WHEN SOMEONE MENTIONS decorating the tree, there are visions of a glorious, calm evening.
You’ll be sipping Bailey’s, adorned in Fair Isle knitwear, roaring laughing, placing baubles on a delightfully over-fluffed tree. You’ll top it off with an angel sliding perfectly onto the top branch, while everyone lets out a wholesome sigh.
In reality, there are smashed baubles, drooping branches, screams of frustration, blown bulbs, lots of tension, and an angel dangling precariously from the top of a slanting tree.
Decorating the Christmas tree is no mean feat.
Here are my top tips for reducing the stress and getting it right, and safe, the first time (so you’ll have more time for Bailey’s).
Before you start to decorate your Christmas, it is best to have everything you need to hand
Decorations – Take everything out of storage and have a good rummage through first. A new placement idea or the addition of a few new plain baubles can work just as well as a full new set.
A topper – You don’t have to go traditional, but one with a coiled end or clip will work best. Don’t be afraid to snip the top branch down a little to get it to stay on more securely.
A tree stand – Be aware of the height of your tree stand (more on this below) and have some wooden wedges handy if you’re securing a real tree. They can help to slot into the stand for extra hold.
A tree skirt – This is all up to personal preference. Skirts, faux snow, fur… I have even seen an elaborate vintage train track. These are all usually employed in a bid to hide the tree’s stand, which I personally don’t mind on show. You have a tree inside your house, seeing its base isn’t the weirdest part.
Scissors, twine, ribbon, wire: These will all be super handy for decorating.
Take time to fluff out the branches if you have a fake tree. The year in storage can mean they reappear looking limp and frail, so it is best to fluff out branch by branch. This can take longer than the decorating itself, but it is definitely worth it!
Always start at the back of the branch, closet to the stand/ trunk. This is what will make the tree look its fullest and realest. Many people will only spread the branches at the front, and it will look hollow at the back once it’s all done. You’ll never regret spending time on this part.
If your tree comes in stacks: Start spreading the branches on the bottom stack, place the next stack and keeping working upwards. It’ll be too tricky to spread once they are all stacked together.
If your tree comes as individual branches: start at the very bottom and go branch by branch. Make sure when you place the first branch in the stand, that you have another on the opposite side while you fluff, for balance. Keep this in mind throughout the fluffing, as the tree could topple otherwise.
Choose the right bulbs: Always use low energy bulbs, they last longer and are safer. Make sure your lights have the right approval marks and always replace blown bulbs right away.
The key with tree lights is to use them to light up the darkest parts of the tree. Make sure they sit behind the decorations, closer to the middle of the branch than the tip, so they light up the darkness in between branches and create illuminated pods for feature decorations.
Hang lights vertically or horizontally: If your tree is in a corner and you are only seeing the front, don’t waste lights on the back. Hang your strings of lights in vertical stripes, as this will spread them out evenly and ensure there are no bulbs that go unseen. It will also give you double the coverage than wrapping them horizontally.
If your tree will be seen from all angles, lay your lights horizontally, starting from the bottom and working your way up.
Organise your ornaments by type: If you don’t know where to begin, start by dividing your decorations by type. Laying out your decorations instead of hanging them straight out the box will help enormously. This will also show you the ornaments that are missing hangers or are damaged.
Start with the largest first: Begin by hanging the largest decorations and place the plainest ones first. Larger baubles should go on first, closer to the spine – not only for visual balance, but they will help with creating a fuller looking tree. This also prevents them from blocking other decorations, and lastly, the ornaments are less likely to fall and break because the branch is strongest there.
Then move on to medium baubles: Add medium sized decorations next, standing back to have a look as you go. You want to ensure there is balance, and starting this way will save you from having to redo it all at the end. It doesn’t need to be perfectly symmetrical, but having the weight spread evenly will do more than just appeal to the eye.
The smallest ones will be the finishing touches: Lastly, the smaller decorations can sit further out on branches. This will ensure balance and add to the appearance of depth.
When it comes to your most expensive or precious decorations, place them at eye level. This means so they are less likely to be knocked off and will be seen first and most.
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