Make Your Christmas Tree Look Professionally Decorated

Chances are you've decorated a Christmas tree before so I don't plan on giving you a tutorial on how to decorate one. What I am giving you is a few simple tips and techniques for making your Christmas tree look like it has been professionally decorated.

Weave pine garland into your tree. Garland helps fill in any gaps or holes in live trees and adds depth to artificial Christmas trees.

Balance out your tree. When you hang ornaments and balls on your Christmas tree don't just dangle them randomly from whatever branch you can get them to stay on. Use smaller ornaments at the top of the tree, mid sized ornaments in the middle and larger ones at the bottom. This will highlight the natural triangular shape of your tree and cause the eye to think it is wider than it is which is important for skinny trees.

The more lights you have the better. The trick to giving your Christmas tree flair is to use A LOT of lights. Use white or solid colored non-flashing lights around the trunk of the tree. Wrap the solid lights deep inside as close to the trunk as you can get so they light the tree from within.

Use a few strands of multicolor flashing lights on the tips of the tree branches. For decorating an 8 foot tree I use 8 strands of 200 count solid white lights and 10 strands of 200 count multicolored lights.

Use lights that have a green cord so they can be easily hid. If you tree has been flocked then use lights with white cords.

Use floral picks. You can make your own Christmas floral picks or you can purchase them pre-made for around 79 cents a piece. To create your own floral picks hot glue poinsettia leaves, berries and twigs together and then spray them with artificial snow. Place floral picks randomly around the tree to add a natural elegant touch.

Use a color scheme or theme. Your tree can be completely decorated in apples, berries and pine cones or all it up in blue twinkling lights. Some common themes are homemade ornaments, Santa Clauses, elves, red and gold, blue and silver, Disney, fishing and sports.

Place ornaments that are consistent with your theme or color scheme on the outer tips of the branches. Hang ornaments that don't match your theme or color scheme quite as much deeper inside the tree. Whatever theme you decide to go with be sure to exaggerate it.

Don't skimp on the tinsel. Tinsel brings out the brightness in all the shiny ornaments and lights. Don't be afraid to use a lot of tinsel. Gather a few strands at a time and toss them at the tree. Then lightly grab a strand here and there and drag it down the face of the tree.

Continue to toss and drag until the tree is covered in thin strands of tinsel. Too much tinsel in one spot will look clumped and should be separated with your fingers. If you feel there's too much tinsel once your done simply remove some.

Forgo the tree skirt. Try something a little different. Instead of using a traditional Christmas tree skirt try using a sheet or blanket with a Christmas pattern on it. Purchase net fabric such as organza in a Christmas color and drape it around your tree. You can also try things like Christmas cellophane plastic wrap, cotton batting or cloth tablecloth.

Happy decorating and Merry Christmas.