How to decorate a big christmas tree
How To Decorate A Christmas Tree Like A Professional
We all want to decorate the perfect Christmas tree with baubles, ornaments and lights perfectly coordinated in a festive and stylish scheme. However, in reality, 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, we've got you covered.
We've spoken to a range of style and decorating experts, including the team at Balsam Hill – whose artificial Christmas trees have graced the TV sets of The X Factor, Good Morning Britain and This Morning – about how to decorate your Christmas tree to make it look like you hired a professional, plus how to choose the right Christmas tree decorations to suit your theme.
But before we begin, like any task, you need to have the right tools to ensure the safe and proper set up of your Christmas tree. This includes cotton gloves for shaping branches (it's quite the task!), scissors with safety handles for materials, packaging or equipment, and a sturdy ladder or step stool for installing toppers and arranging décor on taller trees.
So now you're all set up, fancy getting that Insta-worthy look with very little effort? Read on for tips from the pros...
1. Invest in a high-quality artificial tree
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 year after year, all whilst maintaining its beautiful look.
Opt for a traditional tree rather than a trend-led one so that it doesn't go 'out of date' after a few years, plus a traditional design gives you the perfect base to layer and decorate as you wish.
Pre-lit Christmas trees are a firm household favourite because it saves time in untangling all those lights, however, a benefit of buying an unlit tree is that you can choose whatever style of lights you want. When it comes to size, 7ft Christmas trees are now extremely popular but you should always choose a tree that fits in your space and doesn't leave it feeling too cramped. If you're tight on space, there are some great slim Christmas trees on the market, including narrow pencil designs, which may be a better fit. And remember, to prevent wear and tear on your Christmas tree, consider models with advanced features that offer easy set up and storage.
Tip: When buying your tree, ensure you have the right Christmas tree storage, such as storage bags and boxes, as well as storage for wreaths, garlands and lights, so that you're fully equipped when you take your Christmas tree down and pack everything away.
Alternatively, if you want a real Christmas tree, there's a great selection available to buy at tree farms, markets or home & DIY stores.
See all the tree varieties available, including Nordmann Fir and Norway Spruce, in our real Christmas trees guide.
More Christmas trees you'll love...
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 trust us, 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. A properly shaped tree is an appealing sight, however minimal or lavish your embellishments may be. Once again, remember to wear gloves and long sleeves if possible to avoid any scrapes on your hands and arms.
Balsam Hill
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 and gives you a clear idea on how to decorate your tree.
Need some inspiration? Why not take a look at John Lewis' Christmas themes this year – from Winter Fayre to Santa's Rainbow Workshop, there are six key looks to help you decorate this festive season. And Homebase has shared four festive themes, from Party Nights to Refined Nature, to help create a look that's traditionally Christmas.
4. Choose the right colours (and materials)
Once you've decided on your theme, curate a colour palette to bring it to life. For example, for a traditional yet opulent look stick to a red and gold colour combination, for a Scandi vibe layer shades of white and soft neutrals, or choose blue and silver for an icy cool look. Stick to two (definitely no more than three) colours to keep the look contained rather than cluttered. Also think about materials and texture: plush velvet baubles lends itself well to a luxe tree, whilst paper and wooden decorations are ideal for any Nordic-inspired or minimalist trees.
Less is always more but it is Christmas after all, so above everything else, decorate your tree in whatever way makes you happy! The decorating rulebook is certainly relaxed at Christmastime, so have fun with it.
5. Start with the lights first
While pre-lit Christmas trees are popular and will save you time (and money), you'll need Christmas tree lights if you have a plain tree (real or artificial). As a general rule of thumb, the lighting experts at Lights4fun advise 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.
The first, 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.
Lights4Fun.co.uk
Balsam Hill advise that you use the plug as the starting point, wrapping the lights around your Christmas tree's trunk, working your way up from the centre of the base of your tree. Continue wrapping the lights evenly around the branches nearest to the trunk, and then weave it upwards from the middle of the crown.
'When you reach the crown, weave your way back down, arranging the lights further out on the branches,' Balsam Hill advise.
'Keep weaving the lights until you reach the tips of the branches.'
And remember, when weaving, the bulb should be positioned under a branch and the next bulb over a branch, and so forth.
6. Balance the décor
Given the many Christmas tree decorations you're likely to have, 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.
7. Cluster your baubles
Balsam Hill's design consultant, Brad Schmidt, recommends clustering three baubles of different sizes to add flair and visual appeal. You can either put the same pieces together or choose contrasting ones.
The White Company echo this suggestion – to create a balanced, visually pleasing tree, buy baubles in threes, sixes, or twelves, and add these on first in a 'Z' shape. 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.
And how much baubles will you need? The White Company recommends 80 baubles for a 7.5ft tree.
More baubles you'll love...
8. Layer and style ribbons
Another expert tip is to layer your Christmas tree with decorative ribbons, which will elevate your tree's aesthetic. You may use one type of ribbon or pair ribbons of contrasting textures and different widths to create more impact.
Brad recommends using ribbons with wired edges, as these are easier to sculpt into loops, rolls or bows, and they hold shape better than non-wired ribbons. Follow these simple techniques for arranging ribbons on your tree.
9. Use tree picks
Tree picks and floral sprays come in many forms, such as decorated branches, twigs, berries, or even pine cones – use them as subtle accents to complement the entire look of your tree.
Grouping picks together using floral wire is a creative way to elevate the visual appeal of your tree without overpowering other decorations.
They are great for adding lively splashes of colour, not only to Christmas trees, but to wreaths and garlands, too. Make sure to choose picks with bendable stems to make shaping easier.
10. Add scented ornaments
Now you can get your artificial Christmas tree to smell like a real one thanks to scented ornaments – it'll fill your whole room with the magic of Christmas. Buy a bottle of the Scentsicles scented paper tube sticks (with hooks included) and nestle them amongst the decorations in your tree for that freshly cut scent. You'll have a fresh fragrance in an instant with scents including cinnamon, berry or winter fir. You can also buy scented decorations from The White Company to match with your tree theme.
Add-ons for a festive scent...
11. Choose the right tree topper
A statement 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, and take into consideration the height of your ceiling too. Star tree toppers or angels are traditionally the most popular, but there are lots of alternative designs to choose from, including personalised designs, or you could make your own topper.
Glitter-embellished large tree topper, Selfridges / Capiz Star Tree Topper, Dunelm / Starburst Tree Topper, John Lewis
12. Finish off with a tree skirt
Often overlooked, a Christmas tree skirt is the finishing touch to your decorations and serves to balance the overall design of your Christmas tree. Tree skirts have many benefits too, from covering the unsightly 'legs', trunk or stand of a tree, to protecting your floors and carpets from any fallen pine needles (if you have a real tree).
It naturally draws attention to the tree's lower portion and helps to produce a complete, harmonious look. Plus, it's the perfect backdrop for beautifully wrapped Christmas presents.
Alternatively, if you have a potted Christmas tree or one that comes in a basket, opt for a tree rug instead.
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How To Professionally Decorate a Christmas Tree - Designer's Step-By-Step Directions - Worthing Court
Christmas | Christmas Decorating Ideas | Christmas Tree Ideas | Holiday Decor
THE ULTIMATE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR HOW TO DECORATE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE LIKE A PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER!My friends, this is one blog post that you’re going to want to pin to your Christmas Decorating Boards so that you can refer to it year after year. This is THAT GOOD and there’s a great pinnable image below!
I’ve had the privilege to get special access to several local home decor stores over the last few years, while their stores were closed and their designers reset the entire place for Christmas. It was a truly magical experience for me and boy did I ever learn a lot!
All of the store designers are amazingly talented and were kind enough to share all of their step-by-step Christmas tree decoration ideas.
I was also told some designer Christmas tree decorating secrets so of course I’m going to share them with you!
You’ll see images from several different Christmas trees, as there were multiple Christmas trees being decorated at the same time. The important thing to remember is that these steps can be followed no matter what style or color of Christmas decor you want to use on your tree!
STEP 1: READY THE TREE & GATHER SUPPLIES
- Maybe this goes without saying, but fluff all of the branches on the tree and make sure that the tree is standing straight from top to bottom. I’ve completely decorated a tree more than once, only to realize that the top half of the tree is leaning.
- Make sure that all of the lights are working. It’s much easier to fix any problems before the decorations are on the tree.
- The designers recommend that you have the tree lights on while decorating.
- Supplies that you’ll likely use while decorating your tree are: ornament hooks, floral wire, pipe cleaners, zip ties (for heavy or bulky items), wire snips and scissors
- The Christmas tree topper is considered the crowning glory, is usually a bit elaborate and helps to set the look for the entire tree.
- If you will be adding a star, angel, etc. to your tree, it’s best not to place it right on the tip-top of the tree. Depending upon what you’re using, it can be very appealing to place it about a hand’s width down from the tip-top. It can be attached with floral wire or zip ties. If you attach it slightly down from the top, it should be buried into the branches a little instead of looking like it’s floating on the ends of the branches.
- Most items, such as a star or angel, look the best (and draw more attention) when they are combined with something else, such as picks and/or ribbon. And good grief – these days picks are available in all varieties and colors!
- If you’re using a star, angel, etc. for the top of your tree, start the first layer of topper picks a little below it by adding 3 long spikey picks.
- If you aren’t using anything else on top of your tree, start the first layer of topper picks slightly down from the top.
- For the second layer of topper picks, choose 3 – 4 slightly shorter and more full picks.
Place these a few inches closer to the top than the original 3 spikey picks. - Add a third layer of picks using shorter and more full picks.
- Don’t think you have to point them going straight up. Picks pointing straight up (or at a slight angle) combined with picks pointing downward add a lot of interest. Depending upon what type of pick you’re using, you may actually want to turn the pick upside down, so that the top of the pick is facing whomever is looking up at the tree topper, especially if your tree is taller than normal head height.
STEP 3: ADD THE GARLAND
A lush, full garland can make a huge impact on a tree! These tips are referring to the type of garland that you might also use on a mantel, not the lightweight kind that drapes along the edges of the branches.
- Start about 1/5th of the way down from the top of the tree.
- Use floral wire to attach the garland or twist the branches together, if the tree is artificial.
- Run the garland at around the tree at an angle: 2 – 3 times around a 6′ tree and 3 – 4 times around a 9′ tree.
STEP 4: ADD OVERSIZED DECORATIONS
- To make a real statement and really give your tree a designer look add oversized exaggerated decorations to the tree! What you add is only limited by your imagination!
- Add 2 – 3 oversized items to a 6′ tree and 3 – 4 items to a 9′ tree.
- Be sure to stagger them around the tree and not placed directly above or directly beside one another.
- Place the largest Christmas decorations toward the bottom of the tree.
- Mix them up – all of the items don’t need to match.
- A tip from the professional tree designers is to drill a hole into whatever you’re hanging if you need a spot to run a hanger through.
- Use cable ties, floral wire or pipe cleaners to attach large items to the tree. The boot, on the tree, below was purchased at a thrift store with the express purpose of using it on the tree, so it was fine to drill a hole into the backside.
Think outside of the box!
- Add less expensive Christmas ornaments, such as plain round ones, deep inside of the tree. You’ll only get a glimpse of them, but it they will help to reflect the lights and will make the tree look more full and will fill up any empty spots inside the tree.
- It’s easier to hang these filler ornaments now as opposed to when the “outside” of the tree is filled with other, larger ornaments.
- Give your Christmas tree more dimension, fill in holes and make the tree appear larger by adding picks throughout the body of it. The picks should extend beyond the ends of the branches and should be angled in various directions – some downward, some upward and some sideways, if appropriate for the pick.
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The picks closest to the top of the tree may need to be turned upside down so that you aren’t looking at the underside of it.
- Stagger various types of picks all over the tree. Don’t put the same type of picks too close to one another.
- Multiple picks combined together in a cluster typically look better than just one lonely pick. Try combining three different types of picks together. For example – combine something with greenery with something long and stick looking (with or without leaves) and with something full (like a flower).
- Lay the longest pick on the bottom, the second shortest one on top of that and the shortest pick on top of those two. Then spend a minute fluffing all of the parts of the picks, twisting and mixing the parts of each pick together. You’ll get a much more natural and professional look that way. No flat picks allowed!
- Poke the pick into the tree and attach it to the branch with a cable tie or with floral wire, if necessary. Fluff the tree branches into and around the pick to help it look like it’s a part of the tree.
- A long pick makes a great place to hang a special Christmas ornament too.
- Add decor embellishments such as ribbon, lightweight garland and glitter tape once all of the picks, ornaments and oversized pieces have been added to the tree
- To add glitter tape, start attaching it near the top, but below the topper. Wind it around the tree similar to how you applied the garland in Step 3.
- Glitter tape has a mind of its own, so allow it to twist and turn as you go. That’s what makes it look so great!
- You’ll use less ribbon if you cut short pieces and stuff the ends of them into the tree as opposed to using one long continuous piece of ribbon. Using this method also makes the ribbon look more natural.
- Twist a tree branch around the ribbon if it won’t stay in place.
- When adding ribbon to the tree, start at eye level and work up and out from there.
I can’t tell you why this works better, but it does! - Place the ribbon going in different directions so that it doesn’t appear as if it’s just wrapped around the tree.
You’re finished! Now get ready to enjoy the oohs and aahs of your family and friends and answer all those questions about who you hired to decorate your tree!
How to decorate a Christmas tree: amazing ideas for every taste
December 23, 2021 Likbez Holidays
Create a magical holiday atmosphere at home.
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0Decide on a color scheme
It all depends on your preferences and imagination. There are no clear rules - make the Christmas tree colorful or more concise by choosing one or more primary colors.
The traditional holiday color is red. It pairs perfectly with green, gold and white. You won't go wrong with these shades.
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You can dress the Christmas tree completely in gold or add white accents to it.
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The Christmas tree in silver tones looks especially gentle. White and blue elements will wonderfully fit here.
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If all this is too ordinary for you, try dressing the Christmas tree in non-standard colors, such as pink, purple, green, blue. Or pair together a few bright shades.
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white coating, start from its color - it will be the main one.
You can pick up decorations to match the branches or play in contrast.
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Hang decorations
First of all, do not forget to put electric lights on the Christmas tree. Here are some ways to do it:
When choosing jewelry, don't be afraid to let your imagination run wild. You can resort to the good old classics and just hang balloons and other toys. Such a Christmas tree will look concise, but at the same time elegant.
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Very large balls, stars and other decorations look original.
Add small or extra large bows to your Christmas tree. You can dilute the rest of the toys with them or make them the main focus.
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You can also decorate the Christmas tree with ribbons. There are many ways to place them, such as in a circle, diagonally, top to bottom, or criss-cross.
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This video will show you how to hang a ribbon top to bottom:
Similar way:
Here is how to decorate the Christmas tree with a very wide ribbon in a circle:
The creation process will surely give you a lot of pleasure. And the hung decorations will delight the eye, remind you of pleasant moments or a loved one, if it was a gift.
Make decorations 🎄
- 50 cool DIY Christmas decorations
You can hang not only homemade garlands and toys on the Christmas tree. Dried citrus circles, cinnamon sticks or New Year's cookies on threads, photographs, small gifts and paper snowflakes will look great.
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Decorate the bottom of the Christmas tree
Cover an unsightly cross with a Christmas tree skirt.
Try to match it with the rest of the jewelry.
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You can buy a ready-made skirt or make it yourself. For example, here is a very simple felt version:
If you have a sewing machine, sew a patchwork skirt:
Those who can crochet can make this wedge-shaped skirt:
Instead of a special skirt, a piece of beautiful fabric, burlap or tinsel is also suitable. Just wrap them around the cross.
The final touch is to place beautifully wrapped gifts and New Year's toys under the decorated Christmas tree.
Get ready for the holiday 🎁🎄🎅
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foam flex toys, large plastic balls, tops for high-rise Christmas trees
A majestic artificial street tree is the main decoration of the festive city during the Christmas celebrations. Decorated with toys and multi-colored alluring lights, it pleases the eye and brings a sense of celebration to the city's snow-covered streets.
In this review, we will tell you how the decoration of a high-rise spruce differs from its interior counterpart and analyze the difference between trunk and frame structures.
The artificial Christmas tree is a special design that has its own installation and storage nuances.
It consists of:
- a metal base in the form of a cross with long and short tubes;
- tiered mounts;
- branches of a certain length.
Coniferous "bundles" are fixed in pipes, thanks to which the trunk tree turns out to be lush and visually natural, similar to a living one.
However, assembling such a system will require some diligence. A separate place is provided for each branch, and it must be collected clearly according to the scheme. When dismantling, it is also recommended to systematize removable elements.
Christmas tree with frame has two significant advantages over its opponent:
- Ease of assembly. The design consists of a bed and a central trunk, on which rings with small needles are strung like a children's pyramid. When assembled, the frame spruce is just a few identical boxes.
- Sustainability. The gusts of wind do not pose a threat to the design with sloped rails, which makes the large frame-type tree a leader in safety ratings and is ideal for installation in open spaces.
The frame Christmas tree can be distinguished from the living prototype with the naked eye, but with decorations and garlands it looks very festive and original.
How to decorate a high-rise street Christmas tree
A street coniferous beauty is called a high-altitude tree for a reason, because its height can reach from 4 to 45 m.
And this means that New Year's toys for a city Christmas tree must be noticeable and large, otherwise they will get lost in the thick needles, and in addition, withstand low temperatures and changes in weather conditions, do not break and be environmentally friendly. To understand how many Christmas decorations you need for your type of high-rise beauty, we offer this table:
These recommendations are approximate - it all depends on what result you want to get.
Next, you need to decide on the choice of colors and style, decide how to beautifully arrange the toys on the branches. In order to create a sense of celebration and be remembered, New Year's decor should be colorful, spectacular and at the same time elegant and graceful.
There are many ideas to decorate a tall Christmas tree, here are some of them:
Types of outdoor toys:
1. Plastic balls
Large plastic balls are a classic, safe and always up-to-date way to decorate outdoor Christmas trees.
As a rule, shades combined in color or an ensemble of glossy and matte textures are used. On our site you can pick up Christmas balls with a diameter of 60 to 500 mm, in any color palette.
2. Bunches of balloons
A great idea - bunches of balloons of different diameters, especially in combination with large balloons and large plastic pendants.
3. Beads and bows
To make your fir tree look royally luxurious, complete the decor of fluffy branches with large plastic beads and bows made of soft frost-resistant material. And your Christmas tree will acquire a luxurious and elegant look.
4. Styrofoam toys
These Christmas toys are perfect for outdoor decor. They are frost-resistant, perfectly tolerate bad weather, catchy, light, shiny and inexpensive. In addition, foam flex snowflakes and stars look great in ceiling compositions and decor of shop windows and shopping centers.
You can choose any shape, color and size: snowflakes, bows, trains, sweets, bells, Christmas trees, boots, etc. - the Winter Story store offers the widest range of foam flex jewelry.
5. Lighting
So, we have analyzed in detail the variations of day decoration. After dark, even the largest and brightest toys are invisible. Therefore, it is necessary to separately think over the image of the design for the dark time of the day. After all, it is at night, decorated with multi-colored garlands, that it acquires charm, mysterious charm and a truly fabulous look.
For evening lighting, various types of electric garlands are used: low-voltage garlands-threads, melting icicles (with the effect of a flowing drop), garlands with curly nozzles, for example, multiballoons or ready-made kits, which are the best and most thoughtful option, because equipped with the necessary devices for connection and various light-dynamic modes.
6.
