Tips on Decorating Your Christmas Tree

Tips on Decorating your Christmas Tree 

As an interior designer I did almost everything for my clients. From designing drapery and bedding to creating tile layouts in kitchens and baths to applying custom finishes to my clients walls and even their furniture. Another service I would provide during the holidays was trimming their Christmas Trees. Here are my tips on getting that 'Designer" look for your Christmas Tree.

I always start with leveling out the tree, fluffing it or re adjusting the branches if it is artificial. If you are using a real tree (which I always prefer), here is a tip on getting a larger tree for less money. I raise my tree by setting it upon a wheel or a plastic crate. This gives you an additional 10" to a foot enabling you to buy at a shorter tree at a lower price point. The bonus is it gives you lots of space for gifts to go under the tree without having to cut branches away. I like my tree to hit just short of the ceiling. Allow enough room for the topper to clear the ceiling so take the height into consideration when buying and raising up your tree.

Grouping ornaments buy color to hang

Here are a few tricks I use when decorating a tree:

• Always start with the lights. I prefer all white, non blinking. I use tons of lights too, stuffing and weaving into the tree, not just on the outside. Also make sure to take the lights all the way to the very tip top, This way you can either back light or accent light your tree topper depending on type.

• Next I like to add a band of ribbon or decorative garland in angled tiers around the tree starting from the top.

• I buy bunches of artificial flowers like poinsettias instead of singularly. Then I cut them apart creating several individual ones at a savings.

• Decorate by type/color of item, hanging them evenly spaced. Repeat with next group of ornaments/decorations. This way there is a balance to the overall placement of the decorations.

• Last but not least, add the tree topper.

Using like colors creates an over flow and theme for your tree.

So finally to the base of the tree and covering up your tree stand. I am not a fan of pre made tree skirts as they are just never big enough. I have a fix for this.

• Take an old blanket and wrap the stand draping the floor about 1 foot wider than the tree.

• I use cut off the bolt fabrics to wrap around or you can even use flat drapery panels as a skirt. They are finished on all sides and by overlapping two you will get the coverage you need and a pretty volume draped on the floor, not flat like a skirt.