Yes, it's that time of year again- the time that either makes or breaks a couple- like assembling flat pack furniture from Ikea, the putting up of Christmas decorations is the ultimate test of any relationship. Here's how it usually goes...

Christmas on Female First

Christmas on Female First

You decide on a date- You want to put them up as soon as the clock strikes twelve on December 1st- but your partner has to rein you in and give you a date to look forward to. 'The novelty will only wear off if we put them up this early' is their usual line of choice. They're right, but it still feels like they're deliberately trying to kill your buzz.

You bring them all down from the loft- First you have to figure out which boxes contain said decorations. Then you are faced with boxes upon boxes of muddled, dusty decorations and in that moment you wonder if you can be bothered after all.

Get confused by the tree- Yes, it has colour coding but why do they have to make the colours so damn similar?! By the time you get that done- you could have gone out and bought a real one. 

Argue over where the tree will go- It has to be near the couch so everything is in easy reach on Christmas morning, but not in the way of any doors and near a plug socket. The logistics make your head hurt, but when you've decided- the rest is all downhill from there. 

Get tangled in the lights- Who knows what goes on in your loft while you're not looking- you're convinced there may be come gremlins up there whose sole purpose is to knot fairy lights.

Figure out which light has worked its way loose- One, just one bulb, has managed to wriggle out of its holder and you have to tighten each one or the whole thing won't work. The worst process of elimination EVER.

You only put up SOME of the decorations- You may have redecorated during the year and they no longer match or your tastes have changed. To cut a long story short, not all the decorations that went up last year will go up again. But your partner likes to make the place look like a gaudy grotto, while you would rather your decorations are tasteful rather than tatty. And the tantrums commence as someone has to give in. 

Argue over the decorations- Your partner loves cheap crap because 'that's what Christmas is about' (apparently) and you like colour coordination and a 'less is more' approach. You're always going to butt heads every year over this difference of opinion- it's how you handle it that counts.

You follow your partner around the room- And move everything they've put up to where YOU want it because- well- you know what looks good... and they don't.

Sit back and enjoy all your hard work- Despite the many, many arguments, once it's all done, you can cuddle up on the couch, drink in hand and take pride in your appalling decorating skills. But it's Christmas so just go with the flow!

Happy Christmas to all the couples out there!


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