decorations. I smile each time I hang some of them up.

@Juliagreeneyes

you need the [ not <

Aha thank you @AutumnLeaves24 !

My friend bought her first house just before Christmas last year and had a housewarming where she asked everyone to bring a tree decoration as a present. She got some lovely things and it's a nice way to have new decorations with nice memories.

It's no good if you like a themed tree though!

Sorry to hear things have been so tough. Hopefully beginning a lovely new tree with lights and pretty things will be the start of hopeful new beginnings more broadly for you too.

I agree with a few previous posters that for this year go for lights and some multipacks of glass baubles (I like these from John Lewis but they have lots of different packs) and then a few individual ones to make a start. There are so many lovely ones available now from supermarket prices up to Liberty/Fortnum and Mason prices, especially if you don't want to be obsessive about a particular colour scheme, so just choose a selection and then flesh it out adding a few ore each year once you've got the basics. If you go for at least one multipack of big baubles and one of smaller, that will be a great base for adding extras.

I LOVE the suggestion of a house warming party where everybody brings a bauble - but I'm a fan of the more the merrier, and the less matching the better so it would suit me down to the ground!

Sorry it's been shit. Nothing like a fantastic tree to give you hope though.

I'd buy small orangey white lights on a really long black cable. I have some ( Focus before it went bankrupt) and I desperately wish I bought more - so so pretty.

Big glass baubles and small glass sweets.