radical tree trimming advice: fewer lights

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 6:57pm

Okay, I'm no decorator, my eye aimed toward quick, cheap results, my Martha Stewart-ness a -.5 on a 10 scale. But because one string of my small white lights expired, I was stuck trying to spread a single set over my whole tree. Guess what: it looks a helluva lot better. Prettier, oddly more authentic, more subtle -- with more breathing room for decorations. By not creating the ubiquitous showroom/holiday store window effect, with a tree awash in white dots (and those wires that are ever more difficult to hide), it's actually much more elegant.

Maybe everything is done to excess, not always with aesthetically pleasing results. I was dumbstruck, realizing we've likely endured a proliferation of over-lit trees.

Or,the old adage about fashion perhaps applies: some ladies wear dresses, some dresses wear the woman. Too many lights on a Christmas tree can be like an over-accessorized woman. Take something off. Let your tree wear the lights, not the other way around.

Other suggestions from those who know far more?

Updated On: 11/25/07 at 06:57 PM

[zepka102]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:00pm

I can't even picture how one string could be spread out over the WHOLE tree... how did you stretch it out?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:04pm

I had the same idea, and almost abandoned the task until I just did it. You'd be surprised. And those damned wires are just gone. (Last year I spent an hour just hiding the wires.) Of course, there are many brands, and I did have two very LONG strings. But the relationship between neutral space and light is more pronounced; it gives the tree more "depth." Look at old photos of trees -- they often were leaner and more elegant for their spareness.

I realize this is very subjective, but for those who dare -- it works.

Updated On: 11/25/07 at 07:04 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:10pm

Sometimes less really is more...and sometimes it is just LESS.

Auggie, you should get rid of the electric lights and just go with REAL CANDLES!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:16pm

Sorry, I belong to the Christopher Radko School of Decorating. According to him, there's no such thing as too much of a good thing. I put hundreds of lights on my tree and hundreds of ornaments as well. I feel the Christmas tree has to overwhelm people with its beauty. (Just for the record, my lights are red, white and green--the colors of the Italian flag.)

Of course, I realize not everyone shares this view and that's okay. Christmas brings out our individuality.

[DG]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 8:10pm

BLASPHEMY!!!

100 lights per foot, that's my motto - and I'm sticking to it!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 8:47pm

you must have a very tiny tree, Auggie

[zepka102]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 8:58pm

There's no way I could have made 1 strand stretch over our tree... our's is between 10 and 12 feet... least we could do was 400 lights!