Bring modern lighting to your retro Christmas tree.
During the 1960s, trendy homeowners placed newfangled aluminum Christmas trees in picture windows. They hung red, blue, silver, gold and white balls, often in one dominant color, on the silver tree branches. Instead of electrical tree lights, a rotating color wheel illuminated the tree in green, red, yellow or clear light. Today, these color wheels are difficult to find. Aluminum tree light alternatives enable people to decorate with vintage trees of their childhoods.
Modern Spotlights
A 1959 pamphlet from the Aluminum Corporation of America suggested using any color spotlight on the tree, including pink, green, blue, red, amber or anything else you choose. The aluminum mirror effect sets the tone for the finished tree. Experiment with spotlights of any modern type and color to see what you like best on your aluminum tree.
Use glass ornaments of a particular color to reflect the light of clear spotlights onto the aluminum tree mirror-like needles.
Lights in Glass Bricks
The addition of architectural glass bricks around the base of an aluminum Christmas tree brings out even more shine and sparkle. Cover the base and stand of the tree in household aluminum foil, shiny side facing outward. Stack clear glass bricks like those builders use in bathrooms and kitchens around the tree's base. Place several strings of miniature white lights in bunches inside the glass bricks. Arrange them so the wires are concealed behind the glass. Your tree will take on an icy, glowing and even glitzy appearance as it combines present-day technology with vintage tacky to create modern kitsch.
Lights and Mirror
Mass merchandise stores carry inexpensive mirrors of assorted sizes and materials. Even safer, mylar-like plastics provide a mirroring effect. Place a mirror underneath your aluminum Christmas tree and scatter miniature white lights around the aluminum-covered tree base and atop the mirror. Place strands of tinsel or artificial snow underneath to help camouflage light wires. Colored lights give a different effect. The mirror, lights and reflective properties of the tinsel tree branches combine to yield a special holiday glow.
No Lights
Another aluminum tree light alternative is the one decorating guru Martha Stewart adopts. "I have never put electric lights on these trees," says Stewart, writing about her aluminum tree collection. "I don't think my prettily decorated trees need such additional embellishment." Stewart sets trees near other light sources, such as windows, lamps and doorways. She also uses shiny ornaments of all types and shapes, often in monochromatic designs or in two complementary colors.
Tags: aluminum Christmas, Christmas tree, glass bricks, aluminum , aluminum tree