Putting up the Christmas tree is, in our opinion, one of the most exciting moments in the festive season. Here are our tips on how to decorate a tree like a pro - for the best backdrop for hosting through the festive season.
Tips for choosing the right artificial tree
Your journey to a perfectly dressed Christmas tree begins with the tree itself. If you’re going for a real Christmas tree - choose a type of tree with minimal shedding – a Nordmann Fir, for instance, but - if your answer to “When can I put up the Christmas tree?” is always as soon as possible, you might want to consider investing in a faux Christmas tree. Inevitably, a real Christmas tree will look sad by New Year if brought inside in early December; the heating in our homes takes the water from the pines, resulting in thinner-looking branches through the season. Our Christmas tree buying guide will help you find the right size tree when browsing the many realistic faux trees on offer in our collection.
“We've been completely won over by how fantastic faux trees can be - they're safe, long-lasting and you can use them year after year.”
When choosing an artificial Christmas tree, browse for the highest number of tips for a sumptuously full - and professional look. For perfect, evenly distributed lights, it's best to consider a pre-lit tree (it will also save you untangling the lights). Alternative trees, like our faux olive tree, are super for compact spaces and a more minimal look, and you can find more advice on choosing the right style of Christmas tree for your home in our guide. The right place for a faux tree doesn't need to consider its health since its branches will not deteriorate. Simply ensure the ceiling height offers some space above the tip of your tree topper, electric sockets aren't too far away, and your considered place offers enough space behind to avoid crumpled branches and awkward light placement.
The best way to style an artificial Christmas tree
Our creative team always place a Christmas tree ring, or 'tree skirt' as some might know them, over the tree stand for a professional finish. Add your tree ring to the lowest section of your tree before you decorate (it's easier than lifting a whole decorated tree into the stand). Whether using a real or a faux tree, a Christmas tree skirt not only disguises the stand - it also provides a prettier backdrop for your gifts for that polished, professional look.
Next, it's time to add the Christmas tree lights. With the position established for your tree to avoid snaking wires, remember to connect the lights as you assemble the tree to avoid losing the connectors in the tree once the branches have been opened out and styled.
When assembling the tree, each section should be styled as you go (our faux trees usually come in three parts), and our stylists advise investing time in zhushing the branches at this stage because it impacts the finished look. Firstly, fold the very inner branches of each section upwards to add fullness and conceal the trunk. Next, style the outer branches for a natural look, achieved by fanning each frond in an upward shape, layer by layer, from the bottom. The aim is to fill gaps for a beautiful, symmetrical tree.
Tips on the best ways to put lights on your Christmas tree
If you don’t have a pre-lit tree and are using string Christmas tree lights, test them first – there’s nothing more frustrating than painstakingly placing them - only to find that they don’t work! Make sure you have enough to reach the top of your tree – you may need a couple of sets. Depending on the position of your tree, cover just the front two-thirds of the tree with your lights. Wind the lights around the tree from left to right, starting from the bottom. If your tree is displayed in, for instance, a bay window and viewed from all sides, you will need to surround the whole tree and perhaps add an extra set of lights.
Lights look much better pushed back a little from the front of the branches - around 10cm in from the tips. We like to add our tree topper at this point – it’s much easier to do it now if you have to lean into the tree. Choosing a light-up topper will ensure your eye is carried right up to the tip of your tree and give it a more majestic feel.
Our favourite ways to decorate a full-looking tree
With the lights complete, now's the time to begin to hang the decorations, and if you use a garland to dress your tree, now is the time to add it. Garlands are a great way to fill gaps and add luxury and fullness. Depending on the length, we would suggest three to four pieces. If you want a similar effect - but don't wish to use garlands, add several faux fronds; we have displayed sets of our Glittered Eucalyptus & Pinecone Garland within our Nordic Lodge Tree.
Next, the fun part - the Christmas tree decorations! We use Christmas tree hanging hooks for easy and consistent hanging, and we like to follow a tight colour palette because a colour theme gives impact to the tree -and if you follow the same colour scheme throughout the house, you can achieve that impressive, complete home scheme. When selecting your baubles, within your chosen colour scheme, our recipe is five or six different bauble styles in various shapes and sizes and a combination of flat and 3D in two or three different textures.
Begin with the largest and hang in a checkerboard pattern spread to ensure you distribute evenly over the tree - making sure you put some deeper into the branches to give depth. Repeat this with each bauble, one style at a time, for a beautiful regular rhythm. Consider a focal point, such as a striking tree bow, to tie the look together.
Tips for decorating a professional-looking tree
“When buying decorations working towards a theme helps ensure that everything works together beautifully. Sticking to just a couple of colours is the best way forward.”
To achieve a professional finish, always step back from your tree as you go, taking in the balance and symmetry of your decorations to ensure an even display. Professionally decorated trees usually have a theme. When buying decorations, work towards a scheme to ensure everything works together beautifully. We find maintaining a palette of just a couple of colours works best.
For that nostalgic Christmas movie look, focus on red, cream and green as we have in our Classic Christmas trend and add sweet pastry and gingerbread themed decorations. Alternatively, choose a space-age spectrum of midnight blue, silver and white that displays a splash of lights and a contemporary look with our Midnight Stars trend - or - if you want to embrace the glittering dark occasion of feasting in winter, go grand and be inspired by the deep reds, authentic greenery and velvet of our Regency Romance trend.
The minimalist aesthetic of our paper-decorated trend Retro Luxe allows for the easy addition of homemade decorations, like paper chains and pompoms that match the softenss of the boucle texture interwoven throughout this trend. To complement the paper Christmas decorations, you could get crafting with the kids and thread popcorn or cotton wool on a string to make simple, neutral garlands that add a splash of individuality to your tree.
Finally, complete your tree scene by coordinating your gift wrap with your decoration - because styling matching wrap and ribbon to your tree works in much the same way as a stylish tree topper and a tree skirt to elevate the look. The same, perfectly wrapped parcels can be displayed on other surfaces in the home to tie your festive rooms together - and can add interest to other often neglected spaces like the kitchen and hallway displayed in wicker planters and woven baskets. Consider a second, slender alternative tree in secondary living rooms and hallways alongside the traditional wreath and garland - or a light-up animal friend for a whimsical touch.
So, there you have it, our guide to dressing your tree for Christmas and creating the perfect centrepiece for your festive décor.