Dress your Christmas tree like a professional

by LukeAdmin

We all want to decorate the perfect Christmas tree with baubles, ornaments and lights all perfectly co-ordinated in a festive but stylish theme. In reality, however, it’s easier said than done. Decorating a Christmas tree is no mean feat, especially for the perfectionists among us, but if your home is your pride and joy and the tree is the centrepiece of your home come the festive season, then enjoy these tips.

1. Invest in the highest quality tree you can afford
Either artificial or fresh is fine, it’s just a personal choice. Christmas trees crafted from premium materials provide sturdy and reliable support for decorations. You’ll find that high-quality trees are generally more durable and can stand up to repeated use every year, all whilst maintaining its beautiful look. The initial investment will save you money in the long run.

Opt for a traditional tree rather than a trend-led one, so that it doesn’t go ‘out of date’ after a few years.

2. Fluff and shape branches
Fluffing the branches helps to make your Christmas tree look fuller and more natural. This can be a very time-consuming task, but the end result is more than worth it. Separate each branch so they fan out to cover as much area as possible. And don’t hesitate to bend individual branches to fill in gaps. Keep in mind that a properly shaped tree is an appealing sight, however minimal or lavish your embellishments may be.

3. Design around a theme
A professional-looking Christmas tree has a central look that ties the decorations together. Deciding on a theme before choosing your decorations sets the tone for your materials and gives you a clear idea on how to decorate your tree. This doesn’t mean a large investment of funds each year, A base colour can be chosen to use each year and a small amount of accent items ie. ribbons or some affordable baubles in a specific colour will do the trick. The wrapping paper you choose can then match this theme. 

4. Start with the lights first
The most important thing you need to do when decorating your Christmas tree, is to always add the lights first – it’s more difficult to do this after you’ve added decorations like baubles and garlands.

As a general rule of thumb, you will need 100 bulbs or 5 metres of lights per 2ft of Christmas tree. So for a 6ft tree, you’d need 300 bulbs or 15 metres of lights.

5. Choose the right decorations
Choosing accents that fit your theme helps you achieve a cohesive design. Whether it’s hanging tree decorations, garlands, ribbons, or floral picks, opt for Christmas tree decorations that will complement the overall appearance of your tree. Many bauble sets include different shapes, sizes, finishes and designs. Combining these with traditional baubles will give you more freedom to play up your theme.

6. Cluster your baubles
Clustering three baubles of different sizes to add flair and visual appeal. You can either put the same pieces together or choose contrasting ones.

You should hang larger baubles closer to the centre of the tree to give it more depth, and use small ones towards the end of the branches.

Dangle delicate glass baubles at the top of the tree to prevent any breakages, and add special ones last to ensure they are in the perfect position.

7. Choose the right tree topper
A Christmas tree topper is a beautiful way to complete the designer look of your tree. Make sure to choose one that best fits your theme and the proportion of your tree, or you can also opt to make your own topper.

8. Balance the décor
Given the many decorations on your tree, you have to ensure that everything is well-balanced and spread out to your liking. Arrange embellishments from the top of the tree and then work towards the bottom. This way, you can easily check your design as you dress up your tree.

9. Finish off with a tree skirt
A Christmas tree skirt is the finishing touch to your tree decorations. Tree skirts cover the unsightly ‘legs’, trunk or stand of a tree perfectly.

10. Assess your work
It’s a big job but a satisfying one. Take the time to tweak your tree once it’s fully dressed to make sure it is balanced. 

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