155:Ways to decorate your Christmas Tree.

As I sit here writing, I’m on a business retreat. We are working hard but with the addition of romcoms on the telly and a Snowball.
A top tier Christmas drink, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Although we’re clinging on to November by our fingertips, we’re getting in the Christmas spirit and the talk has turned today to our trees.

Mine is going up on the 1st of December and I’m already excited. The run up to Christmas is my favourite time of year and I love decorating the house.
Last year in addition to the tree, I made some paper stars to hang and I saved them again for this year. I’ve already seen a great Instagram hack of using a tension rod to hang a garland from an arch, and I think I’ll do the same in my bay window. When it comes to Christmas…more is more.

Saying that, I keep my tree simple. Since it’s just me, I can afford to be picky. So my tree is a fake one (because I haven’t got the space for a real one) and I put it up with white lights. In the past, I’ve had blues and silvers, then golds and copper but this year again, I’m going to use clear glass baubles. I love how the lights catch on the baubles and the tree sparkles from within.

But what about everyone else?
Here’s what I found out…

Fliss:

When does your tree go up?

Usually the second week in December. This year we’re doing it on 8th December and my partner has taken the day off work for us to go choose. It’s always a bit of an occasion.

Real or fake?

A real one!

What’s your theme?

A little bit of everything, it’s not tacky though…it’s “classy eclectic”. We have a mix of decorations and they all tell a story, which I love. For example, the year we bought our house we bought a decoration that’s in the shape of a house with the year on it. It’s a happy memory.

What’s your favourite decoration?

A glittery Brussel sprout. Quintessential Christmas.

What do you hide round the back?

Nothing! I want all our decorations on the tree, my partner is a little more reserved. I wish I could have a bit of tinsel because that’s what I grew up with - but my partner isn’t a fan and I’ve no idea why!

White lights or coloured?

Again, I’d like coloured because that’s what we had on my childhood tree, but we have white ones.

Gemma:

When does your tree go up?

Early December we start decorating, but we add more decorations as we get closer to Christmas.

Real or fake?

Fake, because we have cats that might otherwise shake the pines off until it’s a bare branch with a bauble.

What’s your theme?

We have 3 trees: one for our son that has a bit of everything that he’s chosen over the years, a simple tree with lights, red berries and some frosted tips and recently we’ve bought a Christmas tree in the shape of a dinosaur. Can you have too many trees?

What’s your favourite decoration?

It’s a fluffy owl that my son chose and it’s a fluffy monstrosity but he loved it. So we have it.

What do you hide round the back?

I don’t hide anything, that’s why I have the simple tree with the berries in the kitchen.

White lights or coloured?

White ones!

Brenda:

When does your tree go up?

If it was up to me, it wouldn’t go up until 15th December, but my daughter takes charge and it’s up as soon as possible.

Real or fake?

A real one, my husband chooses it and my daughter decorates it. I don’t have much say in it but I’m ok with that!

What’s your theme?

This year it’s going to be white and gold. We had the same last year and it was really beautiful.

What’s your favourite decoration?

I don’t really have one because our decorations are quite simple - I just love the look of it all together!

What do you hide round the back?

Nothing! It’s all lovely and carefully curated so nothing needs to be hidden.

White lights or coloured?

White ones, to keep it simple.

Sabrina:

When does your tree go up?

Next weekend, we’re putting it up so the first weekend in December as usual.

Real or fake?

A real one, of course.

What’s your theme?

It’s a real mix and it’s mainly decorations the kids have chosen. From cameras, to planets to rainbows - there’s no real theme.

What’s your favourite decoration?

Some colourful parrots that my friend bought me. When I moved out of a previous house, I had to leave behind some parrot wallpaper that I loved - so she bought me these and they make me really happy.

What do you hide round the back?

I don’t think anything gets hidden, anything goes! Like Fliss, I’d love some tinsel but we don’t have any either.

White lights or coloured?

White ones - there’s a lot of colour on it already!

And you?

What’s your tree like?