Holiday theme

[DVC~OKW~96]

What is your holiday decorating theme/color scheme going to be this year?

We have white and clear and will add some deep blue... not too sure what else. There is always the growing collection of Disney stuff too.

My DP has the Dickens Village (another ever growing thing!) and that will go up. We've managed to keep some of that polymer fake snow from last year so that will add to it.

Was just wondering what others do.

Artificial or real tree? Green or some other color? If so what other color? Clear lights on the tree or multi colored? Little or some other bulb style.

Any lights in the windows? Outdoors? Do you decorate it at all? Lights? Other types of decorations?

Do you use plants, greenery, poinsettas... that sort of thing?

Looking for some inspiration I guess.

[heavenleigh412]

Our family tradition is to put up our tree on Thanksgiving night.
Obviously is not a real tree (but it is a REALLY good fake one!)
We have a 7 1/2 foot tree. Our ornaments are red, silver,white, gold and crystal.
We have pine garland with lights running through it draping the fireplace.

I can only use fake poinsettias (real ones are deadly to cats) but they are spaced around .

I have gold and crystal beads draped on the curtain rods hanging a little lower than the window scarves.

We also have quite a collection of statues and Christmas snowglobes.

That's all I have done so far... =]

[TuckandStuiesMom]

We won't decorate until after the 15th or so of December because we do a real tree. The decorations are SO not themed (LOL!) -- same old stuff year after year. There are a couple things that might have been gingerbread or oranges studded with cloves that one kid or another made in elementary school 20 years ago. There's a faded pinkish-red felt glove that's glued to a wooden clothespin (!) that used to have sparkles all over it. We'll have popcorn strands because the birds like'em after Christmas and lil bitty candy-canes cause the grandkids like'em before the big day. There won't be any glass ornaments at a level below 4' so there won't be any unfortunate events with any kitties, pups, or babies. And of course, probably only about 60% of the lights will be working at any given time. All-in-all, it'll be a pretty poor showing to an objective observer. BUT ...it will smell incredible, we'll all be telling stories of Christmases past as we put it up, and Christmas 2007 will be officially underway at Chez Tuckandstuiesmom. :goodvibes

[DVC~OKW~96]

That sounds like a beautiful tree and one that captures the meaning of what Christmas should mean, eh?

I've been watching too much HGTV! One program insisted that the wrapping for the presents MUST coordinate with the tree decorations! LOL!

(Well, we do have a lot of white and clear ornaments, I suppose butcher's paper would work)! LOL!

[OrlandoMike]

Haven't done anything inside yet, but the outside is all done.

In Florida you don't buy Poinsettia's, you just wait for them to turn red!

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd268/Orlandomike4/IMG_1422.jpg

As far as decor, two years ago I did a whole Nightmare Before Christmas theme. I must admit it was a little over the top, and at the request of Shrek I've compromised and gone with this...

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd268/Orlandomike4/IMG_1410.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd268/Orlandomike4/IMG_1411.jpg



Yes kids, your Dad is a little odd! :confused3

[RickinNYC]

Theme? I didn't know we had to do a theme! I just drag everything out from the closets (they're propped up next to Ted Haggard) and decorate as we're in the mood. We used to get a real tree and then tackle the decorating about a week to two weeks max before Christmas. Now that I work on lots and lots of weekends during the holidays, we finally got a clue and did up the joint this past weekend so we could enjoy it and not do everything in a big rush only to take it all down a week later.

Looks nice. We bought an artificial tree over the weekend. I thought it'd look like garbage but it came out REALLY nice! And we also had three little trees that I put together a few years back (thanks Martha). One is in the living room, the other two are in the den. Candles, wreath in the window, garland (the branch stuff, not the Judy) on the sill, all look pretty nice.

Nice and sorta fancy enough that I wanna have a party. But I have to work so no party. So I guess I'll just sit on the couch by myself, talk loud, drink too much, fake-smile when someone hands me a lovely host-gift (another candle! just what I needed!) eat a pig-in-blanket while listening to loud Christmas music and yell at Joe for not helping me in the kitchen because all the (imaginary) guests have arrived.

Friend of mine a few years back said that she thought our apartment always looked like an Eddie Bauer or LL Bean Christmas display since it looks so New Englandy.

[LKLush]

We don't have a particular theme either - unless "classic" is a theme. Lighted pine garland around the porch banister (our porch is an open terrace - like porch), with clear mini lights around the posts and outside of the terrace. Also three mini lighted trees near our sidewalk/next to the porch, and a classic Flexible Flyer propped by the door. Also two birch bells w/ ribbon on the door. Inside is our modern 5 foot 'skinny' tree w/ all sorts of ornaments, and a few little odds and ends that family members gave us hiding in my wall boxes. It's our first for decorating, so we still have more to buy once everything goes on sale this year.

[DVC~OKW~96]

Gosh, everything sounds so nice!

OrlandoMike, I like your poinsetta! We gave a huge one to DPs Mom a few years back and she planted it outdoors too. It's a monster now! Looks like it's going to engulf her entire front porch! My DP chose Grinch Greeting Cards. They are wild! LOL.

Well, come on Rick then. Photos!!!

LKLush, after Christmas sales can be pretty good, but I usually end up finding nothing but broken bits and icky stuff no one wanted anyway! LOL.

[TuckandStuiesMom]

That sounds like a beautiful tree and one that captures the meaning of what Christmas should mean, eh?
:goodvibes :grouphug: :goodvibes

[OrlandoMike]

Theme? I didn't know we had to do a theme!

You are not my son! You are so on probation! :happytv:

[steven_&_daniel]

We always have a ton of lights outside, on the house, trees, lining the drive, plus an 8 foot inflatable of Frosty The Snowman (exactly like the one in the cartoon).

We have a 9 foot artificial tree, which everyone thinks is "real" when they see it. I want to get a real tree one of these years but couldn't afford it this year. When we do, we visit a tree farm, select it, and cut it ourselves. Our tree has a huge variety of ornaments. Some belonged to my Grandmother. Some were purchased on various vacation travels over the years. Some from my childhood family tree. Some were gifts over the years. Also have almost a dozen ornament turners, for those who remember when they were popular. They plug into a bulb on the mini lights that most people use. We like the multi-colored lights. A couple dozen of the bubble lights and hand-blown glass icycles. We're so used to having an animated Christmas tree, it would be boring not to have one. :santa:

We always go ice-skating on Christmas morning.

[DVC~OKW~96]

LOL OrlandoMike! You tell 'im!

Your tree sounds fabulous Steven and Daniel! Ornament turner? I'm thinking that is something that uses electricity to make a given ornament revolve? Clearly not sure on that, but it sounds great!

A nine foot tree. That is massive. Who puts the topper on!?

We don't much decorate outdoors. May have to give in and give it a go this year.

[BubblPopElectrc]

We did a 4.5' tree in a candy theme and our larger tree with just random ornaments.

Hope it's OK that I add a pic!

http://i14.tinypic.com/7wrsk5j.jpg

[TuckandStuiesMom]

When we do, we visit a tree farm, select it, and cut it ourselves. :santa:


When we lived in the Northwest, we used to to do this. it was SO MUCH fun! There was a tree farm not far from our house that had hay-rides, hot cocoa, a teensy lil petting farm (the mama pig was the BEST), and a gift shop (of course ;) ). It was an all day expedition.

[Mackey Mouse]

Since you asked....I do have a tree up now, just white lights, that one I decorate in all crystal snowflakes, stars, and angels, white snowflake garland and underneath, I usually set up a ring of Santa's, big Santa's before presents go there... that is in my den...in the family room, I have little tree with crystals on it that lights, no decoration, but sort of there. On a mirror, I have a star shaped wreath with sparkling decorations....rhinestones etc. Lot of Santas around and angels, wherever there is a bare spot..

In my living room, I do a real tree, and I decorate that with all Santa's and old fashioned Christmas ornaments, my Mom's from when I was little, and some that I have added, also vintage garland. Sometimes I do it in colored lights, sometimes just in white, depends on the mood. Every room, including bathrooms, has one piece of Christmas something in it..

Now if I am really feel industrious, I take out my vintage aluminum Christmas tree from the 50's and put that in the dining room with the reflector light going... I love that..

Outside, I usually put lights on the arbor going into the back yard and trim the trees in the front with white lights....all white lights in the front of the house. It just depends on how energetic I feel how many lights go on...usually a spot on the front door with a Christmas wreath and then a huge one over the Garage doors....

The End.. but have I done it yet.. hopefully this weekend for outside.

[OrlandoMike]

Well I finally got the outside done! :rotfl2: Seriously though, this is one of 5 houses on my street that go all out! During the month of December we have to take the back road home traffic is so bad!

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd268/Orlandomike4/IMG_1425.jpg

[DVC~OKW~96]

Oh my gosh! Are you serious?!!! That is way over the top!!!! How can you sleep at night? Must be like having the sun on your street!

[DVC~OKW~96]

The photo of the tree is great! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Mackey you are going to add some photos too, yes? :teeth:

[OrlandoMike]

Oh my gosh! Are you serious?!!! That is way over the top!!!! How can you sleep at night? Must be like having the sun on your street!

The lights are not an issue, the generators that power this mess, now thats another story! :lmao:

[donald...really]

OK, here goes...

I used to work in a flower shop in the Beacon Hill section of Boston (a very wealthy section). One of my jobs was to decorate millionaires homes for the holiday. I also used to work decorating retail stores and office lobbies for the holidays, so I kind of go all out when it comes to decorating at home. I actually am inspired by the decoration at WDW.

When entering our house you walk into a front entrance way that is visible from the street because of all of the windows and the glass front door. This room has a tall thin christmas tree, garland over the doors to the living room, and a garland draped across the front entrance table. They are all decorated with white lights and white, clear or silver ornaments, snowflakes or white silk poinsettia blossoms.

You then walk into the living room from the entrance way. There is also a tree in this room, and a garland over the big entrance way that leads to the dining room. The decorations in this room were inspired by the decorations at the Boardwalk (the decorations from a few years ago, not the ones they have now). So the tree and the garland are LOADED with tons of glass ornaments of different shapes (santas, snowmen, penguins, etc. etc. etc. - kind of like Radko, but the cheap knock offs not the real thing). There are so many ornaments on this tree that you really can't fit any more on. I mean the tree and garland are COVERED. It is supposed to look like an explosion of color. So the idea here is that you go from the room decorated all in white to the room decorated in colors.

Then in the dining room is another tree and garlands over the two big entrance ways, also with white lights. The color of the ornaments in this room is inspired by our soft rose colored window treatments, so we decorate with big soft rose colored silk poinsettia blossoms, gold and burgundy colored glass balls, and gold-leaf colored pears.

Then in the kitchen, we have a large garland over the big entranceway and a garland that snakes over the top of our cabinets that go around the room. These also have white lights, but are decorated with redish purplish grape bunches, silk grape ivy clusters, deep burgundy poinsettia blooms (all of these have a dusting of shimmery gold) and gold and burgundy shiny glass balls. We wanted something to do with food, so we went with the grapes.

We have a set of stairs that goes up three floors with a very nice wooden banister. I drape garland to look like one continuous strand that goes up all three floors. These are decorated with white lights, deep purple velvet bows and purple and gold shiny glass ornaments.

In our bedroom there is a garland over the two windows over our bed. These I decorate with ornaments that match our bedding (deep burgundy) with gold accents. This also has white lights, which is nice to fall to sleep to.

And that's it. Since we won't be home for Christmas this year I am thinking of only decorating the front entrance way because it really is a ton of work. Half way through I wonder why I go through the trouble, but when I am done I look around the house and I know why I do it. The house looks so plain once I take it all down.

[rosiep]

You are not my son! You are so on probation! :happytv:

I guess I'm excommunicated too! I'm hopeless.:scared:

[steven_&_daniel]

LOL OrlandoMike! You tell 'im!

Your tree sounds fabulous Steven and Daniel! Ornament turner? I'm thinking that is something that uses electricity to make a given ornament revolve? Clearly not sure on that, but it sounds great!

A nine foot tree. That is massive. Who puts the topper on!? ...

Ornament turners were popular about ten years ago but can be difficult to find now. Here's a link to one...

http://www.christmasinprescott.com/ornamotor-ii-rotating-ornament-turner-3-pk-1499-si.html

Each one has a 6 inch cord with a plug that plugs into a mini-light socket. So you remove one bulb from your Christmas tree lights and plug the turner in. It's a great way to show off special ornaments.

We have to use a step ladder to decorate the top of the tree.

[Tony-NJ]

WOW We don't have a theme either, but our house usually looks like someonbe threw up Christmas!!! We downgraeded from a large 7 1/2 foot artificial tree to a slim 7 foot tree this year. Didn't feel like moving furniture. All white lights and lots of Christopher radko ornamants. We have some hollyberry garland (not Judy) on the mantel, some other little things around. We didn't out out 1/4 of what we have :rotfl: I put up lights outside on the bushes ( multi color outside). We didnt put up the icicle lights this year. Geez I sound like scruge!

We have had holiday parties for the past 5 years, some there were 40 people in the house :scared1: Last year we had a much smaller one. Probably not having one this year. Just too busy with work! We may have friends over for dinner, but that's about it!

Theme????? Who has the time LOL!

[hematite153]

I guess I'm excommunicated too! I'm hopeless.:scared:

Me too!

The first Christmas I lived alone I purchased a wall hanging with a picture of a Christmas tree and used it for years. My DW just shakes her head at me and says that I don't get a say because I'm so hopeless.

[maryt01]

we did aqua, teal, copper ornaments with matching feathers. very pretty. cannot wait to see disney trees.:banana: :banana: :banana: :santa:

[tiggr33]

Me, I have only tackled a third to half of the outside. The walk to the front of the house is Candy Cane Lane, as to an overall theme there isn't one.... Both sides of the walk are lined with 3' tall lighted candy canes. The bush to the left of the steps is (and all the bushes to the right will be) done in multi colored lights. The back of the lawn is (or will be) lined with twinkling snowflakes. I have a 6' inflatable Tigger and Pooh in the middle of the large side of the lawn, and a 4' Tigger will go in the small side. The railings up to the porch and the entryway, will be done in either a amber or a red (more like purple) lights. UNLESS I go shopping and buy MORE lights to match the multi colored on the bushes. I got a hour in today before I got too cold and it got dark.

As to the inside, not a clue yet.

Padalyn does a large dickens type village, something like 40 buildings this year, with a wharf. We'll set that up on Saturday.

[DVC~OKW~96]

Ok. CLEARLY we need photos. These decorating events sound stunning!

So get out the cameras and start shooting!

Please? :teeth:

[Tony-NJ]

Oh, we also do candle's in teh windowa... I also have a large Dept 56 village but didn't put that out this year either... I also have a few Disney Dept 56 buldings. Maybe I'll put those out..

[TuckandStuiesMom]

WOW We don't have a theme either, but our house usually looks like someonbe threw up Christmas!!!

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: What a GREAT description! LOL!!!!:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[RickinNYC]

You are not my son! You are so on probation! :happytv:

Please. I have been threatened with the removal of my gay card more times than I can count.

[Mackey Mouse]

Donald, really, did you decorate in Louisburg Square.. you have to love it there where the Boston Brahmin live including the illustrious Senator Kerry and Teresa Heinz....I have a picture framed on my family room wall of Louisburg Square and have a fond memory as a child of my Dad, Boston cop, taking us to see the Christmas lights in Boston Common and then driving up the hill and showing us Louisburg Square and saying that is where the rich people live in Boston... that was many years ago.

I am thinking florist shops, Box on Beacon Hill and Rouvalis..of course Winston's is around, but when you say high end, Beacon Hill, I think of these two.

[StormTigger]

The holiday theme at our house is DISNEY!! Actually it's Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, w/ a touch of Stitch and some of the other characters. I've been collecting Disney stuff for years, but this is the 1st year that we have enough room to actually put all of it up (thanks to our new house). I'm so excited!! :yay:

Of course it's nothing compared to Donald's, but we think it's Tiggeriffic!


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/2110920162_5fb83b8ae3.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/2110920068_af709f5f15_o.jpg

Rest of the pics of the house. (http://picasaweb.google.com/stormtigger/TiggPoohSChristmasDecorations2007)

[DVC~OKW~96]

Oh! MY! GOSH!!!! You are SERIOUS Disney fans!!! It looks so homey and warm. Thank you for sharing your home with us!!

[donald...really]

Donald, really, did you decorate in Louisburg Square..


I worked at Victorian Bouquet on Charles Street. It was open until about 10 years ago when the owner passed away. I decorated a couple of houses on the hill, but the biggest one was in Louisburg Square. I don't remember the name of the owner of the house, but he used to be an owner of the Celtics (Don Gaston? Not sure...). Anyway, I was decorating the living room one year and I said to the housekeeper "How sad that they don't even take the time to decorate their own house for the holidays". She said "Donald, they own 5 houses, I am sure they decorate one of them."