Lugging home your very first Christmas tree can be an empowering experience (think Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally), but dressing it from top to bottom with stylish ornaments can cost a ton, especially all at once. We recommend a slower start with a selection of interesting red and green ribbons. They're easy to find, a snap to attach and paired with lots of fairy lights, make for a sophisticated and stylish tree. Start the tree-trimming tradition by tying one on with family and friends. Get them involved by having them each bring a stretch of ribbon (in your preferred colours) and have them bow-tie your tree. Flick on the lights, and voilà!
A few years down the road it's time for a family tree. Whether you have kids or grand family fêtes, Christmas decorating becomes more of a tradition and the bows and lights start to look a little tired. The combination has served you and your growing family well, but you've also started to scour flea markets and antiques fairs for colourful 1960s ornaments, and you've been hoarding them away until you had enough to make an impact on your tree. Don't box up the ribbons just yet, though – instead, refresh the tree by using less red, more green and adding a few new holiday colours like pink and blue. White lights are still a must, but mixed with vintage balls and a handful of ribbons, your tree seems fuller, more substantial and colourful.
As your family grows, so should your tree. Five years on, your collection of ornaments has grown, with gifts given to you by friends, a few family pieces you've inherited and a bunch of blown glass shapes you've treated yourself to. A few garlands add a festive glitter effect to the white lights. Now red and green ornaments are replacing the red and green bows, along with accent colours in pearly white and gold. It's time to weed through those ribbons. Discard the tattered ones and save only your favourites. They make for beautiful ornament holders, and when you're tying them to the evergreen branches, you'll be reminded of Christmases past and your resourcefulness when you didn't have a collection, just creativity.
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