Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, How Lavishly Decorated Are Your Branches… (Part 1)

It’s that time of the year again. Dusting off the baubles, fluffing up the squashed tinsel, and finding that the fairy lights have broken, fused, lost a bulb or have become completely tangled requiring three hours of painstaking work to redress the problem. Yep, it’s time to decorate again, to fill our homes with festive cheer, lights dazzling aplenty, glitter sparkling, and a sense of joy reignited after a year of economic depression, rubbish weather, riots, European crises and all that kind of thing…

Now being the artistic chap I am, it will not surprise you that I take great care in decorating the offices of the Daily Norm each year (i.e. my home). I do not restrict my attempt to one tree either. In fact, I have four principal trees, one in each room, each decorated in such colours and style as reflect their interior designed surroundings, along with a variety of smaller trees and Christmas installations to compliment, and ensure that festive joy is spread into every corner of my home. Now everyone knows that Christmas is a time for sharing, so I thought it only appropriate that I feature my very own trees in today’s edition of the Daily Norm. But, since I fancy myself to be something of a skilled tree decorator, I thought I’d also impart with you all my top fail-proof tips for decorating the perfect tree. Follow my guidance and you cannot fail to impress this year, thus helping to extend the Christmas spirit further by making your friends and family alike completely jealous (this being the unfortunate result of their not reading The Daily Norm…) However for all that guidance, you need to wait until tomorrow I’m afraid. For today, let’s take a look at my trees…

My first tree stands in my lounge which follows a strict red/black decorative scheme. Consequently, complimenting its surroundings is my sophisticated black tree, decorated in a tight scheme of silver, red and white baubles with white LED flashing lights, red tinsel and some very lavish Venetian masks and, even better, Parisian sparkly Tour Eiffels to boot. Et voila…

Black tree with venetian masks, Eiffel towers, red, silver and white decorations

Special attention needs to be given to the Eiffels, purchased from a cute little shop two years ago on the Ile Saint Louis, Paris… (and gosh, you can even see me in the bauble as a bonus)

In addition, I’ve complimented the larger tree with a minimalist red tree with suspended baubles and an even tinier black tree next door. I’ve left the trees free of any decorations to give them a contemporary air which suits the minimalist design of the setting.

Small minimalist red tree with suspended baubles

My second tree is in the hall. It’s a big 7 ft tree, which is narrower because the hall is only small. It features a burst of different decorations, and this tree is definitely the most colourful of my set being blue, red and pink in its predominant colours. I have allowed myself a little more freedom with this tree, hanging upon it the more extravagant decorations such as little clown faces and robots, but over all the tree still follows a balanced design complete with pink tinsel and gradually fading lighting.

7ft slender tree with predominant scheme of red, pink and blue

And here are a few of the cool decorations I have on the tree…

My third tree is in the bedroom, where a pale decorative scheme of cream, grey and green with a hint of pink is reflected in a white tree with warm white lights, a predominance of pale green baubles with a hint of pink balanced throughout and bringing the tree to life.

White tree with pink and green decorations

The white tree is completed with delicate baubles from Fortnum & Masons, and little green and pink nutcrackers from Selfridges…

My final offering is a tree in my study, known here as “The Orange Office”, whose tree is therefore appropriately decorated in a scheme of warm oranges, yellows and spiced up with a little purple. Reflecting the contemporary setting, almost luminous yellow baubles hang amidst kitsch sparkly deer, one of which tops the tree.

Black tree with yellow, orange and purple decor

So there you have it… my Christmas is well and truly up and running here at the Daily Norm office. If you like what you see, check out my feature tomorrow, where I will give you my top tips to decorating the perfect tree!

© Nicholas de Lacy-Brown and The Daily Norm, 2005-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the material, whether written work or artwork, included within The Daily Norm without express and written permission from The Daily Norm’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicholas de Lacy-Brown and The Daily Norm with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.