Christmas Decorating - Yes or No?

Actually just thought- we have 3 newish cats this year ( got them in August)!
I rather doubt the trees will last long- they are VERY playful & they are all climbers. Oh-sod it- it will just add to the fun!

Yes! The tree will be going up either this or next weekend and net window lights and other lights and decorations in the dining room.
I love the tree lights being switched on as soon as it starts going dark and the lights twinkling in the windows.
Makes the house feel cheerful and cozy.
Hate taking them down to be fair.

We've no family nearby, apart from our grown up son. He will probably come for Christmas dinner. But even if he wasn't nearby I'd still put up some decorations and small tree. I love Christmas. Even if there are just the two of you, you can still make it special. I think a bit of festive decor lifts the spirits.

Can't wait for it to be all over, if I'm honest. Loved it when the children were little although it was hard as I was on my own and money was tight. I remember one particular Christmas time when I thought I'd take a trip to a well known store on the train with said children and see if I could pick up some last minute goodies as the big day was looming. On arriving it looked like a plague of locusts had descended and the shelves had hardly anything left. In my despair I bought a bottle of sparkling wine and returned home, only to accidentally drop the bag carrying the bottle on the metal railway bridge and even that small pleasure was taken from me.

That experience aside, my children (now 43 & 46) still look back and see only the happy times we had when it was just the three of us against the world dancing around the kitchen and making the best of things. We will probably put a Christmas tree up as the grandchildren will be dropping in and I don't want to spoil their fun. Much too commercialised now with people feeling the pressure to match impossible expectations reflected in the media. Sorry to be so cynical.

Oh yes. The energy I do have is too precious to use up on making the place untidy deliberately!! I'll be off to church and carolling so that'll be Christmassy. And I can see pretty lights just by going shopping.

Decorations if there are children to share your xmas otherwise for me its a floral display with candles from my local florist as a centre piece on my dining table and a couple of bunches of early Cornish daffodils on my oak dresser. I usually get a gift of a Poinsettia from my friend.

Understated but decorated. I won't be around Christmas Day, but will gave family visiting from the 22nd December and on Boxing Day. Decorated window, lights and a wreath along with Christmas cards will be enough and love the idea of small christmas trees.

Yes we will put up the tree this year and plenty of candles spread around.
I bought an artificial slimline tree and am really pleased with it, we no longer get snagged as we walk past.
Marmight, bought ours online from Wayfair.

I always put my tree up (artificial witches' hat shape) with a few decorations on it. I drape a home-made long garland (with attached assorted baubles) up my small banister. On the front door I shall attach a garland (hate the word 'wreath' - smacks of funerals) of ivy - it's a bit of faff as it needs those plastic tie wraps to attach it securely and I pad it underneath so that it doesn't go 'rat-a-tat-tat' in the winds.
My sympathies to those who are recently widowed and may feel like it's not worth the effort. It cheers me up to do these little things.

We used to stay over Christmas at MIL's, with cards, artificial tree with baubles etc, but now she's almost 86 and DH is housebound, so we pay for her to come to us by taxi and she goes home the same day, paying the return taxi fare. We see her most days over the holiday period. I buy a Tesco live pre-decorated tree which goes on the landing windowsill. They are quite pretty, healthy and last for the whole season without losing their needles.

I think I am going to beef it up this year - we need cheering up.

Think there are two separate issues here:

No-one should feel pressurised into having a tree or putting up decorations if they simply don't want to. If there are youngsters around, though, it's maybe worth making an effort or even asking them to make/put up some decorations for you.

Some folk feel down and don't want to celebrate with lots of decorations due to the painful memories (such as bereavement) that these can evoke. For some, maybe putting out a few flowers, ornaments or even photos that are associated with happy memories could be an appropriate substitute.

We are away for Christmas, and I was just going to put a home made wreath from last year on the door. We are having some visitors stay in December now, so I will probably drops stuff on the mantelpiece but maybe not bother with the tree. Last year we were on our own, and went out for a special menu at an Indian restaurant - rebels!

eazybee I always remember our first Christmas in the States, many years ago, and my disbelief at seeing Christmas trees being put out on Boxing Day. Of course, Boxing Day doesn’t exist here, but I still could not believe people were already “finished” with Christmas. Over the years, I must admit that I decorate the house earlier than perhaps I did when living in England, but I still adhere to the Twelve Days of Christmas. As for the OP’s question, DH and I think we may be on our own on Christmas Day, but I will still decorate and put up the tree.

Much to MrGG’s disgust we have a real tree in lounge, artificial tree in dining room. Christmas ornaments, candles, poinsettias in every room. Garlands on bannister.

Outside lit up reindeers.

I love Christmas ?????

I would always trim up. Then I would either invite people round to show off the trimmings or make sure they were visible from the road. I can't imagine Christmas without lots of lights!

We live in a fairly minimalist house. We have some sort of floral Christmas arrangement on the sitting room windowsill and Christmas cards out. but that is it. I love that everyone else gets so much pleasure from decorating their homes but I equally like that we do not have a lot of clutter. Horses for courses. Both our children do the whole Christmas 'shebang' from 1st December and they love it. We dispose of our Christmas cards as soon as any family entertaining is over. We love to to calm quiet and happy together.

Just the two of us here, and yes, we do put up decorations, (sitting room, hall and kitchen dining room)

But NOT yet! Way too early!

Just got ours down from the loft. Will be installed tomorrow or Saturday. I just feel like it .

I am on my own and don't have lots of visitors but I ALWAYS decorate the tree, put up lovely bunches of greenery festooned with Christmas bells, pine cones and ribbons plus I turn on the twinkling lights as soon as it gets dark. I do it because it makes me feel good ... so do it if you feel the same way but don't bother if it leaves you cold.

Just me on my own but yes I decorate up and will do again it’s probably the main bit of Christmas I enjoy

Nice putting them up ( trimmings) but not so nice taking them down and packing them away.
I do it though, not just for the DGC, but for the cheerful value of it all MidWinter.
A tree,( artificial) and door wreath, plus green garlands on the mantelpiece, a couple of poinsettias, candles, Christmas cards etc. After all, tis the season to be jolly.

You're absolutely right there lemon. When the Christmas tree is up, decorated and lit, it looks so lovely. But when it comes down in the New Year it all looks so bleak and dowdy! time to decorate again

I love the tree once it's down from the loft and its decorated but I don't like putting the tangle of lights on,, is it best to put lights before baubles or last,? either way they never look right till I have fiddled and faffed about with the tree all evening , then I sit down with a large glass of something and enjoy , ??

Lights before baubles, or else lights will tangle amongst the baubles.