You spent hours looking for the most beautiful Christmas tree or finding the big box where your artificial tree is stored. You’ve set it up, and it’s in the perfect place in your home for your family to enjoy. Now it’s time for decorating your Christmas tree! Decorating your tree doesn’t have to be a chore. Follow these easy steps to ensure a stress-free and fun tree decorating experience.
Shed Some Light on the Matter – Christmas Tree Lighting
The first step to a beautiful tree, whether it’s natural or artificial, is hanging the lights that bring your tree to life and make it truly magical. Some families like to have their tree lit with pure white, while some like a riotous array of colors. Whichever you prefer, this is the one place you don’t want to skimp. The general rule is 100 lights per vertical foot of tree. Plug in your first string of lights, and start winding them around your tree from the bottom up. Be sure to push them deep within the branches to create depth and to hide the cords. The higher you go, the further each string of lights will last, so spend time at the bottom to ensure equal density of lights throughout your tree.
Time for Garland – Christmas Tree Garlands
It’s time to wrap up your tree like a big gift, the centerpiece of your holidays with the family. For a traditional garland, start from the bottom and work your way up, hanging the garland from sturdy branches with play to create a graceful loop. Try a more unique look by cutting the garland into six or eight pieces, each about 1.5 times the height of the tree, then tying them all to the very top of the tree. Spiral them down the tree, half in one direction and half in the other, overlapping them in loose basket weave fashion.
A Stroll Down Memory Lane
Place your favorite ornaments on the tree first, taking a moment to enjoy the memories each bauble brings to mind. Give them prime real estate where you can see and enjoy them. Next, hang your larger ornaments, being sure to space them evenly both around your tree and between top and bottom. Finally, fill in with your smaller ornaments. Experiment with hanging some deep within the tree, even near the trunk, to create depth and interest.
Relax and enjoy the holidays!
