Are you in awe of the marvellous Christmas trees in the Christmas shops? You can't stop admiring them, from top to bottom. Decorating your tree is becoming an art... Knowing the basic rules and tips of the pros can make all the difference.
We'll show you how to copy the professionals yourself, so you don't have to envy the store trees anymore!
Table of contents
How to choose your Christmas lights
- How many bulbs to properly light up the tree?
- What type of light should you choose for your tree?
- What colour for your Christmas lights?
- How to arrange the lights in the tree?
How to put up ribbons and garlands
- How many ribbons or garlands should you plan for?
Decorating with dried or artificial flowers
Tree ornaments: how to arrange them well
- How to arrange Christmas balls and ornaments in the tree
- Decorate like a pro with oversized ornaments
- How to choose a feature decoration
How to decorate the top of the tree for a spectacular result
Choosing a unique theme for the tree
When it comes to Christmas decorations, the choice is almost endless. Before you set your sights on an ornament or prefer one ribbon over another, choose a theme and a colour palette. This will guide you throughout the process and prevent those mistakes that irreparably undermine all your efforts.
Red, white and silver, like a Christmas of yesteryear. Pink, champagne and gold for a dazzling Christmas...
Discover the most beautiful Christmas themes and the accessories to achieve them in our article: Christmas decorations: the most beautiful trends
How to choose your Christmas lights
How many bulbs to properly light the tree?
When it comes to lighting up the tree, the watchword is always more than not enough. According to professionals, you should calculate 100 lights for every foot your tree measures. Thus, a 7-foot tree will shine brightly with 700 lights.
What type of light should you choose for your tree?
LED lights (light-emitting diodes) are the preferred option because of their energy savings and durability.
What colour for your Christmas lights?
Unless you have few ornaments, it is better to opt for white lighting rather than a solid colour (which quickly makes the tree appear overloaded). Multicoloured lights, on the other hand, are such a challenge that nowadays, they have practically been abandoned for the tree. Those are reserved for outdoors where the decor is more pared-down.
Finally, some white lights produce a warm glow, others have a colder, more bluish tint. For a warm atmosphere and a cozy effect that evokes candlelight, select a warm white. If you have chosen an ultramodern theme or if your tree is white or silver, choose a pure white lighting.
TIP: Twinkling lights create a magical effect. Some sets come with a remote control to vary the rhythm.
How to arrange the lights in the tree?
Installing the lights in the tree is often considered a chore. The task can take quite a bit of time, so you might as well try to get some satisfaction from it. Start at the top and back of the tree, then go around the tree branch by branch to surround them with lights. For uniform lighting, there should be 6 to 7 lights on the longer branches.
A few tips to make the task easier:
- Before you start, check if the lights are working.
- Turn on the lights. This will allow you to better see where you are coming from and where you are going.
- Hide the green wire as much as possible.
- Also light the back of the tree. This will add depth and illuminate the wall behind it.
Add greenery
Adding greenery (pine, cedar, eucalyptus, boxwood) not only adds volume and depth, but also a rich texture. Choose natural-looking stems or, to add light, stems partially covered with artificial snow or sparkling micro glitter.
Berries are another must-have. In the past, you could choose between clusters of red or white fruits, but now you can find them in almost every colour.
Larger branches loaded with fruit can be placed on the tree at the same time as the greenery to structure it and give it volume. Smaller branches can be arranged around the balls and ornaments to highlight them.
How to put ribbons and garlands on a Christmas tree
The way you arrange your ribbons and garlands often separates the pro from the amateur. These elements must create volume and movement. So, avoid stretching them… and wrapping them around the tree or from top to bottom, along the entire length.
Instead, fold small sections three times on themselves to create handles or loops that will appear here and there between the decorations. The metal wire used to make them will also be used to attach them to the branches.
Too complicated? Here are other options.
If your ribbon is relatively narrow, create loose twists by rotating the ribbon on itself. The effect is even more successful when you combine two different ribbons in the same twist!
You opted for a very wide ribbon or tulle? Arrange it diagonally around the tree, taking care to completely hide some sections as if the garland had been woven through the branches. The visible parts will be slightly rounded to give volume. The wire is useful for holding everything in place.
How much ribbon should you plan for?
While symmetry is not the desired goal, you must still ensure that the ribbons are well distributed. Here are the quantities of ribbon to plan for depending on the size of the tree.
- 6-foot tree: 1 to 2 rolls of tulle or ribbon
- 9-foot tree: 3 to 4 rolls of tulle or ribbon
- 12-foot tree: 4 to 5 rolls of tulle or ribbon
Decorating with dried flowers or artificial flowers
Flowers are part of every holiday and Christmas is no exception.
Consider dried eucalyptus stems, pampas grass, painted or natural dried flowers, berries, but also artificial foliage and fabric flowers.
The preference is to use large flowers in colours and finishes that fit in with the chosen theme. While poinsettias are the flowers of choice, heather, magnolia, hydrangeas, etc. are also appropriate when they match the style and colours of the chosen theme.
Whether the foliage is dried or artificial, it is easy to change its colour, partially or completely, using spray paint or a brush.
Here are dried flowers, stems or pods that work wonders in Christmas decorations: milkweed, lavender, Russian sage, peony foliage, astilbes, hydrangeas, fall anemones, pampas grass, blue thistle, baby's breath, iris or daylily pods, yarrow, grasses...
Tree ornaments: how to arrange them well
Once again, we are not looking for symmetry, but a certain balance and uniformity. You can achieve this by respecting the chosen colour palette and theme.
Avoid drabness by varying the shapes, textures and patterns of your Christmas balls. Look at using oversized balls and large flowers that capture interest and transform the tree into a true work of art.
Create a sense of wonder by adding large or eye-level (when standing in front of the tree) feature pieces.
How to arrange Christmas balls and ornaments on the tree
Instead of distributing the balls randomly, create groupings. Group the balls in clusters or cascades, attaching them with wire. Vary the sizes, textures or finishes (but not all at once!). If you want to vary the colours, do so subtly by going for darker or lighter tones of the same shade.
Group artificial foliage around the clusters of balls or large flowers.
Decorate like a pro with oversized ornaments
Dare to use oversized ornaments! This is often what makes the difference between ordinary trees that no one notices and the ones made by decorating professionals.
Large balls and flowers are perfect, but you don’t have to limit yourself to them. Any ornament over 10 inches can be considered. They should ideally be repeated (3 large poinsettias), complement each other (elf, ladder and gifts) or tell the same story (characters from the same story).
The quantity, size and choice of ornaments must obviously consider the size of the tree. A 12-foot tree decorated only with small balls will lose its appeal, as surely as a 6-foot tree smothered under a mountain of elves.
How to choose a feature decoration
Beyond traditional Christmas ornaments, personalize your tree by adding objects that evoke your passions: wooden oars, rustic skis, chrome watering can and gardening tools, video game characters, etc. If the materials or colours are not appropriate for the chosen theme, a little paint is usually enough to remedy the situation.
The nostalgic will also find a place of choice in the tree for objects linked to those they love: your daughter's first ballet shoes, Christmas slippers or baby boots, antique skates that belonged to grandpa as a child...
Use feature decorations sparingly and distribute them in such a way as to obtain a balanced result.
How to hide the base of the tree
The current trend is to place your tree stand in a pot. Some are large enough to insert the support that allows the tree to remain upright.
There are, however, other nice options to replace the traditional fabric skirt or artificial snow that rarely stays in place for very long. Tree skirts in stores are available in different materials. Rattan and metal are among the favourites, but you can also choose to let your imagination run wild.
A few ideas to hide the base of the tree: wooden wine crates, straw planters, large balls, a fur throw (yes, it will move, but it won't have that crumpled look that we hate so much), wrapped shoe boxes (while waiting for the real gifts).
How to decorate the top of the tree for a spectacular result
Now is the time to put the finishing touches.
Too often neglected, the top of the tree is often left bare or topped with the traditional star. However, it could be the highlight of the show. It is easy to create an impact by grouping the feature ornaments in large numbers (bouquet of balls, gifts, feathers or giant flowers) or by placing a spectacular large-format accessory (elf, curls, snowflake, etc.).
By keeping the chosen theme in mind, the top of the tree should be highlighted while maintaining a harmonious effect.
