Xmas decorations help!

Oh what a shame, please don’t give up. Just add the fairy lights, they’re cheerful. If no socket near then a small string of battery lights would look pretty.

I d give up too Lathyrus it’s not what you expected or like, it will irritate everytime you look at it, whether you tart it up or not
Nothing to do with you being not artistic it is what it is and
you ll never like it so discard it and put it down to experience

Never mind Lathyrus, it's sure to attract someone fruity in the charity shop!

A swag is meant to hang down like this, that’s why it looks sparse I think.
www.pinterest.com/pin/holiday-decor-21-diy-pinecone-ideas--198299189820223460/
If you want to leave it on your mantelpiece and cheer it up with little effort, I’d buy a second pre-lit garland and intertwine them. Otherwise you could add some greenery and dot around some wooden apples and acorns, and/or fake berries.

I know you’ve made a decision now, but would it do as an Autumn decoration?

Georgesgran

I know you’ve made a decision now, but would it do as an Autumn decoration?

I’d go that way to Georgesgran
Don’t throw it out or away.

It’s gone. The charity shop was very pleased 😀

I’ve never had trouble in calling it quits 😬👍

Lathyrus3

Ok I’ve tried some green and it’s an improvement but still quite dull.

I’m getting bored with it already 😳

Put it away and use next Autumn for a seasonal look?
Buy a fir garland and twine some lights around it and add a few red baubles and fir cones? Use red candles with it.

Oops, too late!😁

J52 I’m loving those candles too. I have enough candles really……..but those are rather pretty.

Toadstools look nice.

I agree that greenery would help, and what about some ribbon twining through, orange or ochre to pick up the colours of the oranges?

I think the problem is its just too small.. its not making much of an impact on your mantlepiece..get some swags of fake green fir…blend it in with that and tie in some red glass baubles or maybe a strip of the tiny rice light that work off a battery pack…

Lathyrus3

Ive tried Pinterest but it’s all too massive and ornate with fixings and stuff. I just want it to lay really.

This is just a bit of it.

Hmm, not Christmassy at all to my mind, but tastes differ.

I would certainly take it down again, and use it as an autumn decoration or Halloween one if you like that sort of thing.

And you have done so.

So why not go and buy some of those lanterns with artificial battery-run candles in them, one at either end of the mantelpiece and one in the middle would be my suggestion and wind ivy, or a lenght of red ribbon between them?

I think it looks lovely in your picture. But I am not one for garish Christmas decor. I like natural, subtle colours.

J52

3 Candles in glass jars with fir cones look pretty. Something like this.

I like those!

I like the swafpg too but perhaps not with the wallpaper behind it.

Lathyrus3

It’s gone. The charity shop was very pleased 😀

I’ve never had trouble in calling it quits 😬👍

Which one?

Asking for a friend 😀

I bet it smelt lovely!

Maybe add some gold to it to make it stand out.

I watched the new Sara Davies craft programme on tv she had a very plain one and decorated it beautifully

You say you’ve added greenery, so you could add some little battery operated white fairy lights intertwined, some holly berries picked from outdoors, maybe some white/silver mini baubles if thats your thing, a couple of tartan bows - theres lots to choose from.

Allira

Lathyrus3

It’s gone. The charity shop was very pleased 😀

I’ve never had trouble in calling it quits 😬👍

Which one?

Asking for a friend 😀

Age UK. You can park outside.

Not only did it smell lovely but I’d bought a bottle of top up smell too😬

Ah well, easy come, easy go…………..

If you don’t like it, it’s a good enough reason to change it. It feels more like an Autumnal decor to me. Wrong season! Don’t chuck it though. Give it to me🐸😍🤭😂
Best to stick to the traditional bright colours of Christmas. I tried the all white look, but couldn’t resist adding the gold and the red touches. Christmas decor has to brighten up your heart ❤️ it’s different for all of us of course. Cheers 🥂

.

Agree. That's what I do on my mantle.

You can buy strings of battery operated little lights from eBay for peanuts. They use so little energy that they last for the 3-4-weeks over Christmas after which I continue to use the batteries in other things through the year and use new ones again the following Christmas.
Available in single colours and multi.

I also literally throw a string of red lights on the coals in my gas fire grate when the heating is on so I don't need the fire but like the little glows - looks like glistening embers.

Been using mine for about ten years now and they're still going strong again this year. (Don't have go worry about electricity fires or overheating either - so good on small trees in little kiddies bedrooms too)
.

.

Best to avoid real flame candles if you can to avoid any possibility of fire.

Battery operated ones now have very authentic looking flickering flames and cast lovely shadows.
.