Decorating a Christmas tree can be a stressful experience, the mess, arguments and endless decoration possibilities are enough to drive anyone up the wall at xmas. With the Christmas Tree being the focal point of most people's home decoration set-up, it is important to know how to set up your tree correctly.
That’s why We R Christmas has compiled the ultimate guide on how to decorate your Christmas tree like a professional.
Set The Scene
The first step is selecting the correct area to place your Christmas tree. You want to have easy access to power sockets and an open space where your tree can take pride of place yet not block walkways or clutter the room, this is why the experts at We R Christmas suggest using bay windows when possible.
Placing your tree by a bay window is an efficient use of space, but also doubles up as a window decoration perfect for showing off your professionally styled tree.
Once you have found the correct spot for your tree, you should decide on a background theme, and choose decorations that will compliment the choice and style of tree you have selected.
Real vs Artificial Christmas Tree
Now you have a choice to make, do you go real or artificial, both options have their pros and cons.
Real Christmas trees are more high-maintenance and require certain conditions to be met so they don't wilt and die too quickly, they can also be very messy with needles falling off the branches, too much for some at an already hectic holiday period. But they also bring an air of authenticity along with that classic Christmas tree scent, plus there is no fluffing needed to enhance the tree's look.
Artificial Christmas trees benefit from being very low maintenance and can often be used for many years to come, although unlike real trees it is important to fluff your artificial Christmas tree if you want it to really stand out.
Choose the Correct Stand
When it comes to tree stands you have a few options, but this will depend on whether you selected a real or artificial tree.
Some use natural logs for real trees and these offer a more naturalistic and traditional feel to your set-up.
More commonly, you will find plastic or metal tree stands with a base suitable for holding water to keep your real xmas tree looking tip-top.
For artificial Christmas trees, you generally have a metal stand that folds out that comes with the tree you have purchased, but some choose to upgrade to a rotating tree spinner, this is perfect for people who really want to put their professionally decorated Christmas tree on display as it allows the tree to rotate and be displayed from all angles.
Fluff and Shape Branches
Fluffing and shaping your branches is an essential part of setting up your tree, it will make your tree appear fuller and more natural looking and whilst time-consuming is worth the payoff, a full tree allows for a more even coverage with your baubles and decorations.
First, separate all your big branches before fanning out each individual smaller branch to increase the overall coverage and density of your artificial tree. Don’t worry if you have some gaps between branches, you can manipulate and bend them accordingly to make up for coverage issues.
- Split the tree into sections and work your way outwards starting with the inner branches.
- If the tree is taller, fluff the top section first before it is placed on top otherwise begin from the bottom and work your way upwards.
- To save time why not have your family or friends help you fluff the branches, putting up the Christmas tree is often a family tradition for many and a great way to get the kids involved over the holiday period.
- You may wish to wear gloves for this task as some trees can be prickly customers.
If you want to learn more about how to fluff a Christmas tree check out our guide.
Choose a Theme
Now you have successfully fluffed and prepared your tree, you have to decide on the theme. If you have followed each step thus far you may have already selected a background theme, and I would suggest you stick with this going forward as the tree and background will blend seamlessly.
A good theme is important as it will set the tone of your entire Christmas ensemble, and make those cosy winter nights that much more magical.
A popular choice over recent Christmases has been Arctic/Polar themes, and another popular choice is the traditional forest theme which has trees adorned with pine cones and naturalistic ornaments.
The style choices are endless, you may go with traditional vs modern, or maybe you prefer homemade. Whatever your choice, we suggest you pick one and go with it mixing multiple styles can get messy and completely throw the ambience off balance.
Choose the Right Colour
Choosing the correct colour is closely related to your theme, as some of these are entirely based on colour, the classic red and green is a prime example of a colour-based Christmas tree theme.
The colour palette is of great importance, as it can provide a depth of warmth or cold depending on what you choose, you may also notice that matt or shiny colours may go better or worse depending on whether or not you have chosen a traditional or modern theme.
String the Lights
It’s important to check your lights are in working order before you begin to string them, one broken bulb will prevent the whole set from working, and you may save yourself hours of work by doing some pre-checks. You may also need to spend time untangling wires if you have packed them away poorly the year before, a frustrating pastime for many.
Start at the bottom of the tree slowly making your way upwards as you circle the tree, it is important to intertwine the lights between the branches.
You must also ensure that you have enough lights to achieve full coverage of the tree, the experts at Link Lighting suggest in general, 5 metres of lights per 2ft of tree is a good start.
There are plenty of styles of lights to choose from with the more traditional glass bulb style being the most high-maintenance, the risk for damage is much greater.
Most modern fairy lights are LED bulbs with a long life and are much more resistant to potential damage.
Festoon lights generally have larger bulbs, and offer a different look to the most commonly used fairy lights.
Some can be run off battery power whilst others require an electrical socket so it's important you find what suits your situation the best.
If you would prefer to remove this step from the process altogether that’s okay you can check out our range of pre-lit Christmas trees.
Ribbon or Tinsel
It used to be that tinsel was the go-to when it came to decorating your Christmas tree but the new trend is to wrap your tree in a fancy ribbon, for many this style has a much cleaner feel and is much more aesthetically pleasing.
Ultimately, it will depend on your personal taste but each has its own good qualities and both can make a great addition to a well-structured Christmas tree, but if mayhem is your game go with tinsel all the way.
How many baubles do you need?
This will ultimately depend on the size of your xmas tree as well as the size of your baubles. For a general guide follow the recommendations below, this may be adjusted based on your taste and the width of your tree.
- 6ft - Light Coverage - 70, Heavy Coverage - 110
- 7ft - Light Coverage - 100, Heavy Coverage - 130
- 8ft - Light Coverage - 130, Heavy Coverage - 160
- 9-10ft Light Coverage - 170, Heavy Coverage - 220
Section Your Tree
Split your Christmas tree into sections, top, middle and bottom if you want to take it on like a pro, work your way down ensuring that the coverage is even, you may even find sectioning the tree even further can help too.
Dress the Tree
For a balanced look try not to have too many ornaments or baubles next to each other, and it is good practice to use various sizes of ornaments that complement each other and make your tree more visually appealing.
At We R Christmas we suggest dressing the tree with your ribbon or tinsel before you attempt the baubles, wired ribbon is especially useful.
After you have applied your ribbon you should begin dressing your tree with your classic ornaments, the golds, greens, silver and reds. These colours are very traditional and blend well with lots of other ornaments and decorations, perfect for the base layer of ornaments.
Begin with the larger ornaments first then move on to the smaller ornaments, tree picks are also very good options for adding a touch of colour and flare to your tree.
Personalise Your Tree
Now it's time to put your own stamp on your creation, this is where you should add those family baubles passed down through the years or that funny old trinket you found in the charity shop. Nothing shouts authenticity louder than a warn old trinket that has seen many a Christmas come and go, this is a great way to add personality to your tree.
Strings of Christmas cards or handmade ornaments are also great ways to add personalised touches from family and friends, a heartwarming addition I think you’ll agree.
Add Scented Ornaments
If you choose to go the artificial tree route, then scented baubles are another great way to personalise your tree and add that real Christmas tree smell or other vibrant scents of xmas.
Select the Right Topper
The tree topper is the cherry on top, every family member wants to be the one who adorns the tree with the master ornament, but what ornament shall it be?
Traditionally, we like to top our trees with stars, or more rarely a Christmas angel, but a point to keep in mind is the weight of your topper and the strength of the artificial or real branch.
If the tree topper is too heavy or the branch too flexible you'll have a branch that bends and sags, not the best look! You may also find it difficult keeping the topper, on top of the tree.
Select wisely, and make sure it blends well with the rest of the ornaments.
Finish the Tree with a Skirt
No professionally decorated Christmas tree would be complete without a Christmas tree skirt or collar.
These are great at tidying up the bottom of the tree and hiding any unsightly wires that may be on display.
Tree skirts are also a good focal point, drawing your attention to the bottom of the tree and they add a touch of warmth to the area as if inviting you to lay some presents upon them.
This leads me to the final point …
Garnish with Presents
No tree is truly complete without presents, so we suggest you garnish the bottom of the tree with presents and these can be real or fake.
I find that empty boxes which are wrapped with paper and a bow are a nice addition at the start of the season before real presents have been acquired and wrapped, they add that real grotto feeling.
Something about the presents sitting snuggly around a Christmas tree tends to invoke the true Christmas excitement we all felt as a children.
Hopefully, We R Christmas has helped inspire you to decorate your Christmas tree like a pro and we would love to see all your magical xmas creations so please tag us in your social media displays on Instagram and Facebook.