A psychology expert has revealed what your Christmas tree says about you, explaining that how we choose to decorate our homes for the festive season can be more telling than we realise.
Dr Karine Hirn was on ITV’s This Morning, speaking to Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary about the deeper side to décor.
Viewers were invited to send in pictures of their Christmas trees, so Dr Hirn could tell them what their choice of tinsel and trimmings said about their personality.
It follows another recent report about what the timing of when you put up the decorations says about your character.
Alison and Dermot said they were ‘fascinated’ that something like Christmas trees could unveil so much about a person’s psyche.
Dr Hirn explained: ‘We are expressing ourselves unconsciously all of the time – through clothing too, not just decorations.
‘It says a lot about a person.’
THE VIVACIOUS TREE
A bold, colourful tree with oversized candy canes and elves was submitted by fun-loving viewer Hedi – Dr Hirn said this was an ‘anything goes, vivacious’ personality
Dr Hirn weighed in on the psychological aspect of baubles and tinsel, saying that people ‘unconciously express themselves all the time’
Alison and Dermot were impressed with the first tree, sent in by Heidi. It was a bold number decorated with oversized candy canes purchased at a garden centre.
Dr Hirn called the tree ‘maximalist’, saying that the huge piece was all about ‘having fun’.
The expert revealed: ‘This shows me someone who is vivacious, spontaneous, anything goes – this is not someone who is shy and quiet.’
Heidi confirmed that this was a true reflection of her personality, with Alison saying: ‘I knew looking at this tree she was outgoing.’
The presenter also joked: ‘Heidi? Are you the girl I need to be going out with babes?’
THE SHY GOLDEN TREEE
Tracey-Ann was too shy to come on air to talk about her pretty, golden themed tree – and the psychology expert said the shyness fit with how she had decorated her evergreen
The next tree was a stark contrast to Heidi’s bright creation and was a more muted, gold-themed tree send in via email by a woman called Tracey.
Dr Hirn immediately said: ‘We are allowed to say that this person sent their information via email because they are shy and didn’t want to come on air.
‘This is reflected in how they’ve done the decorations.’
She went on to ask: ‘Can you feel the energy difference already?’
‘This tree is very chilled and calm- very serene. This is the sort of person that is calm under pressure, very graceful, and the sort of person that you want when it’s chaos they are the calm in the storm.’
Dermot said: ‘I can imagine there aren’t many arguments in Tracey’s house.’
Dr Hirn also explained that someone like Tracey will still get what they want, but not by being forthright.
She said: ‘She still gets what she wants, but by stealth instead – people like this are internally motivated, not like the previous example.’
THE MINIMALIST TREE
A stark contrast to the more colorful designs, Anne from Kent loves her minimalist design saying it’s ‘pretty and minimal, very me’ Dr Hirn thought the bare branches represented a ‘learned minimalism’ from Anne’s 15 years of motorhome living
In a nod to individuality, the next tree was a fairly bare, white tree with minimal decorations, sent in by Anne from Kent.
Alison and Dermot shared a laugh, saying how ‘minimalist’ the tree looked and Anne said: ‘You aren’t laughing at my tree are you?’
Anne, who spent 15 years travelling Europe in a motorhome, admitted she had become minimalist ‘out of necessity’ and that the trait had spilled over into other aspects of her life, revealing that prior to her travels she had a traditional tree for her children.
She said: ‘The tree is very me, very pretty, very minimalistic.’
Dr Hirn agreed saying: ‘People that go for the minimalistic look don’t want clutter even in the colour scheme, they like order.
‘When you travel you can’t always have certain things, so you learn to be more minimal, rather than it being your true nature.’
Alison said the tree was ‘really nice’ despite not having as much obvious flair as Heidi’s example, or an obvious colour scheme like Tracey.
THE TRADITIONAL TREE
Sticking with tradition, Jodie does the same Christmas tree every year, but decided to add some red this time – she was told that she values getting people together and is ‘warm and welcoming’
The following example was a red and green tree sent in by Jodie, who said she does the ‘same tree every year’ but had opted for some red this year for a change in the theme.
‘This tree is beautifully done:’ Dr Hirn gushed.
‘Green and red are traditional colours and when people like this it’s about memories and the type of personality that likes bringing people into the home and loves tradition and history.
‘It’s warm and welcoming.’
The presenters asked Jodie: ‘Is that true do you love history?’
The mother replied: ‘It’s more about the kids getting older and keeping the tradition.
‘I don’t particularly have an interest [in history]. More family history.’
THE BLACK AND WHITE TREE
The two tone inky black Christmas tree with frosted white decorations was described as ‘glamourous’ by Dr Hirn
The final tree was eclectic but unique, an inky black tree with frosted white decorations, which Dr Hirn called ‘glamorous’.
Rebecca, who sent the picture in, asked: ‘Is it strange to have a black Christmas tree?’
The expert said: ‘I think it’s great this person is doing what they love, it’s about self-expression and creating an entrance, drama – but not dramatic.
‘It’s about glamour and sophistication.’
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