Let your child come out. Decorating a tree is is about doing what “feels” good to you! Let it rip! lol!

😂 Flo, I don't know if I can "let it rip!"

Julie, thanks for ideas. Once I receive the red ornaments, I'll start with them, then stand back to see how much room is left. Adding flocked ornaments might tie in the stockings. But I need to make sure to have space for favorite ornaments I've collected through the years. Also, special gifts from special people.

Load it up with everything you love and make sure to hang ornaments inside the tree not only on the ends of branches…. I will have two ornaments on one branch… it gives it depth.

Make the ribbons speak to your heart. Ribbons are key IMO. LONG streamers can look fresh but also classic. I know you are very precise in all your decision making, but hey, life is too short to let it go by without a few risks! Take a look at my 2024 Christmas dilemma. Pink just posted her house. This is a look I think you would love and notice her use of ribbons on her tree coupled with ornaments and etc.

Here’s quick screen shot from Pink’s posting!

Oops.

Dsimber, xmas decorating has no right or wrong so just start and see what it turns into.

What Pool said! ^^^

Haha, Pool and Flo. The ribbon garland is usually what usually drives me up a tree!

Julie, thanks for those ideas! The first is probably similar to what I've done. I love all those red balls, so the new ones coming should help me achieve that look. The third one looks like I could do it for something a little different. For both of those looks, I need to buy wider ribbon! And I need to get to Michaels before all the ribbon has been sold. Maybe yet today.

The second shows a ribbon technique I've tried in the past. Maybe my ornaments just weren't showy enough to work.

Loving the rich colors Pool used; I think those are basically the colors Julie used this year.Both trees are gorgeous! I can make bows, but I've never covered the tree like that. Maybe this is the year?

Pink's tree is gorgeous! I absolutely love those rich colors.

Questions before I head out to Michaels:

Did Pink use ribbon for bows only, or did she add garland, too. I need simple, lol, so just bows would be good. Do they go on first?

2 1/2 inch wired ribbon for bows? How much yardage per bow? How do you gauge the number of bows needed? fo a 6' tree?

I’ve seen trees done with bows with ornaments and it can be effective. There’s been a couple posts on Houzz, as an example. I think twisting the ribbon down along the tree branches is difficult to pull off effectively. There are a few people who manage to do it but they’re pretty professional.

Depends on how many ornaments you have. I have so many ornaments I would never add bows. But then I do a very old-fashioned and classical Christmas tree.

You can order bows already tied which is probably where I’d be headed myself.

Just a couple of random photos from Amaze On.

Depends on what you’re looking for. And don’t ask me how they get attached I can’t imagine.

Dsimber, just posted this link on the Christmas thread. Thought I was on your thread! Great article on trees and ribbon.

https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/trends/g13530576/ribbon-christmas-tree-ideas/

Lisalane, thank you for sharing! There are so many ways to use ribbon! I zoomed in on the first. So creative! I think I'd like to try this on a tree I put in the family room on the lower level where we'll open gifts and hang out after dinner. Does it look like ornaments are tied to the ribbon garland? Zoom in even more. How was this done? Anyone?

Hard to tell what is hanging off those ribbons. Sticking bare branches in the tree is a unique idea.

Lia, there are a lot of bow styles! Thanks for sharing! I've used wired ribbon as garland, but never bows. If I can find enough of ribbon I like🤞, I'd like to try the size on Pink's tree. Approximately 6" across? I should have shopped earlier. I like that I can see what look to me like one-of-a-kind ornaments interpersed with solid-colored balls. It's going to be in the 50s this weekend, so I'll be shopping for sure...before it turns cold again!

I don’t think anything is hanging off the ribbon. It looks like they cut the ribbon into pieces, then tied them back together, with 3-4 inches of ribbon hanging down from the knot. You can make the new jointed ribbon length as long as you want to drape around the tree!

Also, that ribbon doesn’t have wire. Just regular ribbon made into a rope!

I agree with gls. No ornaments, just ribbon tied together.

Thank you. I see that now.

For a few years, I added branches to a faux tree so it wouldn't look too perfect. I wanted more, but could not find them.

Thinking of art for lower level guest room and bath. (Nice space adjacent to family room; pretty views of pond, etc.)

Thinking of art representing our years in Maryland, time at the Chesapeake Bay. Reminds me that Seajay, a few years ago, shared some of her art when she lived there.

Is canvas the best choice for bathrooms due to humidity?

Bedroom:

I will likely hang Ansel Adams and another photograph opposite the bed. Over the bed, I need one or more prints that will bring color to the room. I think I want them in canvas, too. I cringe at the thought of art falling on someone sleeping!

dsimber, since that bathroom isn't used much for showers, I wouldn't think you have to worry about humidity too much.

Thanks, Kcooz! I should first look at what I have that may work.

I've been looking for some time at two of Paul Klee's works. Less abstract than Lola's pieces. I think I like these two, perhaps for the upstairs guest bath. For some fun!

Really like Klee’s work… One of his pieces was one of the first pieces of art that I chose myself back in my salad days. I don’t have any in the house now mostly because I have so much work from family and friends and wall space is at a premium.

You have a wealth of art, Lia! That you have works by family and friends is enviable.

Back from Michaels. I didn't find the plaid ribbon I want, nor did I find little white flowers such as statice or baby's breath. What I found that I like are pretty magnolias. They didn't have a lot of any one kind. Of the two I liked best, I picked the one with the most blossoms. I hope there will be enough. If not, maybe I can get more online. Next year, I'll look earlier!! I also bought garland to hang around the slider, a lot of picks with red berries, and some with branches of lighter green greens. I won't know what works until I try!

Unfortunately, I can't start yet. I need to drive to NW Iowa tomorrow. My brother and SIL are meeting family in Vegas, and my sister and BIL don't return from Europe until late Wednesday. Our mom has been so up and down that we feel someone needs to be within easy driving distance. When I was there two weeks ago, the doctor planned to call Hospice if she did not show impovement the next day. Then she rallied! It's those dang UTIs. She's okay when the antibiotic takes effect, but no sooner than she finishes a course, she has another UTI which manifests as confusion, then hallucinations and delirium. Every single time. The delirium ends after a day or two of sleep from which she cannot be aroused. Each time she comes back, she is weaker. This time, once she could walk, she did not remember to wait for help, and she fell three times. Two black eyes. No broken bones. Unbelieveable. Definitely a pattern to this. She's in a good place, though. We're very pleased with the staff. Her nurse and doctor are called as soon as she has an off day.

Pardon my exhaustion. Most of my progress with projects is online only. Three packages arrived today, though! Now I need time and energy to "install!" Hard to do from the sofa ! Lol.

Third trip up there in six weeks. Five hour drive each way. It could be worse.

Delivered: tree topper, red ornaments, and the glass candies! I might be able to get myself off the sofa to try those in a dish or two before I go to bed. Might.

What kind and size ribbon are you looking for dsimber?

Hi Molly! I loved the plaid that Julie used; she said it was from Michaels. (I knew I should have gone right away!) I really love the predominance of red (cranberry? wine?) and navy with a little green.

Julie's plaid poinsettia bow:

materials:

Pink used a similar ribbon. It looks more red than cranberry?

Forgot the size. I think 2-1/2" for bows.

I see it in stock in a lot of stores around here. Check online since you will be gone for a bit.

You can still order it online for delivery.

I may have goofed. Does anyone find that it works to mix red with cranberry? I received the red ball ornaments, and they are very red. Our stockings will be hanging right next to the tree.

Now I could get different stockings because I need one for partner of OS. What I have are PB, and they are still available. I haven't found any I like better.

Do your stockings match? What do you do when your family grows?

Haha I have some matching socks without of a pair! None of the kids stocking matched...they wouldn't want it too! Your doing good!

Julie, I appreciate that you shared something that would work. I saw that in the store but they didn't have enough. Also, the darkest color looked black, not navy. I'm a little bit fussy. 🥴

I'd appreciate ideas for a Christmas centerpiece. Not too advanced, lol. Years ago, OS gave me a pair of Nambe pillar candle holders, and I'd like to use them. They're approximately 3" tall and wide. I grabbed this pic from ebay.

The table is 42" x 64", so a centerpiece needs to be on the small side. I'd want the candle holders to show, at least in part.

To start, I looked at saved ideas from recent years.

This idea is from Caleb Wyse's home. (wyseguide.com) Maybe I could add a few similar items on a charger.

Or I can use what I have. I could use a glass bowl or a green pottery bowl.

I have a glass cylinder vase. Sometimes I float cranberries (and candles) in it. Just add greens, etc.

Thank you for thoughts you may have on adapting these ideas or sharing other pics.

I don't think the stockings have to match as long as they coordinate. If you order the same color from PB, it might not match exactly. Maybe incorporate two new green with the ones you have. We had green for us and red for the 4 kitties. 😂

I think the red/cranberry will work because it's all the same color family. The ornaments will be in the tree too.

I like the last two options for a centerpiece. I don't think you need to buy anything.

I would get the stocking/s ordered asap because of the engraving.

I would have no problem mixing different shades of red together. As our sons have added significant others to our family we have added stockings to ours which are Disney ones. They don't match but to me that is fine. they coordinate fine.

As far as centerpiece for the table, I found this idea and it is so pretty. some variation of it could work for you.

Or another idea could be a pedestal bowl filled with balls and greenery with your candles on the sides of it.

or something like this with pinecones or small ball ornaments and your candles

So many ideas that are so simple but look so nice.

Kcooz, thank you for answering several of my worries. Little worries, but nevertheless, these things keep me wondering. I've placed some reds and cranberries together now, and they look better than I thought. Whew! I was regretting the ornament order and fearing I would need to return them. Fearing because I'm so bad about doing returns before deadlines.

Your advice about stockings is very good, too. And I know you're right about not purchasing something for the centerpiece although it would be fun to add reindeer!

Cubby, your opinions on these things is very helpful, too! Thank you!

Those are great ideas for centerpieces. Pretty but not too fussy. Thank you!