How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree

You've purchased the perfect Christmas tree for your home. The precise spot to display your Christmas centerpiece has been chosen. Now what? This article provides tips on how to decorate the perfect Christmas tree to reflect your individual tastes.

Set up the Tree. If you are using an artificial tree make sure that it is assembled according to package directions. The first step in decorating your Christmas tree is to project the look of fullness. Spread out the tree tips so that there are no open spaces where you can see straight through the tree. This may take some time. The center support of the Christmas tree should not be seen if the limbs are spread apart correctly.

Choose your color scheme. I remember our Christmas tree from my childhood. Each year, we put all sorts of eclectic ornaments on the tree. Some of the ornaments were ones that my sisters and I had created in art class. My mom still puts those ornaments on her Christmas tree every year. As am adult, I wanted a more streamlined look to my holiday tree.

Choosing complementary colors for the Christmas tree decorations will achieve a simple yet elegant look. My personal choice of colors is blue and silver. Other complementary color choices are: blue and gold, silver and gold, red and green, red and gold, and purple and gold to name a few. All of your decorations including tree lights and the tree skirt should display these colors when possible. Choosing more than two colors for decorating could make your tree look too busy.

What types of decorations should I choose? Christmas tree decorations range from glass balls and frosted shatterproof ornaments to bows, pinecones, and snowflakes. Keep it simple. Any ornaments should come in both colors you have chosen. I'd suggest no more than two boxes of ornaments per color per style. If you are choosing a variety of ornament styles, you don't want more ornaments than your tree can hold tastefully.

Decorate one side of the Christmas tree at a time to get an even distribution of each style of ornament. If the tree will be set in a corner, still decorate the back of the tree. A year may come when the Christmas tree stands somewhere else and you want to make sure there are enough ornaments for the entire tree.

Pre-lit or strings of lights? When you chose your Christmas tree you decided between the pre-lit variety and the plain. Pre-lit artificial trees are easier to handle. Strings of lights that are poorly wrapped one year could cause shorts in areas of the light string the next Christmas. If you've ever has to examine each bulb on a string of lights to find the bad one, you'll appreciate a pre-lit Christmas tree. Pre-lit Christmas tree lights come in different colors if white lights are not for you.

To garland or not to garland? I've always liked garland. It makes the Christmas tree look as if it's a brilliantly decorated holiday present. Ribbon garland is great for traditional decorating. The ribbon comes in assorted colors and can come with or without stiffened wire on the edges. Every branch of the tree doesn't need to be wrapped. Add the garland last and wrap it around the tree about five times depending on the height of the tree. Garland should rest lightly on the branches and not tight like a noose. Whatever you do, avoid icicle tinsel and angel hair. Besides giving your tree the appearance that it is melting, tinsel is a fire hazard as is angel hair.

Star or Bow? The choice of tree toppers is up to you. Personally, I have an angel at the top of my tree. Bows are nice because they complete the look of fullness within the tree. A star or any topper needs to fit completely over the top point of the Christmas tree. That way, the topper will not lean to one side and throw off the balance of your tree.