Essential Decorating Tips for an Upside Down Christmas Tree

Do you enjoy the novelty of displaying an upside down Christmas tree? Are you worried about the challenges of decorating upside down? Christmas tree holiday décor for hanging Christmas trees takes a bit of an adventurous spirit and some common sense ... are you game?

Tree Placement Ends Christmas Tree Ornaments vs. Headroom Debate

When it comes to decorating, upside down Christmas tree placement keeps dogs and cats out of the ornaments. Unfortunately, it may cause a bit of a problem for tall friends and family members, who have a hard time avoiding the sprawling branches of the décor that are now at their head levels. Avoid frustration and broken ornaments by placing the tree into a corner area of the room where traffic is greatly reduced.

Hanging Christmas Trees ... Over the Dinner Table?

The Christmas tree lights may replace the chandelier for the holiday season, if you have high ceilings or a small tree. Avoid tinsel and small ornaments that could easily break and introduce harmful matter into the food. Better ornaments for this setting include sachets filled with cinnamon and cloves, festive garlands and silk bows.

To Theme or Not To Theme

The odds are good that you do not pick hanging Christmas trees because you value the space underneath and plan on filling it to brimming with presents. Instead, you most likely chose the upside down Christmas tree for the novelty, the non traditional statement it makes and also your unconventional mindset it portrays. That being said, consider carefully if you want to expand on this idea with a theme, or if you want to remain traditional when it comes to adding ornaments.

Themed Christmas Tree Ornaments

Going the themed route may take a couple of years to get started, if you rely on estate sales, flea markets and garage sales to find just the right ornaments. Conversely, you can have one great session on the Internet -- with your credit card in hand - and buy everything you need. Popular themes are pink flamingo based ornaments, metal ornaments, and recycled décor.

Christmas Tree Lights Go On the Usual Way

If you usually start from the top, do the same for upside down Christmas tree decorating - albeit that this time the top is the wide end with the trunk. Remember that you need to reach the outlet, and unless you have some located closer to the ceiling, it is unwise to divert from this practice.

Choosing Christmas Tree Lights That Do Not Get Hot

While candles are a gorgeous way of lighting the tree, they are unsafe for hanging Christmas trees. Even electrical C7 or C9 lights can get quite warm. Since there is more of a chance that ornaments on the upside down Christmas tree will get in contact with the lights, consider buying cool LED lights.

Putting Ornaments on the Upside Down Christmas Tree

The majority of your Christmas tree ornaments will be at eye level. Reserve your most prized pieces for that area and place the others way on the top or at the bottom.

Making Hanging Christmas Trees a Focus

Hanging Christmas trees are sufficiently unusual that they commandeer immediate attention from the eye. If the rest of your room's décor is overwhelming, the odds are good that you create a visual overload. Avoid this mistake by either keeping the rest of the room minimalist, color coordinated or making a quirky complement for the upside down Christmas tree.

Hanging Christmas Trees Can Accommodate the Topper ... Somewhat

The star or angel is one of the most beloved Christmas tree ornaments. Not surprisingly, the place of honor is usually the top of the tree. With an upside down Christmas tree, this spot is not conducive for the ornament - unless you don't mind mounting it right side up on the bottom of the tree - and it may be better to place it in the middle of the broad portion that is now facing the ceiling. If you integrate is cleverly into the décor, it can mask the chain that holds the tree in place at the ceiling.

When Christmas Tree Ornaments Add Too Much Weight

If your upside down Christmas tree is suspended from the ceiling, you may be facing weight issues. Sure, you tried to hook it to a stud, screw it in, and have a double chain installed as an emergency catch, but what do you do if you live in a home where the stud is iffy, you are not sure if the ceiling will hold the tree and the ornaments, and every time you walk upstairs, the Christmas tree lights flicker?

The answer is easy: take down the tree and put it right side up. If you are certain that the ceiling can hold the tree, but the ornaments are the problem, opt for paper and cardboard ornaments.

Source
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5006258