Christmas tree decorations- What's your style?

[HardyGirl]

I remember when I was married, my ex and I had a difference of opinion on how a Christmas tree should be decorated. His style was simple country; red wooden beads strung to look like cranberries, no sparkle or tinsel at all, an angel on top, even a fake bird's nest ala Waltons' Homecoming. My way was very sparkly, lotsa shiny garland, icicles (but couldn't 'cos we had cats), and a star on top. My niece (who's grown) thinks my Christmas trees are too busy. I cover every branch w/ an ornament, tinsel, garland and colored lights. (I can't stand white lights on my tree!) I also love the Hallmark ornaments that make sounds. I think Christmas trees are supposed to be busy.

I know some folks have a theme or color scheme, or prefer white lights and lacy garland. So what's your take?

[johnnystorm]

Ours is all white lights, but all the ornaments are personal stuff, from Pittsburgh Steelers to Wizard of Oz figures. My wife wanted to go all Martha Stewart last year, but my daughter flipped out on her...it's not a Christmas Tree without a leg lamp ornament, a singing Dean Martin jukebox, Woody Woodpecker, and Baby's 1st Christmas (2002).

[Mikey]

Back in the day my mom had all old glass-blown ornaments --- nothing crazy expensive, just common at the time.

When I moved I gave them all to my nephew's husband ... he loved them so that's all that matters.

Also, we usually had a cedar for a Christmas Tree ... My Ma said that was a tradition handed down from the old country ... I have my doubts but it sounds impressive LOL

[Hedji]

NOBODY does glass ornaments like the Italians. Delicately crafted, incredibly fragile mouthblown figural ornaments. Hand painted characters with just incredible style and whimsy. Then you gotta do the c7 colored lights, preferable frosted for maximum warmth.

I'll get some pictures of all of my Christmas trees up as soon as I get some time next week. I'm a bit of a fanatic.

[Mikey]

NOBODY does glass ornaments like the Italians. Delicately crafted, incredibly fragile mouthblown figural ornaments. Hand painted characters with just incredible style and whimsy. Then you gotta do the c7 colored lights, preferable frosted for maximum warmth..

I beg to differ, being Polish and knowing the long history of Polish handblown Christmas ornaments

[Earth 2 Chris]

My Mom managed a Hallmark store for over a decade. We have a wide variety of mostly Hallmark ornaments, and put up colored lights. We haven't done garland or icecicles for years, because they tend to obscure the ornaments.

Chris

[Rallygirl]

I do all white lights and ornaments crammed on every branch. New ornaments, old ornaments, silly ornaments, sentimental ornaments, just all kinds of different ornaments. Well, at least in the living room.

On the "dust bunny" ledge above the front door, I put a four foot tree with all gold and burgandy ornaments. Nobody can see details way up there, so I keep that tree simple. In the bedroom and library, the vintage, silver EverGleams go up with only red and blue ornaments, just like my Great Grandma did for years.
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[Hedji]

^ Love that silver tree! What a beauty!

[ScottA]

Our tree has both colored (me) and white (wife) lights. It also has a set of Colonial Lights that are over 40 years old. They were on our tree while I was growing up. I love them.

We have all types of ornaments from Hallmark to ones from my childhood I got from my parents when I got married. I've got the standard 1st Christmas together, babies first Christmas, etc. All three of my kids have their own on as well (Hot Wheels, Barbie, Super Heroes, Eeyore, Guitars and more).

Also, the Angel on the top my wife and I got on our honeymoon and has been on top of our tree for 27 years now.

[cockyhoskins]

My style is whatever the wife would like to do!

Seriously, our tree in the basement is a fun tree with a wide array of ornaments. The main tree upstairs is more traditional. All white lights, a uniform theme with decorations, etc. We have compromised by having three small (probably 4 feet) trees with silly ornaments. One gets decorated by the kids, although they're now grown. One is wine glass ornaments. One has shoe ornaments.

We also have this:



It's a Tiffany tree with boxes from her Tiffany presents of Christmases past. LOL That's the upstairs tree in the background by the way.

[Mikey]

Back in the day I made a handmade hand-palm Christmas ornament in Kindergarten.

My Mom had it on the tree until the day she died.

After that, I threw it in the garbage

[cockyhoskins]

Here's the only thing I care about decorating ...



That's my mancave bar (usually decorated with sports, Mego, etc). decked out for a Christmas party.

[Rallygirl]

^ Love that silver tree! What a beauty!

Thank you! I have three vintage aluminum trees. My great grandparents had one and to me, it was the end all, be all of Christmas trees. When I was sixteen, Great grandma and grandpa died a few months apart when they where 95 and 96. My grandpa, thinking nobody would want the "awful" tree, threw it away. I actually cried. I had just gotten my driver's license and I scoured local thrift shops until I found one. In fact, I found two and I still combine them to make one healthy tree. Not knowing what I had bought, my mom was on the same mission, so I got yet another tree and color wheel that Christmas. The one mom bought, however, was old new stock and still sealed in the box. Even today, it is beautiful!

Since aluminum trees are about ten times more attractive to cats than an ordinary tree, the Ever Gleams reside behind closed doors in the bedroom (much to the dismay of my poor husband) and the library.

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[cockyhoskins]

Love it, RallyGirl! Is that your cat on the ledge with the tree? edit: Nevermind, looked closer. I was gonna say that's a HUGE cat!

[Rallygirl]

I teeter on a tall step-stool just to get the tree up there. It takes an extension ladder to actually get up on the ledge. Good thing too, or else I'd be decorating that darn coyote for every holiday.

Love it, RallyGirl! Is that your cat on the ledge with the tree? edit: Nevermind, looked closer. I was gonna say that's a HUGE cat!