Lights on your tree. Ever try something different?

[putrid]

To start with I like lights. In years past I've used a power box with 4 switchable outlets to switch between different typs of lights on the tree. C7's with bubble lights, flickering candle lights, frosted globes and the like. Multi colored mini lights. Two sets of white chasers ran inside toward the pole instead of at the end of the branches. And the final switch turned the lighted topper on and off. Could have any combo of the 4. Having the white chasers running up the middle of the tree threw some cool shadows around the room.

Had a friend who, when those multi function mini lights came out, bought 20 strands of the multi colored ones. He had so many lights on the tree when they were off it looked like a mass of green wire. Had each one set to go threw all 8 functions at different speeds. When that tree was plugged in you couldn't move. It was like watching a techo colored fire. LOL

My in-laws use a combo of older minis and C7s. You'd see a flashing strand of minis. Then steady burning C7's. Like they were in line and plugged into each other. If I'd of tried something like that it'd look lopsided. For them it works.

Ever go over board or try something different with your tree lights?

[Brightside]

Mine has allways been pretty simple. Mini whites pushed in to the center with color C7's on the out side.

[Nephew Fred]

One year we did multi-minis all over,white in the center and flicker flames C-7's on the branch tips.Very cool. The white help difuse the orange of the flames ,so the tree did not look brown and dead.

[Sickie Ickie]

I've always used regular multicolored. This gives me something to think about. Very intriguing!

[putrid]

It's totally cool to hear other folks are mixing and trying different things with lights. For the tree I did at work I put multi minis on as usual. Then zig-zagged from top to bottom 2 strands of mini whites. Just that little bit of white really set that tree off.

Brightside, man I know that looks good. There's just something about that extra bit of white light. Seems to frost the tree and make any clear ornament shine like ice.

Nephew Fred, those flicker flame C7's are cool. Right there next to bubble lights in my book. Never had enough of them to do an entire tree. Bet that looked wild!

Sickie Ickie. go for it dude! Even if you just added 2 strands of mini whites loosely around the tree. White adds that extra oomph the color lights by themselves are missing. You could always add the white lights using a different cord. That way if you don't like the look you can unplug them. Or switch back and forth depending on what look you want.

[Sickie Ickie]

I imagine the extra white gives something for the eye to really understand the colors of the multi-lights.

[Mummy deer-est]

I have no experience with anything other than mini's. And I've only ever had white ones on my tree....I know, I'm boring. Maybe next year.

[putrid]

You hit the nail on the head Sickie Ickie. Even if you just replaced 3 bulbs out of every 100 multi color mimis with white the tree would brighten up. Our eyes tend to adjust and wash out color with out a reference to judge it by.

Mummy deer-est? boring? Not hardly. Like most folks you find what you like and stick with it. Nothing wrong with that at all. Christmas is all about traditions. Yours is white minis. Mine is the combo platter. LOL With 7 different lighting combinations. Eight if you count just having the tree top Angel on by itself. Nine if you count everything off at the same time. LOL

[Mummy deer-est]

Well, I guess I'll always have the white mini's, but maybe next year (since I pretty much have the okay for two trees!) I'll try something new...if I can get the lights at the right price!

[ShellBell]

Hopefully i will have the room for a regular sized tree next year. All i have right now is a prelit 4ft or i think a 3ft tree with white lights but i strung colored mini lites over that but they werent' the flashing kind.

[bethene]

I used to do white mini's, but hubby always "whined", he likes colored mini's, so then I did a mix of colored and white, which I agree looks great, but he still thought it was too bright, so now I go with colored mini's, but have been using the little bit bigger faceted one, if anyone has seen them,I do like them, but wouldn't mind some white ones in the mix, it makes the ornaments sparkle so much better!! Every ones combination trees sound very pretty!!

[putrid]

Cool Mummy deer-est! Now do you make them matching or different looking? Use the same decorations on each or put up your traditional one and cover the new one with something else? Light them both up differently? Going to have them in the same room and start your own forest? It starts with one. Then two, then 5, then.....LOL Congrats Mummy deer-est! You've taken your first steps into dedicating a large portion of your homes square footage to Christmas storage! LOL

ShellBell, moving or looking to move? Hope you find a great place with great neighbors. I've heard size doesn't matter ( that's what guys like to hear anyway LOL) If it looks good. It is good.

I've seen the minis your talking about Bethene but never lit. If you would still like white with the color and not have the tree too bright try this. Start at the bottom and go to the top of the tree in a long triangles with the whites. You'll still have the white that makes the ornaments shine but not enough to be to bright.

[Mummy deer-est]

Your so funny, putrid! This is what I'm thinking....
One tree in the livingroom bay window area (what we did this year) and another in the family room area. One will have the traditional ornaments and probably will finally buckle and have my husbands wishes of colored mini's. The other will be my creation -- I am thinking lots of a retro theme with lots of balls and a red and lime green coloring. I will have to be creative, though b/c I can't buy a whole tree's worth of stuff in one shot. And I don't have a hobby lobby or any all season christmas type store near me to buy little at a time. hmmmmm lots to consider!

[putrid]

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. And all the room it'll take to store it. LOL

[Mistress Muffy]

I read somewhere on the net a couple of years ago about adding white minis to the inner part of the tree. Family is traditionalist so I never used anything but the snowball light bulbs. Last year was my 1st year of adding a string of mini fading white lights and I just love it! It brought the tree to life. I have them fade very slowly and it sure it a pretty site to watch!

Muf

[bethene]

thanks Putrid, that is a idea to think about. I may do it, and just say I did it his way for a few years, this year(08) I do it the way I like! I do like the way the faceted lights look too though. Muffy, I think the fading white lights sound Pretty, where did you get them?That's another good idea to adding white to the tree.

[Mistress Muffy]

Bethene wish I could answer that honestly but the truth is last year I found them in my junk! lol They were still in the box they came in so I'm sure they either got bought by me one year when we had the diner or them came from stuff Aunt keeps sending.

Muf