radical tree trimming advice: fewer lights

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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you must have a very tiny tree, Auggie

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